Supporting local small businesses in and around Indy

Posted on July 10, 2018July 10, 2018 by Matt Todd

support small businesses in Indy

I’ve heard about the Tie Dye Grill for years. It’s been one of Indianapolis’s more well-known local small businesses. “They have the best tenderloin sandwich,” everyone told me. And this wasn’t necessarily hyperbole. In 2016, USA Today named the Tie Dye Grill home of the 6th best breaded pork tenderloin sandwich in all of Indiana. That’s a pretty impressive declaration. Because we take our breaded tenderloin sandwiches seriously in Indiana.

I was planning on giving Tie Dye Grill a try. But I never made it over there. And now I’m very sad to read this news:

Tie Dye Grill is closing for good. Now, even if I’m able to make it to their fine establishment before they close, I’ll only have the opportunity to have their famous breaded tenderloin sandwich once. Maybe.

But that’s not the main reason I’m sad.

I’m sad because I have seen firsthand the proverbial blood, sweat, and tears that go into running a small business. I have friends who have run their own restaurants. I have friends who run their own art studios. Shoot, even my dad’s a small business owner. And I know tons of marketing folk who run their own shops. They pour countless hours into their businesses. It’s their passion. But sometimes, it’s just not enough.

As the owner of the Tie Dye grill said,

“If you don’t support these small places, they’re going to be gone.”

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want these small places to go away. And I don’t know about you, but I’ve done a pretty poor job of supporting our local small businesses – especially the restaurant scene. And the Indianapolis area has a pretty fantastic restaurant scene. Just check out some of the entries from Indy Food blogs like Into Indy and The Love Bungalow.

About a year ago, I wrote about my desire to help the “little guy” instead of “The Man” when it came to all things digital. But why does it have to be just about where I work? Why can’t I work more at supporting local small businesses? Especially local restaurants?

Here’s the answer: I can. I should.

So what’s stopping me?

Nothing, really.

What’s stopping you? Or are you already knee-deep in supporting local small businesses and restaurants? How are you supporting them? I need ideas, friends! This should go beyond the simple Small Business Saturday in November. It’s hard enough to run a local small business. What can we do to help?

I’m sorry, Tie Dye Grill. I could have done better. I SHOULD have done better.

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Matt Todd

Howdy. I'm Matt. My wife, Christy, and I have four kids and two dogs, I'm passionate about orphan care. I'm a die-hard fan of the Evansville Aces, the Indiana Hoosiers, and Star Wars. I'm trying to live life by the Todd family motto: "It behooves us to live!"