St. Joseph Restaurant Week returns for sixth year
Winter can be a slow time for local businesses, especially when people don’t want to go out due to the weather.
To combat the winter weather slump and help shine a spotlight on local eateries, St. Joseph Restaurant Week was created, and each year it gets more and more recognition. The St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce and Joe Town Fun are hosting the sixth annual event from Monday, Feb. 17 through Sunday, Feb. 23.
Kristi Bailey, the director of communications and marketing at the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce, said that the yearly event boosts business at local restaurants.
“This is a time of year that can be slow for them,” Bailey said. “You know, it’s after the Super Bowl, it’s after Valentine’s Day and it’s kind of cold, people like to stay in. So this gives people a reason to get out of the house and go support some local businesses.”
Gabriel Palmer, general manager at Geneo’s Pizza and Pub in Downtown St. Joseph, said the week offers an opportunity for people to explore different restaurants in St. Joseph.
“It’s really a good way for the restaurants to be able to be creative, showcase different meals that they have, maybe some new menu items and also bring people to different restaurants that they wouldn’t have eaten before,” Palmer said. “A lot of people don’t realize that Downtown has so many great restaurants, that there are so many local restaurants that are big and small. And this is a great way to be able to get them out there and get customers in there and maybe create a new lifetime customer for places like us.”
There will be specials ranging from $10 to $30 at participating locations and new menu items offered by some establishments. More than 20 restaurants are participating this year, including:
B&B Runway Café
Baskin-Robbins
Big Daddy & Sons BBQ
Café Belle Epoque
D&G Pub & Grub
Felix Street Gourmet
Frederick Inn Steakhouse
Geneo’s Pizza & Pub
Hazel’s Coffee & Roasting Company
Hi-Ho Bar & Grill
Hoof & Horn Steakhouse
Johnna Mae’s Restaurant & Drive-Thru
La Mesa Mexican Restaurant
Le Peep
both of the Little Caesars locations
Love & Frosting Bakeshop
Murphy’s Smokin Meats
Pizza Shoppe
Pop’s Place
Prestyn’s Wine Bar
Pronto Café
Seventh Street Café
Simple Simon’s Pizza
St. Jo Frontier Casino
Taco Bandito
Texas Roadhouse
There will also be special events throughout the week from local businesses:
At 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 18: The St. Joseph Country Club, located at 50 Ridgeland Road, will host a Restaurant Week Kick-Off Dinner. Tickets are $80, and those wanting to attend must contact masters@saintjoseph.com or etomes@stjoegolfclub.com by noon on Monday, Feb. 17.
From 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 20: The Den, located at 519 Felix St., is hosting “Take-Out and Trivia” in partnership with RC’s Lunch Car.
From 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 21: Felix Street Gourmet, located at 722 Felix St., will host “Whiskey and Tapas.”The event is open to the public and no reservations are required.
From 3 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22: Prestyn’s Wine Bar, located at 6480 S.E. U.S. Hwy 169, will host “Music Bingo.”
At 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 22: Hi-Ho Bar & Grill, located at 1817 Frederick Ave., will host a University of Missouri vs. University of Arkansas basketball watch party.
Anyone dining at one of the participating local eateries during Restaurant Week can bring the receipt to either Little Caesars location — 2120 Mitchell Ave. or 3304 Ashland Ave. — to cash in on a buy one pizza, get another pizza free special.
For more information about Restaurant Week or to stay up-to-date with the specials, visit stjrestaurantweek.com.
