The largest Restaurant Week in Annapolis history is set to begin tomorrow, and local businesses are gearing up for a temporary but significant increase in business.
The event, organized by the Annapolis Business Association, will be consistent with Restaurant Weeks of other neighboring cities, like those of Washington and Baltimore, said ABA members. Erin Brunst McNaboe, Rams Head Tavern owner and ABA board member who is chairing the event, said tomorrow through Friday, 35 participating restaurants will offer three-course lunch and dinner specials at the cost of $15.95 and $29.95, respectively.
"It's a great way to band together and remind people of all the options they have in a small town," she said.
The restaurants include Eastport and downtown eateries such as Ruth's Chris Steak House, Wild Orchid Cafe, Tsunami, Lemongrass, Luna Blu and Carpaccio. McNaboe added that local retail shops will also be helping to accommodate restaurant patrons, offering discounts and staying open later.
Jessica Jordan, president of the ABA and owner of clothing store Paradigm, said her store will be open until 8 p.m. rather than its usual 6 p.m. closing time. There will also be a 15 percent discount off any single item between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. for anyone who mentions Restaurant Week.
For the past four years, What's Up? magazine in Annapolis had organized restaurant weeks with 16-20 local restaurants. Wild Orchid Cafe chef and owner Jim Wilder, who participated in these events, said business increased "100 percent" during past restaurant weeks and several new customers visited the cafe.
"During the course of the year, I'll have people come up and say, 'The first time I came here was Restaurant Week, and we've come ever since,' " he said. "When they come, a lot of them come back."
Jody Daneck, co-owner of Tsunami and Lemongrass, said this event comes at a time when restaurants can really benefit from a boost in business.
"It's good for the small businesses that may be struggling during these hard economic times," he said. "Not to say that Restaurant Week isn't a good deal, but it's also a time to celebrate your local economy."
McNaboe said the economy was not a factor when planning the event.
"This has actually been on the books for a while," she said. "It was just a matter of finding the time. It ended up just being good timing."
