Newark, NJ - June 29, 2009 - Mayor Cory A. Booker was joined today by Deputy Mayor for Economic and Housing Development Stefan Pryor, Brick City Development Corporation Chief Executive Officer Joseph Ritchie and TD Bank Central Market President D. Nicholas Miceli at the Prudential Center today, Monday, June 29, at 2 p.m. for a reception to formally announce the City’s second Go Newark Restaurant Week, an 11-day discount dining program occurring July 6-16. Over 150 invited guests attended the reception in which several participating restaurants sampled some of their fine cuisine.

Go Newark Restaurant Week is produced by the Greater Newark Convention & Visitors Bureau, a business unit of Brick City Development Corporation. Building on the success of the October 2008 inaugural program, the summer installment highlights the quality, diversity and authenticity of Newark’s vast dining establishments with the presentation of thirty participating restaurants and the distribution of the Zagat “Spotlight on Newark Restaurants” guide.

“Newark has long been a center for fine dining, and we are now working to manifest that great cuisine and celebrate its excellence at the higher level such brilliance deserves,” Mayor Booker said. “We will share the culinary art of Newark with all of America, and I urge residents and visitors alike to taste our distinctive style. Bon appetite!”

Sponsored by TD Bank, participating restaurants are offering either a prix-fixe menu or a savings of at least 15 percent, n be presented for lunch, dinner or both. “TD bank is proud to partner with premier organizations to launch Restaurant Week and showcase the Newark Region. TD works with community-focused organizations that positively impact area residents and this is a unique and fun way to do that,” said Michael Petrucci, TD Bank’s Newark Manager.

“Go Newark Restaurant Week is not only an opportunity for Newarkers and visitors to enjoy themselves while stimulating our local economy, it is an opportunity for our local entrepreneurs and restaurateurs to increase the marketing and visitation of their dynamic and growing businesses,” said Joe Ritchie, CEO of Brick City Development Corporation.

The extensive marketing campaign has extended on last year’s campaign, print-advertising in the Star Ledger, Essex and Morris County weekly newspapers, on NJ Transit, as well as considerable web, email and poster-based advertising. The marketing campaign was valued at over $400,000+ and will generate several million impressions in the Newark metro area. Registration for Go Newark Restaurant Week is open to all Newark dining establishments and can be accessed at www.GoNewarkRestaurantWeek.com throughout the program’s time period.

Ariel Besada, owner of Vivo Tapas Lounge on Ferry Street spoke passionately about his personal commitment to the city of Newark, “Vivo means to live and we opened this restaurant because we saw that Newark has radically changed - something that is especially evident through food and culture. This is a great city.”

Steve Yglesias, owner of Mompou Restaurant, echoed Mr. Besada’s enthusiasm for Newark’s burgeoning restaurant scene, “This time we have even more restaurants participating at a higher level which is great.  The diversity of food that we are sampling today is indicative of the change that is occurring in Newark and it’s really exciting to be a part of this.”

“Go Newark Restaurant Week is just one initiative to establish Newark as a destination and we are elated about the ongoing support of nearly every Newark cultural and entertainment institution as well as our corporate partners,” said Hector Ortiz, Director of the Greater Newark Convention & Visitors Bureau. Go Newark Restaurant Week is also sponsored by The Star-Ledger, Verizon Wireless, NJ Devils, Prudential Center, NJ Transit, Anheuser-Busch and Dewers, among others.

The Greater Newark Convention & Visitors Bureau was formally instituted in July 2008, funded in part by a grant from the New Jersey Department of State, Division of Travel and Tourism and through private contributions. The entity serves as the official Destination Marketing Organization for the City of Newark and is charged with developing the resources and initiatives that actively bolster the City’s ability to increasingly attract visitors.  The group also maintains a partnership with the Greater Elizabeth Chamber of Commerce to more broadly leverage the regional facilities and attractions of the Greater Newark area.

Contacts: Newark Press Information Office - (973) 733-8004
Pressoffice@ci.newark.nj.us

Hector A. Ortiz, Brick City Development Corporation - (973) 273-1040
ortizh@bcdcnewark.org