Knox Co. Mayor Tim Burchett

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- After organizing several cash mobs to spur shoppers to visit local businesses, Knox Co. Mayor Tim Burchett now wants to support locally-owned restaurants with monthly "Lunch with the Mayor" events.

“The ‘Knox Cash Mob’ has been very popular and very successful, but it’s been mostly geared toward locally-owned retail businesses. I think ‘Lunch with the Mayor’ will be a good way to take the cash mob concept to local restaurants, because they need our support, too,” Mayor Burchett said.

Burchett will host the first one on Friday, Aug. 3, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Harby's Pizza & Deli, 3718 Walker Blvd. The public is invited to attend, but they will be going "Dutch." The Mayor's Office described Harby's a family-owned restaurant that has been in the community for 15 years.

“The important thing about the cash mob, and now ‘Lunch with the Mayor,’ is getting people to start thinking about supporting locally-owned businesses,” said Burchett.