Remember disposable income?
Oh yeah – I have fond memories of that. There was a time when if I wanted to buy a gift certificate for someone to a restaurant, I just went and did it. No worries, no problems, no nothing. Nowadays, it’s no money.
But restaurant folks are hip to the jive. In recent years, there have been more and more deals being run during the holiday season to help entice people to still get those gift cards without feeling as much pain. Here are some of the many deals that are going on right now:
IndeBlue in Collingswood is currently offering extra gift cards AND $10 coupons for gift card purchases. The deal only goes through Monday, so jump on this one!
The PJW Restaurant Group, which includes PJ Whelihan’s, The Pour House, The Chophouse and Treno, is offering a 10% bonus card for gift card purchases over $100, and a 20% bonus card for purchases over $250.
At Iron Hill in Maple Shade, you get a $20 bonus card for every $75 in gift cards you purchase. The offer last through December 31.
Kunkel’s Seafood & Steakhouse in Haddon Heights is offering $5 and $1o lunch gift certificates for those who buy $50 and $100 gift certificates, respectfully, from November 27 to December 16.
Dipaolo’s Italian Ristorante in Penns Grove is offering $100 in gift cards for only $75.
Tortilla Press in Collingswood and Tortilla Press Cantina in Merchantville are offering a $10 bonus coupon for every $25 in gift cards you purchase.
At Blackbird in Collingswood, they are giving you a $10 gift card for every $50 in gift cards you purchase.
A Touch of Italy in Egg Harbor Twp will give you a $20 bonus card for every $100 in gift cards you purchase.
AND – Atlantic City Restaurant Week 2013 gift certificates are now on sale!
AND AND – New Jersey Craft Beer has 2013 Memberships available now!
Restaurant News and Notes
Many of the restaurants damaged by Sandy are working hard to get back up and running. Steve & Cookie’s in Margate is working to be open again by early December, and you can follow their progress on their Facebook page. And the folks who have been helping to get Steve & Cookie’s have been getting fed by the local community. You can also see the progress at Buckalew’s on LBI; they have a new floor down! OK, what is up with Shark Fin Inn in Forked River? They seem awfully closed lately, but there’s been no official word. There was official word regarding Bubby’s Jewish Deli in Washington Twp: as of November 5, they had closed their doors for good.
Blogging Out Hunger
Lots of great stories have come out having to do with acts of generosity for Thanksgiving. ‘StangsGiving at Brick High School raised $9,000 to help those affected by Sandy, while Epiphany Church made 1,000 Thanksgiving meals. And Venice Italian Eatery in Pitman had its annual free Turkey Day meal – and served over 1,600 meals!
If you lost food due to Sandy, help is available through the SNAP program. Here is the info for Atlantic County.
Keeping up with demand continues to be an issue in the area, even in places such as Cherry Hill. Lazarus House in Wildwood has been seeing the affects of Sandy in the increased need in the community.
And in other food news…
More farmland in South Jersey is being preserved. $3.3 million in funding recently went to Salem County, and $2 million in grants went to Gloucester County.
What’s with all of the recent supermarket closings in South Jersey? Some explanations are offered here.
Sharrott Winery in Blue Anchor is also offering a Gift Card deal. Buy a $25 GC, get a $5 GC for yourself. Or buy $50 and receive a $10 GC.
Thanks!