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Save the Date: Great Plates of Downtown Serving Up 18th Helping

Celebrating 15 Years of Partnership with Food Bank for Larimer County

Downtown Fort Collins, CO, February 14, 2023 - From March 1 -14, Downtown Fort Collins’ award-winning dining promotion and fundraiser returns for an 18th year! Great Plates of DowntownTM is a celebration of the Downtown dining community and features 48 participating restaurants serving up breakfast, lunch, dinner, and all day menu specials for $25.00, and a la carte items for just$2.50*. Menu specials are available now! Visit Great Plates of Downtown™ to view this year’s guide for details on restaurants’ limited-time offerings.

Additionally, 100% of donation proceeds collected during this community culinary celebration will continue to benefit the Food Bank for Larimer County. The promotion has become the Food Bank for Larimer County’s largest external fundraiser with $133,736 raised in 2022. Since the beginning of the partnership with the Food Bank for Larimer County in 2008, over $1 million dollars have been raised through the Great Plates promotion.

“Great Plates is one example of the inspiring ways that our community rallies to support our vision for a hunger-free Larimer County. We’re incredibly grateful to the Downtown Development Authority and participating restaurants for creating such a fun and meaningful culinary experience. The money raised through this event will contribute to our hunger-relief programs, helping us to provide fresh, nutritious food access to anyone who needs it. We couldn’t accomplish this without such incredible partners by our side.” 

Amy Pezzani, CEO of Food Bank for Larimer County

The Food Bank has provided a source of relief for Marley's family.

"When your family is in need, there’s no shame about coming to the Food Bank. The people are really nice. Nobody makes you feel bad. You know what I mean? Everybody struggles."

Did you know? For every $1 donated, the Food Bank can provide two meals.

This means even small donations, collectively, can have a big impact for families in our own community who are facing hunger.

 

"We love participating in Great Plates. Our team gets very excited to support the Food Bank for Larimer County; some of them have experienced the need and have received help from the Food Bank in the past, and those that have, then shared their experiences with the rest of the team. We love supporting the community we live in and the ones that support us."

Lisa Paugh, Owner of Walrus Ice Cream

The Fort Collins Downtown Development Authority (DDA) would like to extend a sincere thank you to the participating eateries and their hardworking staff. This promotion was started, and continues to be championed, by the Downtown restaurant community, who intentionally chose to move forward with the annual tradition, despite the many challenges the hospitality industry faced over the past two years. As well, thanks in advance to the community for their generous fundraising support during Great Plates of DowntownTM.

*Note that Food Bank donations, tax, and server tips are not included in the $25.00 or $2.50 pricing. Patrons should consider leaving a donation to the Food Bank for Larimer County using the Great Plates envelope provided by a server, via the special Great Plates donation line on their credit card receipt (credit card lines vary per location), or the official PayPal link/QR code.

How Does Great Plates Work?

Eat: Check out the Great Plates Restaurant Guide to view the $25.00 and $2.50* specials
available exclusively from March 1 – 14 and decide where to eat.

Enjoy: Tell your server you’d like to participate in Great Plates of DowntownTM and order the featured special.

Donate: After enjoying a meal, consider leaving a donation for the Food Bank*. Don’t forget to tip your hardworking server as well!

New-to-the-promotion businesses:

1. Blanchard Family Wines
2. Choice City Butcher & Deli
3. Crisp & Green
4. Lima Coffee Roasters
5. Mugs at CSU
6. Philippe French Bistro & Bakery
7. Pour Brothers Community Tavern
8. Silver Grill Cafe

About the Fort Collins Downtown Development Authority

The Fort Collins Downtown Development Authority (DDA) was established in 1981 with the goal of revitalizing the central business district. The DDA combines public and private investments through tax increment financing to achieve this objective and emphasizes community initiatives that benefit downtown. In 2020, the DDA introduced the Business Marketing and Communications Program, which employs traditional and innovative methods to promote economic, cultural, and social growth through a variety of initiatives.

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