Dayton Wins Spot on PETA’s ‘Vegan-Friendly Cities’ List

For Immediate Release:
December 15, 2020

Contact:
Brooke Rossi 202-483-7382

The results are in for PETA’s 2020 ranking of the Top 10 Vegan-Friendly Small Cities in the U.S., and Dayton’s vegan festivals and food—including more than 100 vegan-friendly restaurants—have landed it the number two spot on the list. In recognition, PETA has sent an award certificate to Mayor Nan Whaley.

For many years, PETA has named the most vegan-friendly big cities in the U.S. This year, as so many people are migrating to smaller cities in the midst of COVID-19, PETA has shifted its sights, too, and has picked the country’s top 10 most vegan-friendly small cities.

“The small cities on PETA’s list are big hot spots for the delicious animal-friendly cuisine that today’s diners demand,” says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. “Whether you’re looking for a basket of dairy-free chili cheese fries or a heaping plate of vegan chicken and waffles, Dayton’s got it.”

Dayton has celebrated vegan dining with this year’s vegan Summer BBQ and 2019’s September Vegan Food and Drink Festival. Its many standout vegan-friendly restaurants include Lucky’s Taproom & Eatery, which dishes up elevated bar food (think Buffalo Cauliflower Bites and vegan pesto chicken grilled cheese), and Lily’s Dayton, where vegan favorites include the General “Tso Boy” (spicy tempura-battered cauliflower topped with pickled veggies). Dayton’s newest vegan eatery, Cafe 1610, opened during the pandemic—but that hasn’t stopped customers from coming in for an Eggless Sandwich, Southern Fried Tofu, and more.

The number of vegan Americans has increased by 600% in just three years, according to research firm GlobalData. Each person who goes vegan prevents nearly 200 animals a year from enduring daily suffering and a terrifying death; dramatically shrinks their carbon footprint; reduces their risk of developing heart disease, cancer, and diabetes; and helps prevent future pandemics. SARS, swine flu, bird flu, and COVID-19 all stemmed from confining or killing animals for food.

Topping PETA’s list is Asheville, North Carolina, followed by Frederick, Maryland; Tacoma, Washington; Boise, Idaho; San Marcos, Texas; Chattanooga, Tennessee; Ann Arbor, Michigan; Bend, Oregon; and Bisbee, Arizona.

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to eat”—opposes speciesism, which is a human-supremacist worldview. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow the group on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.