Out of the Frying Pan, Onto a Clean Plate: North Little Rock Restaurant Week 2021

Starting off the new year with a sizzle, the North Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce, and the City of North Little Rock’s Economic Development team have cooked up a special event to bring the community together and support surrounding restaurants: North Little Rock Restaurant Week 2021.

 

Adaptability is a term with which we have become all too familiar since the start of the pandemic. Restaurants have had to evolve to stay afloat and keep their customers. “Social media wasn’t a huge priority for some restaurants prior to the pandemic, but it has since become an essential tool for communication between restaurants and customers,” says Stephanie Slagle, North Little Rock CVB marketing director. Social media is one of many ingredients in the recipe to survive the pandemic. The Argenta Outdoor Dining District that came to fruition in 2020 helped draw in wary customers, brought more space, open air, and good food, making our “new normal” a little less sour.

“We are blessed as a city to have so many great restaurants, from local flavor to major chains, we have it all,” Robert Birch, director of development for the City of North Little Rock, said in a statement. “These businesses are what makes us unique. They have done an amazing job of pivoting to serve their customers due to this trying time, and we need to step up and support them any way we can.”

 

North Little Rock Restaurant Week 2021 is the latest and tastiest ingredient in the mix. The three organizations behind the event brainstormed in late 2020 about how to continue helping restaurant owners bounce back from the ongoing pandemic. Through polls and restaurant feedback, it was decided that the annual North Little Rock Restaurant Month must go on; however, this year the organizations needed to rewrite the menu. The event would be condensed to a week, include a “virtual” social media component and have additional perks for participants.

“We hope 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 & 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 prizes are valued at $200, $150 and $100, consisting of gift cards and merchandise to North Little Rock restaurants and coveted local products.

 

There are three simple ways to participate and win:

1. Bring your printed or digital receipts from North Little Rock restaurants at which you dined in January 2021 to the North Little Rock Welcome Center at 600 Main Street.
2. Purchase gift cards from the North Little Rock Welcome Center to your favorite restaurant (don’t forget that Valentine’s Day is next month!)
3. Use your social media skills and “check in” to a North Little Rock restaurant at which you’re dining through Instagram or Facebook. Use the hashtag #NLREats, tag the restaurant, and set your post privacy to public.

One point will be awarded for every $10 spent, and two points for each social media post. Piece of cake!

 

“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 in a statement. “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.”

For more information about North Little Rock Restaurant Week, visit NorthLittleRock.org.