This last month we completed our first challenge. Throughout this challenge, our team got to know a variety of small businesses (and small business owners) in District One.

In addition to delicious food samples, warm smiles, and unmatched hospitality, we heard people tell us their stories in amazing ways. From Johnny Christopher at Teenie’s who keeps a set of inspirational sayings on the back of his menu to Hanna at Elias Donuts who quoted Shakespeare to us at the end of the interview, I left these conversations with new quotes to live by and relationships to treasure.

I want to leave you with two quotes that resonated with me most. Johnny Christopher at Teenie’s Deli repeatedly said, “Politeness and courtesy cost nothing, but gain everything.”
And Hanna at Elias Donuts echoed that hospitality was his priority, saying, “I feed people. It’s my culture. It doesn’t matter if I lose a few bucks in the process.”

These two quotes sum up what struck me most in District One. There’s a different approach to how business is done here. It isn’t always about the financial bottom line for these owners, but about making sure they are adding value to the community, producing the best quality product possible, and keeping customers happy.

What makes District One so special to me – besides the delicious food and unique products – is the level of comfort we were able to establish with all of the different business owners. Even if we only went to the place once, we left feeling like family.