If you haven’t heard of the Louisville Originals yet, it’s a coalition of local restaurants that have banded together in the last few years with the goal of supporting, marketing and promoting independent restaurants in the ‘Ville. Aside from frequenting your local farmer’s market and buying grocery-store produce with the Kentucky Proud logo, eating at one of the Louisville Originals is a great way to promote sustainable eating habits in our area.

“Where you choose to eat has a huge impact on the quality of life in your community,” says Andrew Hutto, President of the Louisville Originals. “The majority of the money you spend locally stays in the local community and economy, and the money is then re-invested in the community.”

According to Hutto, who owns Baxter Station Bar and Grill, it also goes to support a vast array of charities in the community and helps sustain vibrant and unique neighborhoods. In short: “The money spent in locally owned, independent restaurants helps make Louisville what it is.”

Today there are close to 60 Louisville Originals, and members include favorite local hang outs such as Jack’s Bar, Asiatique, Limestone, Bristol Bar and Grille, Avalon, Havana Rumba, August Moon, De La Torre’s and North End Café.

And, starting today, Friday August 15th, new Louisville Originals discounted restaurant gift certificates will be available for purchase.  Certificates can be printed immediately after purchase. To give you an idea of the savings, $15 gift certificates are going for $9 and $25 certificates are going for $17.50. Gift Certificates are going fast, so get online now and make your purchases. It’s a great way to support your local farmers and independent restaurant owners.

It is a tough time to be in the restaurant industry. Increases in the price of food and gas, combined with a struggling economy, have created a difficult climate for restaurateurs across the country. The impact can clearly be seen in Louisville. Ferd Grisanti Restaurant, which had been in business for 35 years, closed on June 8.

Owner Rodney Rupp blamed the economy. “We succumbed to high gas prices and the struggling economy,” Rupp told the C-J on June 24.

Andrew Hutto, owner of Baxter Station Bar and Grill, and president of Louisville Originals, says the staggering economy is hurting the industry. “It (economy) reflects a loss of discretionary income,” Hutto said. “Going out to eat is Louisville’s main source of entertainment, and when people have less money to spend on entertainment, it hurts all of us.”

Hutto says the high gas prices have directly impacted the price of food, which has increased dramatically from last year. “Butter has shot up from $40 to $100 since February. Prices for everything across the board have gone up.”

Food prices have skyrocketed since 2006. The average cost of a dozen eggs today is $2.18, compared with $1.45 in 2006, according the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Whole milk, which today will cost an average $3.87 per gallon, was $3.20 two years ago. “On top of it all, suppliers tack on delivery prices to compensate for the gas prices,” Hutto added.

All the dour economic news makes it more difficult to operate a restaurant profitably. That seems to be a key reason given when restaurants close.

“More and more people are starting to ask themselves, ‘why am I continuing to bang my head against the wall, and work harder and harder to get less and less?’ It’s a tough business right now,” said Hutto.

Paul Grisanti sold his interest in Ferd’s in 2007 after his family operated it for 34 years. “I had been in the business since I was eight years old,” said Grisanti, who now runs a commercial real estate company, Grisanti-Head Commercial Real Estate. “After 29 years of being in a full-time ownership and management role, I felt I had a long enough run.”

When asked whether or not he felt the struggling economy played a role in Ferd’s demise, just 18 months after he sold it, Grisanti was diplomatic. “I’ll tell you this much. My family operated that business for 34 years through up and down economies. I’ll let you draw your own conclusions.”

While many restaurants are struggling in this economic climate, those who adapt have the best chance to succeed. Larry Watson, general manager of Avalon, believes in innovation.

“Clearly food prices have gone up,” Watson said. “Anything that’s delivered by truck is going to be expensive, but our business is doing very well.”

Avalon has opened a popular patio and built a strong following on Bardstown Road. “Staying competitive as a restaurant is really tough, just because we have such a great independent dining scene. Staying innovative and interesting is the key.”

Baxter Station’s Andrew Hutto explains the origins of the local group, Louisville Originals, which formed four years ago, and how it created a gift card program that brought in $100,000 last year.  The group of 55 local restaurants has gone through some turmoil in the past year, breaking from its national organization.

Hutto describes his own place as offering “flavor with a little zippiness.” The KET feature didn’t touch on that, but Hutto did say the group was interested in growth and would add new restaurants to its roster in the future. All members are locally-owned and independent.