Keeping your colleagues close and your competitors closer may turn out to be the key to success for eight dining and entertainment locations in downtown Manchester that have banded together to launch NH Entertainment And Taste of the State (NH EATS), an effort to market downtown Manchester. The restaurant industry is notoriously tough, with inflation-adjusted sales increasing 1.2 percent between last spring and this spring, according to the National Restaurant Association, making finding a competitive edge even more critical.
NH EATS venues (see sidebar) are in different industry niches (to eliminate rivalry), from a diner to fine dining. They share ideas, marketing costs and take advantage of group purchasing discounts. The name was created with a statewide effort in mind. “The concept is keeping customers in the family, so to speak,” says Amanda Wihby, the assistant director of operations at The Red Arrow Diner. “They may not want to go to The Red Arrow every time, but they see The Red Arrow is linked with Ignite Bar & Grille and 900 Degrees.” The invitation-only group aims to offer customers a guaranteed good time.
NH EATS launched in April and has been promoting its passport campaign, which awards customers a $25 gift card after they visit all eight locations. The group hopes to increase traffic downtown and increase business.
“Our message is hey, you don’t need to go to Boston. Come up to Manchester, see a show, have dinner,” say Jennifer Graham, marketing coordinator at The Palace Theatre.
Carol Lawrence, the owner and president of The Red Arrow Diner, and Neville Pereira, the original owner of Ignite Bar & Grille and Hooked Seafood, had been working together and wanted to invite other businesses to join them. “We all collaborate together and share ideas. That is my favorite part,” Lawrence says.
To learn more, visit nh-eats.com.
Current Issue - May 2024