The Tampa Downtown Partnership is giving away discount cards for summertime deals at restaurants, shops and other places.
By STEVE HUETTEL
Published July 1, 2003
TAMPA - The Tampa Downtown Partnership thinks it has found a way to lure people out of their air-conditioned offices to eat and shop downtown: Bribe them with freebies and discounts.
The nonprofit group, which promotes downtown, is giving away a card that customers can present to get deals at 45 restaurants, retailers and other businesses during July and August.
The card is targeted primarily at downtown workers who need a reason to brave temperatures around 90 degrees at lunch hour, said Paul Ayres, the partnership's marketing manager.
But the promotion also should help attract visitors to downtown businesses during a notoriously slow period for the city's convention trade, he said.
The partnership is distributing 16,000 cards to downtown hotels, office buildings, port cruise terminals, Tampa City Hall, the Hillsborough County Center and the county courthouse. People also can order a card at www.tampasdowntown.com the partnership's Web site.
Restaurants make up about half of the participating businesses, including Il Terrazzo at the Tampa Marriott Waterside hotel (15 percent off the food bill) and the Hot Donut Company, a Franklin Street vending cart (free doughnut with coffee).
The Mouse Trap Lounge, a bar near the University of Tampa, is offering a free draft beer even if you don't buy anything. "I guess the owner doesn't care," said Patrick Fitzpatrick, a bartender. "Get 'em in and see what happens."
Also offering deals are downtown jewelers, art galleries, the Florida Aquarium, a hemp store and a shoe repair shop.
It's the first time the partnership has offered a discount card. The group is asking merchants to keep track of how many people use the card and might bring it back for the Christmas season if the idea catches on, Ayres said.
