Restaurant Week is on the horizon in Carbon County

The Taste of Carbon County Restaurant Week is right around the corner, and Carbon Chamber and Economic Development is adding a few new ingredients to their promotions for the big event.

Chamber marketing manager Dina Tulli Davis, who also works at Jump Spark Creative, said that participating restaurants will have even more options to get some attention and foot traffic this year.

New promotions will include an online contest, chef appearances on WBRE’s PALive, video spotlights and more.

“We’ll also be doing a restaurant guide, a four-pager in the Times News,” Davis said. “Every year we’re trying to add something and expand.”

Participating restaurants can purchase Classic, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Premium and Platinum packages that come with different options to get their name out there during Restaurant Week, including featured listings on the Restaurant Week website and advertising space in the restaurant guide. Premium and Platinum packages also secure a spot for that restaurant’s chef to be featured on PALive, and Gold packages feature drawings for a spot on PALive along with a three minute Business Spotlight Video created by Dave Figenshu Digital Media.

Each package price also includes a gift card purchase which will be used as part of an online Restaurant Week contest with the Times News.

Davis also said that the chamber is working with Palmerton’s Bizitxt to provide information on the Taste of Carbon County Restaurant Week. Anyone interested on updates can text CCEDCtaste to 33791.

“If you subscribe, you’ll get texts throughout the week with specials and other news,” Davis said.

The program has seen plenty of success in the past when it comes to attracting attention for local restaurants.

“It’s been very successful. A lot of the restaurants have seen their business go up that week. And the people going to the restaurants got to try something new. So we’re always trying to do something new and expand,” Davis said.

Shari Solt, who runs Joey B’s Bar and Grill in Palmerton with her husband, Chip, have been participating in Restaurant Week for several years, and it has always brought more people through the door at their establishment.

“The Chamber of Commerce is really doing a great job in our area. They’re all about the local businesses, and they’re always helping to promote them,” Solt said.

In fact, the Solts keep an eye out during Restaurant Week so that they can enjoy specials and new dining experiences as well.

“My husband and I have off on Mondays, and we look out for restaurants that are in Restaurant Week and support them as well,” she said. “I think each year gets better actually, and more people are becoming aware of it.”

Any interested restaurant owners should contact Davis at 570-722-3751 or dina@jumpsparkcreative.com by March 7 in order to participate in Restaurant Week. Restaurants that are not part of the chamber are welcome to participate, and will receive a $25 discount if they opt to join the chamber.