Company: Garlic Mike's Italian Cuisine
Headquarters: Gunnison, Colorado
Industry: Restaurant
Company Size: Small (annual revenues of less than $50 million)

"Gunnison, Colorado has a population of less than 8,000 people and the Arts Center is a place where residents gather. The arts bring people together. We tend to partner with the arts to create a special bond with the community."

- Mike Busse, Owner

Objectives
To encourage employees, tourists and the community to attend arts performances and events at the community's arts center.

Process

• Garlic Mike's employees attend Gunnison Art Center meetings to learn about the organization's needs and to help address them.
• The owner of Garlic Mike's often organizes and attends meetings with Arts Center staff to assist with programming concepts.
• During the summer months, when Gunnison's population swells with travelers and outdoor enthusiasts who frequent the restaurant, Garlic Mike's invites the Arts Center to present performances in the restaurant to promote ticket sales.
• Throughout the year the restaurant caters - free of charge - Gunnison Art Center events including the annual donor and award recognition program.

Results
As a result of its involvement with the arts, Garlic Mike's has established itself as a leading citizen of the community and it was recently voted Best Restaurant by the People's Choice of Gunnison County. This partnership has also helped the Gunnison Arts Center develop programs that serve community needs and increase promotional activities and ticket sales. (2004)

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