By Mary O’KEEFE

On Tuesday, the Meet Me In Montrose campaign began with a kickoff at Rest Farmhouse Inspired. Montrose Shopping Park merchants were invited to the restaurant to learn about the campaign, network and pick up promotional material. Rest Farmhouse Inspired opened in July 2016 and has filled a niche in the community with its gluten-free pastries and fresh farm-to-table fare. 

“[This program] is fantastic,” said Kristina Evans, co-owner of Rest. 

Evans said Meet Me In Montrose is a good program that is based in a strong community. 

“We are always trying to increase [the sense of] community,” she said. 

The social media-driven program invites everyone to “Meet Me In Montrose.”

“This is not only an invitation, but a call to action,” said Tamar Sadd, economic development coordinator for the City of Glendale. 

The hope is that people add #MeetMeInMontrose to every visit to Montrose Shopping Park.

“We want people to include it in of all their posts,” said Christopher Doghosian, social media manager for the Montrose Shopping Park Assn. Doghosian said he wants to encourage people to take creative photos with family and friends to share the Montrose experience. The goal is to reach a new wave of potential shoppers, diners and tenants.

Because Rest Farmhouse specializes in farm-to-table foods, gluten-free and some dairy-free baked goods, Evans hopes that #meetmeinmontrose will be another way to reach customers who are looking for her unique restaurant. Although, she said, they have a lot of loyal customers it is always nice to reach further into the community. 

Montrose boasts nearly 200 restaurants and specialty stores along a tree-lined avenue. Visitors can find high-quality gifts, men’s, women’s and children’s apparel, art galleries, antiques, dance and fitness studios, and other boutique businesses. Many of Montrose’s restaurants, cafes, and bakeries also offer outdoor dining. In addition, the shopping park hosts several events annually including the Arts & Crafts Festival, Kids ‘n Kritters /Wags & Whiskers, Independence Day Block Party & Hot Rod Show, Film Festival, Kids ‘n Kritters Day, Halloween Spooktacular, Oktoberfest, Wine Walk and Montrose Old Town Christmas, complete with horse-drawn trolley, live holiday music, carolers, and a strolling Santa. There is also a Sunday Harvest Market held weekly from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Montrose is also home to the annual Taste of Montrose.