Philadelphia is a foodie’s playground in every season, but for a week each year it becomes a foodie’s paradise when Center City District puts on Restaurant Week.
Only this year, paradise is lasting two weeks.
Due to popular demand, CCD is extending Restaurant Week–originally scheduled to run from Jan. 25-30–until Feb. 6.
“We found there were so many restaurants that were automatically extending it themselves, we decided to take the lead,” says Michelle Shannon, VP of marketing and communications for CCD.
The annual event, which began in September 2003, helps make the city’s finest cuisine a bit more affordable; for $35 you get a minimum of three courses at all participating restaurants, and each restaurant’s three-course menu has a check value of $55 or more, so it’s a sweet deal. Just keep in mind the $35 price tag does not include tax, alcohol or gratuity. A complete list of participating restaurants is on CCD’s Web site.
To date, Restaurant Week has generated more than $16.4 million in sales for participating restaurants. The event’s success is good news for Center City and the city at large, says Shannon, because it raises the area’s profile and can help spur economic growth.
“When we look at the assets of Center City, the dining aspect is one of our unique selling factors. No other place in the region that has quantity and quality of fine and casual dining that we have,” she says. “Restaurants are really an economic development tool; once there are a few successful restaurants, the retail will follow.”
Source: Michelle Shannon, VP of marketing and communications for Center City District
Writer: John Davidson
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