Ann Arbor's 4th 'Restaurant Week' returns on Sunday to boost downtown business
Melange Bistro and Wine Bar is among the 42 downtown establishments participating in the 4th Restaurant Week to boost business during a slow period.
AnnArbor.com files
The Main Street Area Association coordinates the event, which began in June 2009. This January, 42 Ann Arbor restaurants are participating and offering “extraordinary three course dinner menus and prix fare lunch menus,” according to the website for the event.
Main Street Area Association president Maura Thomson said each participating restaurant must offer a fixed price menu for $12 lunches and $25 three-course dinners. She said many restaurants also offer two-for-one pricing.
“Given restaurants can have such a varying price range, it doesn’t make sense for a lower priced menu to offer a $12 lunch,” Thomson said. “That’s why many of these restaurants offer two-for-one pricing.”
Thomson said when the event first began in 2009, about 22 restaurants participated. This January, that number has nearly doubled, and the participants include The Chop House, The Melting Pot, Blue Tractor, Conor O’Neill's, Vinology Wine Bar & Restaurant, Jamaican Jerk Pit and many others. A full list of participating restaurants and their event menus can be found on the Ann Arbor Restaurant Week website.
Thomson said that while the Ann Arbor Restaurant Week started as a kind of grassroots movement after a local woman shared her experience from a similar restaurant week in San Diego, Calif., the event in Ann Arbor has been growing in popularity. She estimated that thousands of customers take part in the event.
Due to the growing response, many local restaurants have found the exposure of being involved in this event beneficial to their business. Arbor Brewing Company general manager Renee Schantz said the restaurant has seen a positive response from participating in the event.
“We definitely saw people coming through the door for it,” Schantz said. “People get excited and engaged when they might not normally consider certain places as options. It’s a great idea and fun to see what everyone offers.”
Mélange Bistro general manager Terry Martin agreed and said the event helps to bring in business during a slower time of the year.
“It comes in the perfect time of year when it’s slower in January and June,” Martin said. “It just allows people to come into restaurants they may think are too expensive, but once they are here they can see the menu and, hopefully, we get repeat business out of it.”
Along with helping restaurant business, Thomson said she hopes that the Ann Arbor Restaurant Week can have a beneficial “trickle” effect in the city.
“My hope is that it is has a positive effect on the economy as far as keeping the local economy churning during the week when things are slower,” Thomson said. “And I think there’s a trickle effect, where everyone from the food suppliers to the wait staff who will have full tables are seeing benefits.”
Lizzy Alfs is a freelance reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach the business desk at business@annarbor.com or 734-623-2586.