Rexburg Restaurant Rush underway this week

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI)- It is a big week for Rexburg restaurants as the Rexburg Chamber of Commerce sponsors 'Restaurant Rush Week.' The week began March 4 and ends March 9. 25 Rexburg eateries are participating.

Many of the restaurants offer specials or deals during the week to encourage people to come into their dining rooms.

The Chamber brought the event back to follow through on its mission to grow the city's businesses.

"We brought it back because as a chamber we just really want to help our restaurants in Rexburg to grow. We want to support them and we want to let the community know that in Rexburg there are some amazing places to eat too," Amelia Lusk from the Rexburg Chamber of Commerce said.

"We saw what a great influence, it was in the community, just getting locals out into eateries that they haven't tried before. As well as for eateries to get their name out into the community and get special discount, bonuses so that way the customers will return," added Karina Blocker from the Rexburg Chamber of Commerce.

Lusk says the chamber is hoping to show residents that the city has many good restaurants locally so that if they want to eat out, they don't have to go on a long drive.

"I think a lot of people think that the only good places see are in Idaho Falls are elsewhere. But Rexburg really has some really unique food places and amazing deals and really locally owned businesses. And the goal of Restaurant Week is to help the community know that," Lusk said.

For the owners and managers, the week seems promising.

"It's super exciting to kind of see the growth that we've seen and to see new faces and returning faces. We're really excited to be part of Restaurant Week this year," Cheryl Crawford, one of the co-owners of Righteous Slice, said.

Crawford added that while their restaurant doesn't always have deals, they are excited about adding in some for the week.

"So one of the very few deals that we've got offered right this week is a cheese slice and a regular drink for only $5. Then we're also offering just for a limited time our Philly cheesesteak pizza, which is a pizza that we're super excited about. We're going to bring it to a competition in Las Vegas in about two weeks," Crawford added.

I spoke to two of the 25 restaurants that are participating in Rush Week. Both of them participated in the event last year. Crawford said after last year's success, they were happy to come back for year two.

Crush Artensial Drinks and Space Crepes were also excited to return for the week.

"I know we're really excited, like as a business, as an individual, as a team. Like we are really happy with one of the community's doing. I think it does a really good job for improving visibility and it gives restaurants an opportunity to experiment and, do new things, engage with the community like, in a sense learn our clients," Kaden Womack, the manger at Crush and Space Crepes, said.

He added that they were excited to bring new items to the menu for Rush Week.

"We've been playing a lot with our savory crepes recently, trying to expand into that aspect of our menu. And so we designed a mushroom and Swiss crab that's like a garlic mushrooms, and like a cheese sauce like on the top, and we've also added a sweet crepe. It's a blackberry preserve with lemon curd," Womack said.

He added that they were also looking forward to see how the restaurantperforms in year 2.

"It's really good opportunity for the business. It's really good opportunity for, like the community to get out and try things and have an incentive behind it because, I understand like getting out every day for going out to eat. I do a lot of cooking at home myself, but, a splurge week to have a chance to get a bunch of gift cards and prizes, like they kind of had to work it into the budget," Womack said.

Rexburg mayor Jerry Merrill said that the week is great for highlighting our local eateries.

"It's a great opportunity to highlight all of the wonderful eating establishments we have here in the city of Rexburg and celebrate all the good food that we can enjoy here," Mayor Merrill said.

Mayor Merrill couldn't name one restaurant as his favorite, but said he did have a few.

"I have a lot of favorite places. That's that's part of my problem. I like food just in general, and so I have a lot of favorite places here," Mayor Merrill said.

I also spoke with the Vellingas, who were getting lunch at one of the participating restaurants. While they didn't initially know about the Rush Week, they said their kitchen might not get very messy this week.

"Whenever there's an excuse to eat out. Yeah, I'm taking it," Marcus Vellinga said.

Jamie Vellinga added that they are excited for the deals, as it might help people who may be on a tighter budget try new places in Rexburg.

"Just knowing that we're kind of on a budget, it's nice to hear that like they're supporting the college students and want people to come out in the midst of winter to eat. It's great," Jamie said.

For a full list of restaurants participating, and what deals and activities they have to offer, you can visit the Rexburg Chamber's 'Restaurants Rush' page here.