Cash Mob set for Grass Shack Café in Phoenix
Jason Houk, 20.03.2013 20:37
We’ve all seen local small business owners struggling to keep their doors open and the cash mob movement is a way to draw attention to the importance of buying local. This is the second annual national Cash Mob day celebration in southern Oregon and a Phoenix based Mom and Pop restaurant, The Grass Shack Café has been chosen for the first cash mob of the year.
Cash Mob Day - March 24
Did you know that there’s a little morsel of the Hawaiian Islands right here in the Rogue Valley? The Grass Shack Café is a Hawaiian-style restaurant owned by Paul & Lani McMahon. The Grass Shack offers tasty and affordable Hawaiian fare with indoor and patio seating. Sit down and relax with a comforting glass of pineapple iced tea and unwind.
Cash mob rules are pretty simple. Show up with $10-20 to spend and be ready to purchase a delicious meal at a business that might be new to you. Bring a friend or two along. Make a few new friends and have a great time.
The idea behind a cash mob is that a locally owned business is targeted and at a predetermined time a local “mob” shows up to purchase something from the merchant. Encouraging folks to try new-to-them local businesses is a large part of what cash mobs are all about, but it is also the hope that “cash mobbers” will like the place and friendships between shoppers and business owners will develop. It’s also a good nudge for folks who may have strayed away from a business and just need a reminder of how much they liked them on their last visit. Money stays local and that benefits everyone in the Rogue Valley.
Last year The Rogue Valley Community Press (formerly Ashland Free Press) organized a cash mob on March 24 where about 50 people arrived to purchase goods from Pickled Planet, a small Ashland shop on Water Street. That cash mob was followed by several others at Rogue Valley Growers Market and Grilla Bites. We hope that this year’s kick-off event on Sunday March 24 will inspire several more cash mobs throughout the Rogue Valley this spring.
When: Sunday, March 24th from 4:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Where: Grass Shack at Exit 24 in Phoenix Oregon. Grass Shack is located in the far corner of the shopping center. 205 Fern Valley Road (541) 512-8969.
There will be live music beginning at 6:30 PM featuring James Lowe, flutist for the band Freeze-Dried Fusion. A singer/songwriter in his own right, Lowe offers a variety of musical accompaniments including the flute, guitar and didgeridoo.
The Rogue Valley Community Press is a monthly newspaper publication showcasing our social justice community and local artists as well as providing economic opportunities for people experiencing poverty and homelessness. RVCP is committed to promoting local businesses and bridging communities throughout the valley. Visit rvcommunitypress.com for more information. Readers can nominate businesses for future cash mobs by friending the Rogue Valley Community Press on Facebook and posting a message on our Facebook page.
Come out and get your aloha spirit on!
