A new initiative designed to boost the local restaurant industry is getting underway in North Little Rock.
The North Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau, North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce and the City of North Little Rock’s Economic Development department are launching North Little Rock Restaurant Week from Jan. 25-31. The purpose of the restaurant week is to support local businesses in North Little Rock.
“Our goal is to show our restaurants, who had a tough economic year in 2020, that their community is here for them and cares,” Karen Trevino, North Little Rock CVB president and CEO, said in a statement. “At the same time, we want this to be a fun way to kick off 2021, with everyone rallying behind their favorite restaurants and enjoying some good food for the chance to win prizes.”
The North Little Rock Restaurant Week is a response to decreases in revenue caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the North Little Rock CVB, local restaurants saw a 9.24 percent decrease in revenue from Jan. 2020 to Oct. 2020 compared to the same time in 2019. This equates to a loss of approximately $16,376,160.
“Local restaurants are an economic driver for tourism and make our community a better place to live and work,” John Owens, president and CEO of the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce, said. “If you like having local restaurants in your community, go and spend money with them. Order take out, buy a gift card or go out to eat and follow their mask and social distancing guidelines.”
To participate in North Little Rock Restaurant Week, individuals can dine (in-person or to-go) at North Little Rock restaurants, buy restaurant gift cards from the North Little Rock Welcome Center or online, and “check-in” at North Little Rock restaurants on Facebook or Instagram, tagging the restaurant and using the hashtag #NLREats. Doing these actions will earn participants points, including one point for every $10 spent at restaurants or on gift cards and two points for every social media post.
To earn the points for eating in restaurants, participants must bring a printed or digital January 2021 receipt to the North Little Rock Welcome Center.
Participants who accumulate the most points from Jan. 25-31 will win the “Up to Something Local” prizes, which include prizes of $200, $150 or $100 value consisting of restaurant gift cards and other items.
The winners will be announced Feb. 1.
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