By Andrea Reay, Executive Director, Discover Burien

When Carlo, the owner of Osteria da Primo greeted me with a smile last Tuesday and said, “Take away?” , I had never even thought about the option. “Yes, please.” I ordered a custom wood-fired pizza to go, with a salad. About that time my three-year-old asked “dessert?” Lucky for us, The Maven

Mercantile was just a few doors down. My kids (and I) love Heidi’s amazing fresh-baked cookies. By the time we went next door to get the cookies and came back, our take away order was done and we were in the car and on our way home. I had a fresh pizza, salad and cookies to serve my family; nothing fake, nothing processed, and all delicious.

Sometimes all it takes is a happy accident to shift our thinking and our habits. The truth is that we are all so busy we don’t often take the time to explore what is right in front of us. Living in Burien, we are so fortunate to have so many amazing and healthy dining options. These are restaurants owned and operated by our friends and neighbors, and when we support them, we support our community. That support adds up to real money; at least 12% of what we spend when we shop local comes back to the community. Sales tax dollars, property taxes and business license fees all go to pay for services such as police and fire protection and support for our local schools and parks. Shopping local also saves time and gas. So, the next time you find yourself stuck in a rut, take a walk right outside your door and discover what your community has to offer. I promise you won’t be disappointed.

-Andrea Reay is the Executive Director of Discover Burien. For more information on shopping local as, well as specials and discounts offered by member businesses please visit www.discoverburien.com.