A dozen restaurants across Falls Church and Arlington are participating in a new “Foodie Trek” program with prizes this summer.
The Greater Falls Church Foodie Trek started June 1, intending to bring in customers during a slow season for restaurants, co-founder Tricia Barba told ARLnow. People who visit all participating businesses and collect passport “stamps” before Aug. 31 have the chance to win one of three prize baskets.
“We’re really trying to drum up some foot traffic, some attention, and just do something fun for the city,” Barba, who owns Preservation Biscuit Company, said.
Participating restaurants are mostly in Falls Church and include the Eden Center’s TeaDM cafe, Panjshir, Harvey’s and The Falls, a restaurant from the same owners behind Liberty Tavern in Clarendon.
- Borek G, 315 S. Maple Avenue
- Cafe Kindred, 450 N. Washington Street S.
- Ellie Bird, 125 Founders Avenue
- The Falls, 370 W. Broad Street
- Harvey’s, 513 W. Broad Street
- Ireland’s Four Provinces, 105 W. Broad Street
- Panjshir, 114 E. Fairfax Street
- Preservation Biscuit Company, 102 E. Fairfax Street
- Solace Outpost, 444 W. Broad Street
- Stray Cat Bar & Grill, 5866 Washington Blvd
- TeaDM, 6779 Wilson Blvd
- Westover Taco, 5849 Washington Blvd
The prize baskets contain “a variety of restaurant swag” like sweatshirts, T-shirts, hats and gift cards, Barba said. Winners will be drawn randomly from submitted passports later this summer.
Passports can be picked up at any restaurant, and participants must make an order to receive a stamp.
The Foodie Trek was born out of a gathering of local restaurateurs brainstorming marketing ideas. Barba and the owners of Westover Taco and Cafe Kindred spearheaded the idea.
The trek has proved popular so far. At least 600 passports have been distributed since June 1 and two restaurants are on the waitlist for the next trek.
If all goes well, Barba said the promotion may become a quarterly tradition.
“I think Falls Church has a really vibrant dining scene,” Barba said. “It’s earned regional recognition, but there’s still a lot of hidden gems to uncover.”
Photo 1 via Jason Gooljar/Flickr.
