SYRACUSE -- Downtown Dining Week is back by popular demand. And for the first time, you'll see it this summer. 14 downtown Syracuse restaurants will offer 3 course meals for just $25. Back in February, an estimated 25,000 people descended on downtown for Dining Week, 24% of them came from outside Onondaga County.
So, they're bringing it back from June 20th through July 3rd. "This is the greatest time that we can think we can pull them in and show people around this county what do we have around here. This is great," said Max Chutinthranond, Owner of Lemon Grass. The goal is simple, to get more people downtown to support local businesses. And now, it's not just restaurants. Local shops and boutiques are getting in on the action too. "Every dime you spend down here goes right back into the community," said John Massara, Manager of Mr. Shop.
For the first time, you'll see Tax-Free Shopping Week downtown. 38 locally-owned downtown retailers will join together to pay the sales tax for you. "It's so worth it. We really want to encourage the people of Syracuse to come down and really support the local business owners," said Maria Laface, Owner of Oleander. "It's a great opportunity to see what we have, the unique experience that Armory Square has to offer," she said.
Tax-Free Shopping Week runs this summer from June 13th through June 20th. It's your chance to buy at boutiques downtown tax-free. Store owners hope it means a big boom in business. "We bring a lot of specialty items that you're not going to find at your public retailers," said Kellie Misita, Owner of Showoff's Boutique. "So it's going to be that New York Soho shopping experience, but right in your own backyard," she said.
Retailers say there shouldn't be any concern about parking. "I think that's the real problem that people perceive this parking problem down here," said John Massara. "They don't understand, it's not just parking on the street, there's plenty of spaces to park in the lots," he said. It's two great summer deals to draw consumers downtown and keep them coming back.
