West Chester Hosts Restaurant Week

Many of us who live in this area are familiar with the area of West Chester and what restaurants it entails. However, starting this February 26, West Chester’s own Restaurant Week will be happening—a fun-filled week that’s the perfect opportunity to explore a new palate, or support an old business you love. West Chester Business Improvement District's (BID) Executive Director, John O’Brien said, “This is an opportunity for restaurants to gain more business, especially during the slow season”.

The West Chester BID is a municipal authority set up under state law whose mission is to help financially in downtown. Restaurant Week falls under their second goal—customer attraction. West Chester is known as a premier destination for dining, and though the week is a marketing strategy primarily for the restaurants, it also helps as marketing for West Chester as a whole. When asked about his role in the week, O’Brien explained that he managed a staff of three whose goals were to advertise and educate, coordinate with the restaurants, and get information necessary out to the public.

This tradition of Restaurant Week is a strong one that started two years ago, in 2021. Prior to 2000, West Chester wasn’t the vibrant, bustling place that it is today. With business slowing down a bit, one of the first restaurants located in West Chester to take advantage of a similar event was Iron Hill Brewery and Restaurant. Naturally, a move in the direction of something similar was created in order to show what West Chester has to offer. When asked for his own description of Restaurant Week, O’Brien described it as a “...fun-filled event that gives customers an opportunity to try different flavors and different restaurants that they might’ve not tried before.” Currently this year, 23 restaurants are participating in the week, including Barnaby’s of West Chester and Iron Hill Brewery and Restaurant.

This week will help small businesses grow by giving customers a chance for a special menu at a fixed price. Not only does West Chester have the amazing restaurants boosted by Restaurant Week, but O’Brien also encourages customers to check out the “...vibrant retail community…” around and to “...support small businesses…”, especially with Valentines Day coming up. West Chester’s Restaurant Week is an amazing opportunity for those involved—including businesses and customers alike. From February 26 to March 5, all of us will be able to help support small businesses during the slow season. Through this week, not only will restaurants be supported, but the entirety of what West Chester has to offer will be shown, including local boutiques and shops.