Local Love in the QC
In case you’re not familiar with Me & Billy, we’re a bar and restaurant at the corner of Third and Main Streets in Downtown Davenport. We opened our doors in November 2013. As a family owned and operated business, we put our heart and soul into the daily operations. One thing we’ve become known for, in my opinion, is our penchant for collaborating and supporting fellow small businesses in the community.
When I think back over the past seven years of business, there are so many collaborations that come to mind! It probably all started with pop-up events with The Crepe Guy. That inspired so many more partnerships with locals: cocktail and chocolate pairing with Lagomarcino’s, cross-promotion punch card with 392Caffe, trunk show for Studio 910 Millinery, and a floral pop-up with Three Girls Vintage are a few recent examples. But our most common collaborator is definitely our downtown neighbor, Oh So Sweet by Tiphanie, with so many pairings and classes that I’ve lost count!
Along with these special events, we try to incorporate local items on our menu when feasible. That includes anything from creating cocktails with Mississippi River Distilling Company products, featuring local beers on tap such as Front Street Cherry Bomb Blonde, or sourcing bread from Eastern Iowa Baking Company. Community over competition is our mindset. Let’s keep it local!
About the Author:
Fran Maus lives in Davenport with her husband, Jordan. While she's not at Me & Billy most days - instead working in the corporate world during the week - Fran has a hand in most aspects of the family business, from event planning, menu creation, and social media, all the way down to payroll. She has been involved with a number of local organizations, including Dress for Success, Junior League, and the St. Patrick Society, and is currently a board member of the Regional Development Authority. Fran and her husband are always up for trying new local restaurants in the area and jump at any chance to head to Wrigley Field to watch their favorite baseball team, the Chicago Cubs!