BJ’s Wholesale Club on Pine Island Road is hosting its second annual “Taste of the Town” next Saturday, showcasing 24 local restaurants and all the tasty delectables they have to offer.
This free event is open to to public, and features both chain restaurants and “mom and pop” establishments, according to Sandra Aguilar.
“This is a way to help restaurants, letting them offer samples of their products and introducing them to our membership,” Aguilar added.
A BJ’s Wholesale Club membership is not required for entry to the event, though Aguilar said that membership information will be available to interested parties.
Some of the restaurants Aguilar mentioned as participating in Taste of the Town are: Applebees, Chili’s, Bob Evans, McDonald’s, Chik-Fil-A, Pizza Hut Italian Bistro, Pollo Tropical, Iragazzi Pizza, Starbucks, Arizona Pizza, America’s Backyard Grill, Beef O’Brady’s, Hogbody’s, Panera, Panda Express, Stevie Tomato’s, Perkins, Dick’s Philly Steaks, Cici’s Pizza, and Tacos El Tequila, among others.
“You name it, it’ll be there,” Aguilar added. “We have a whole list of participants.”
Last year upwards of 1,000 people showed for the taste, according to Aguilar, and this year she’s expecting even more.
Given the still reeling economic climate, restaurants are doing whatever they can to make sure their business stays steady.
According to Aguilar, some of this year’s participants are returning, but the club also reached out to new restaurants.
“We’re offering them the opportunity to do this, and they’re very happy to come on board,” she added. “We reached out to some other this year, offering the chance to promote their business.”
For those of you not in the Cape during the taste, the same exact event will be taking place at the BJ’s Wholesale Club at Colonial and Ben C. Pratt, in Fort Myers.
All participating restaurants will showcase a signature dish for people to sample. And family fun activities, including face painting and arts and crafts, will be available.
For more information call BJ’s at 829-3300.