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

Contact:
Nicole Meyer 202-483-7382

The results are in for PETA’s 2020 ranking of the Top 10 Vegan-Friendly Towns and Small Cities in the U.S., and Tacoma’s plethora of vegan foods and businesses—including more than 90 vegan-friendly restaurants—has landed it the number four spot on the list. In recognition, PETA has sent an award certificate to Mayor Victoria Woodards.

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 less-populated areas in the midst of the pandemic, PETA has shifted its sights, too, picking 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 plant-based cooking class, a juice bar, or a good old-fashioned vegan Philly Sandwich, Tacoma’s got it.”

Tacoma’s many standout vegan-friendly eateries include Quickie Too—where diners can indulge in the popular Crazy Jamaican Burger made with a spicy jerk tofu patty—and the Gilman House, which does a mean vegan Shepherd’s Pie. For quick stops, there’s Peterson Bros. 1111 dive bar, which serves up vegan twists on classic Reuben, Philly, and Buffalo Melt sandwiches; Happy Belly, a healthy smoothie and juice bar; and Corina Bakery, which offers a full menu of dairy-free cakes, pies, and other sweet treats. Unique to Tacoma are Organically Grown Muscle, a weightlifting gym that offers vegan nutrition coaching and a vegan monthly market, and Marconi Chiropractic & Wellness, which holds vegan cooking classes.

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 Dayton, Ohio; Frederick, Maryland; 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.