Perseverance

2021 MARKS 15 years of publishing Edible Phoenix. We’ve had our share of bumps along the way (this past year has been especially challenging), but we’ve persevered. We’ve weathered changing economics, changing tastes and changing fortunes. I know many of our fellow local businesses have done the same.

What drives us to keep going?

Part of it is sheer stubbornness. Part of it is an innate optimism and the belief that things will get better, sooner or later. Part of it is pride in what we’ve created and accomplished. A major motivator is our dedication and commitment to our mission, customers, employees and the community. As is the necessity to support our ourselves and our families.

There comes a time, however, when even our best eff orts are not enough, and painful decisions need to be made. Despite what some people think, closing is not necessarily the easy way out. I fear that’s the path that awaits many of our local restaurant and food-event friends (if it hasn’t happened already) and it breaks my heart.

So while part of me feels like celebrating our 15-year milestone, another part of me is holding my breath—waiting for more shoes to drop in our local food and drink community.

Much has changed over the past 15 years in the Valley food scene. Even looking back on my 10th anniversary issue publisher’s letter, I see how far we’ve come, despite the challenges. It’s clear that the current environment is creating major upheaval and that we will all need to adapt, probably in ways unknown, to reinvent ourselves, keep going and eventually thrive.

It’s my deepest hope that the Valley’s local food and drink business owners will receive the help they need, and it won’t only be big bland businesses that survive. I know that you are doing your part to make that happen.

So cheers to 15 years and to all of us who are continuing to persevere, in one way or another.