Moments of Gratitude
By J Daniel Geddis, president MHBID and realtor at Team D&B at One Mission Realty
By all measures it was the best taste of 2023!
From the September 11th ticket sales launch to the evening of the 11th Annual Taste of Mission Hills we could see this year’s taste was capturing the attention of those curious about Mission Hills’ food offerings as well as many who regularly dine in our neighborhood. And, a month later, attendees were vocal about the great time they were having, enjoying incredible tastes only offered in Mission Hills, dancing to San Diego rock and soul music of The Tighten-Ups, and riding taste trolleys through our hills and valleys.
New to our 26-venue line-up was Hills Wine & Spirits, whose participation through a special tasting license regaled discriminating imbibers with six tables of tastes from exclusivebottles poured by industry representatives. Also new wasBurger Deck, upstairs at 3715 India Street, from the team that brought us Rubicon Deli, offering burgers made from a proprietary blend of chuck, short rib and brisket. Thank you to the returning taste venues for their continuing generosity and delicious offerings.
As a “business improvement non-profit” we also measured success based on data and metrics collected from over 60 percent of attendees who purchased tickets online. During this year’s Taste, the BID delivered tasters to Mission Hills’ doorsteps who were introduced to our businesses for the first time. Would you have guessed that 68 percent of this year’s attendees were first time tasters? And 52 percentage of purchasers were from outside of the 92103 zip code. What was the age range of the largest group of tasters? Let your inner nerd explore the analytics and see if they match your experience. Our website has all the graphs and a sneak peek graphic is included in this article. I happen to love data and find it a fascinating way to observe the qualitative effects of a project. Comprehensively, this data—along with the anecdotal evidence—is showing us the Taste of Mission Hills was a success in helping promote our business community. If you are less numerically focused, the charts have lots of fun colors to help capture one’s attention!
If you attended this year’s taste, thank you! If you were one of this year’s 26 participating venues offering tastes or an 11th Annual Taste of Mission Hills sponsor: Title Sponsor, US Bank; Trolley Sponsors, A Designed Space, Harley Gray Kitchen & Bar, and La Puerta Mission Hills; and Good Neighbor Sponsor, Lazy Acres, thank you! The generosity of our venue owners and sponsor support helped us grow this event while keeping it affordable.
Take a moment to relive the event by viewing the collection of event photographs on our event wrap-up. Before the night was over, plans were underway for 2024, with venue owners saying “sign me up for next year!”
Thanks to the benevolence of John Ealy, owner of Harley Gray Kitchen & Bar, the Mission Hills BID’s Annual Meeting and Mixer will take place at his New American restaurant on Wednesday, November8, beginning at 4:00 p.m. Please join me at 1619 West Lewis Street for an informative and fun afternoon. In addition to the normal business of the BID, the election of directors and officers to the Mission Hills Business Improvement District Board of Directors will take place. If you paid a business license fee at a business address within the Mission Hills BID, your name will be on a City of San Diego issued list and you will be eligible to participate in the election of directors. The Mixer will follow until 6:00 p.m. Due to the largesse of Mission Hills’ retailers, raffle items will be bountiful and will be offered in gift boxes valued at $100 each. A chance to win starts at $10. Cash and credit will be accepted for the raffle.
Whether you are a Thanksgiving holiday host or guest, please remember the fine items available at local Mission Hills retailers. From fresh and delicious to organic and unique, culinary items for a happy holiday weekend of meals are available right here in Mission Hills. If you need a rest from meal preparation, consider ordering deliciously prepared take-out or reserve a table to enjoy a meal at one of our local Mission Hills restaurants. If you are a guest, there is no better neighborhood of shops in which to find a special and unique host gift in every price range. And, our small businesses continue to need your patronage.
We also invite you to join us in celebrating Small Business Saturday, on Saturday, November 25, by kicking off your holiday shopping in Mission Hills. This day celebrates small businesses and the positive impact they have on communities across our country. An average of two-thirds of every dollar ($0.67) spent at a small business stays in that local community. Your commitment to shopping local for the holidays is an investment in bettering our Mission Hills neighborhood. The Mission Hills BID will help launch the holiday season with businesses picking-up Shop Small Saturday 2023 swag at US Bank Mission Hills and with local business specials promoted on social. Follow us on Instagram @missionhillssd for the latest updates and special offers.
Autumn is one of my favorite times of year and, while Thanksgiving is a day to focus on gratitude, I believe it is worth carrying that spirit throughout the season. As I reflect on 2023, and look forward to what is to come, my gratitude includes being a part of a vibrant and diverse business community. I wish each one of you an autumn filled with many moments of gratitude!
Category: Business, Donations, Events, Food, Holidays, Local News, Nonprofit
