Participants in Astoria Restaurant Week
Oct. 3, 2014 By Michael Florio
The organizer of the Astoria Restaurant Week claims the event was a success and plans to put it on again next year.
More than 2,500 people signed up for free “foodie passes” over the course of the week–entitling pass holders to food specials. Meanwhile, 54 restaurants participated in the event, which went from Sept. 19 to Sept 28.
The goal of restaurant week was to lure residents to try new places. Furthermore, it aimed to bring greater attention to the variety and quality of the food in the neighborhood—which would help generate restaurant business.
David Paxton, co-founder of Eats In NY and an organizer of the event, said that they achieved that. “The restaurants got many new customers,” he said. Furthermore, “they were very impressed with the turnout.”:
Paxton said The Shady Lady and The Sparrow Tavern were two places that were particularly pleased with the crowd that the event drew. .
They got a lot of new customers as a result of the event, Paxton said. “It worked out well.”
Paxton said more than 2,000 people registered online for a ‘Foodie Pass’ with about 500 people signing up at the participating restaurants.
“People loved the idea of a Foodie Pass,” Paxton said. He said he received no complaints about the event itself, and the only complaint he received was that one if the restaurants only offered brunch specials.
Paxton said he is already planning for next year’s event. He said that this year’s restaurants are eager to sign on again next year, with others now wanting to be part of it.
“Typically, restaurant weeks are lame,” Paxton said, so he understood why some didn’t sign up this year. “Some restaurants had their doubts.”
Also, Paxton said, many events are organized by newspapers that require restaurants to buy an ad, which turns them off the concept.
Paxton said that they had a winning formula. He said that they held a launch party and spread the word out on social media. The restaurant also didn’t have to pay anything.
Paxton said the failure of other restaurant weeks is what led them to want to host this one.
Paxton said Eats in NY will now be hosting restaurant weeks in different neighborhoods throughout the 5 boroughs.
Featured Events
