Durham, N.C. – In response to the ongoing challenges facing small businesses due to COVID-19 and winter weather, Downtown Durham, Inc. has launched Downtown Durham Feast, a month-long contest that encourages the public to visit food and drink establishments.
From February 14 through March 13 patrons of downtown’s restaurants, bars, breweries, meaderies or wineries can submit copies of their receipts to enter weekly grand prize drawings that include a one-night stay in a downtown hotel, a gift basket with items from local retailers and a $100 SpendaBull e-gift card, good at many downtown merchants.
“Downtown’s small businesses have come through a difficult time,” said Nicole J. Thompson, DDI President & CEO. “They are stretched so thin from the pandemic that these weeks of bad weather have pushed them to the brink. With the Feast, we want everyone to experience downtown’s delicious food and drink, and its one-of-a-kind retail stores, so they remember what’s at risk if we let these small businesses go under. We’re inviting everybody to come out, support their downtown and win cool prizes.”
Each week of the contest DDI will hold two prize drawings, one for the general public and a bonus drawing for groups who visited downtown businesses frequently pre-pandemic, but who may not be coming out as often during the winter months – like downtown workers, college students and downtown residents.
“It’s our way of saying, ‘Thank you for the ongoing support, and we miss you,’’ Thompson said.
The weekly drawing schedule is as follows:
WEEK ONE • FEB. 14-20
General Drawing (for everyone)
Bonus Drawing: First Responders and K-12 Teachers
WEEK TWO • FEBRUARY 21-27
General Drawing (for everyone)
Bonus Drawing: Downtown Employees
WEEK THREE • FEB. 28 – MAR. 6
General Drawing (for everyone)
Bonus Drawing: College and University Students, Staff & Professors
WEEK FOUR • MAR. 7-13
General Drawing (for everyone)
Bonus Drawing: Downtown Residents
“Participants can submit one receipt per day, per merchant, so folks can have lots of entries each week,” Thompson said. “If you eat dinner at a restaurant, then get dessert at an ice cream shop or bakery, then get drinks at a bar or brewery, that’s three separate receipts and three entries for just one evening out. It’s a win-win: great food and drink and a chance to win great prizes.”
Downtown Durham Feast is made possible by donations from DDI’s Partners in Progress. For contest rules and more information, visit downtowndurham.flywheelsites.com/feast.
For 25 years, Downtown Durham, Inc. has been the economic development engine for downtown Durham, NC. With more than $1.7 billion in investment since 2000, downtown Durham is home to more than 60 retail stores, 100 restaurants and bars, and 1,700 residential units – all in an area just under one square mile. As the entity responsible for the business improvement district, DDI provides resources to keep downtown Durham clean and safe, and to attract visitors and residents to downtown businesses, venues and events. For more information, visit downtowndurham.com.
