Frequent diner program runs through Aug. 31
Tour De Foodie is hosted by Kissimmee Main Street, a nonprofit organization, focused on the economic vitality and preservation of the Historic downtown district.
This summer-long event will allow participants the opportunity to visit the 21 Historic Downtown Kissimmee restaurants to enjoy select menus at a set price.
“The goal of Tour De Foodie is to bring additional business into the downtown during the slow summer months to aid the largest family-owned restaurant row in Central Florida,” said Main Street Marketing Coordinator Ashley Elizabeth Guss. “We wanted to come up with a way that we could provide extra visits where different restaurants have a set menu.”
Guss said there will be set prices for one or two people to experience the restaurant at a fair price.
“We have the participants book a passport online, where they give their information, and come to our office on Main Street to pick up their passport,” said Guss. “ The passport has all of the restaurants that are there with they’re hours of business through a QR code, which can show all of the menus that are available for all 21 restaurants this year.”
Guss said each restaurant that the participants visit will have a $25 menu ready along with a stamp to mark on their passport. She said this program started in June and will continue towards the end of August.
One place that participants can stop by is Abracadabra’s Ice Cream Factory owned by John Gramley.
Gramley said he is excited to be part of Tour De Foodie. He said their $25 meal is a 10-piece jumbo chicken wing combo with french fries, a drink, and a large ice cream, which is flash freeze with liquid nitrogen for 45 seconds for a nice creamy taste.
“This program is helping small businesses get recognized,” said Gramley. “Once they come in and try local businesses food, ice cream, and barbecue and all that good stuff, they realize how good it is and come back,” said Gramley.
Another stop participants can make is Susana’s Café, owned by Susana Martinez.
“I’m hoping they (Tour De Foodie) can bring more people to our business,” said Martinez. “My coffee shop can be exposed to people around and outside the area.”
Martinez said she likes being a part of Tour De Foodie and hopes the program will bring in more customers.
“It’s totally to support the restaurant because we only printed out 200 this year, but let’s say all 200 went to all 21 stops, that’s the opportunity over $100,000 that’s getting poured back into the downtown that may have not happened before,” said Guss.
Guss said the menus are flexible but if someone were to have food allergies to something on the samplers, then they can order something else from the restaurant menu and still receive a stamp from said restaurant.
“The last day is August 31 and if you complete the entire passport, so you go to all 21 participating restaurants, you will bring back the passport here with us where we will check all these things off, and give the participants a free t-shirt,” said Guss. “Also, what’s happening on top of that is that each participate we get a raffle ticket for an entry of a grand prize, which is a gift basket that has over $700 in downtown gift cards.”
Guss said the winning participants will then be able to enjoy a free meal to which ever restaurant that they choose from the area. Main Street is starting this promotion out small as this will be the first time they are going something like this in downtown Kissimmee. She said they will see how this summer goes and go from there for next summer.
If you’re interested in participating in this program to enjoy menus from 21 restaurants in historic downtown Kissimmee, here is the link: https://www.zeffy.com/ticketing/86dab00f-25de-4182-a8e8-4e845830ec9d
