Ariels New England Seafood & More is celebrating its one-year anniversary with weeklong specials to help raise money for local charities.
Owner Jennifer Cotten said the restaurant was opened after her 12-year-old daughter, Ariel, because they “could not find good quality seafood in Cape Coral or anywhere else.”
Ariels is a New England seafood restaurant that has fresh seafood flown in almost every day. It also has choice beef, chicken, pork, Thumann’s deli meats, shrimp and deli platters.
The celebration will kick off Sunday with a car show sponsored by the Hot Chili Rods of Cape Coral from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. to benefit the Guardian Angels for Special Populations.
Cotten said Ariels is holding a charity event for the Guardian Angels because of a loyal customer who has been coming to the restaurant since it opened Nov. 5, 2008.
“That’s part of the reason we are doing the car show on Nov. 1,” she said, adding that the Guardian Angels is an organization that helps developmentally disabled adults.
A second charity event will be held Nov. 8 with two performances by the Calendar Girls from 4-8 p.m. Proceeds will go to Paws for Patriots.
Paws for Patriots is an organization that is a part of the Southeastern Guide Dog School of Palmetto, Fla. The organization, which functions on donations from the community, trains seeing eye guide dogs for blind veterans. The average cost to train one dog is $60,000.
Every fish and chips dinner sold for $7.95 during the charity events, $2 will be donated to the Guardian Angels and Paws for Patriots, Cotten said.
A 50/50 raffle, along with door prizes, will take place during the events. She said 100 percent of the cash donations Ariels receives will be donated to the chosen charity.
On Monday and Nov. 4, a free desert will be provided for those who purchase an entree at Ariels.
A trivia night will be offered Tuesday with participants having the opportunity to win up to $50 in gift cards. The event will feature five games, which may cover such topics as music, sports and general trivia.
A Karaoke Kontest with Rick Keeler will be held Nov. 5. Just Us Marshalls Band will perform Nov. 6, and Two Hands-One Man Band will perform Nov. 7.
Cotten said the restaurant is also holding a canned food drive to benefit Grace Community Center through Nov. 15. Anyone who donates two cans will receive a free shrimp cocktail, one per couple, compliments of Ariels.
Drink specials will be offered all week long on domestic and imported beer bottles for $1.
“We try to help out as many people as we can,” Cotten said, adding that the more people who hear about the charity events, the more other businesses and individuals will host charity events as well.
Ariels New England SeaFood & More is located at 1341 Del Prado Blvd. S. For information, call 673-7273.