Sandpoint chamber cancels Summer Sampler
An employee with Panhandle Cone & Coffee waits for customers during a brief lull in the action at a past Summer Sampler.
(File photo/CAROLINE LOBSINGER)
SANDPOINT — Staffing shortages at local restaurants have forced Greater Sandpoint Chamber officials to cancel the 2021 Summer Sampler.
The event had been scheduled to take place Thursday.
"Our local restaurants are having a difficult time and more than half had to pull out of the event," Kate McAlister, president and CEO of the Greater Sandpoint Chamber, said. "We cannot in good conscience ask the community to participate with only a few food vendors."
With local restaurants feeling that stress of finding enough workers, McAlister said chamber officials felt they couldn't ask them to do any more work by taking part in the event.
"Please, help us in supporting them this summer with patience and understanding when they are under-staffed and over-worked," she said.
While this year's event had to be canceled, McAlister said the Summer Sampler will be back in 2022 bigger and better than ever.