FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, July 16, 2021

Contact:     Meghan Behymer, Communications + Marketing Manager
mbehymer@downtownkalamazoo.org | 269-344-0795

The Kalamazoo Downtown Partnership is pleased to announce the return of the Downtown Kalamazoo Salsa Cook-Off and Summer Restaurant Week at the end of July, in addition to Summer Sidewalk Sales, brought to the community by downtown merchants.

Downtown Kalamazoo Salsa Cook-Off

Downtown Kalamazoo’s Annual Salsa Cook-Off is a free, community event from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 24.  For 6 years, it’s been an annual tradition to explore downtown, sample salsa recipes, and visit new and familiar stores and restaurants.

Similar to the set-up for Chili Cook-Off, the Kalamazoo Downtown Partnership and community partners worked to transform Salsa Cook-Off into an outdoor event with tents set up throughout downtown to keep the community as safe as possible.

While tasting salsa, the community can text “SALSA” to 59925 and rate the salsas. Winners are announced after all the salsa is gone and results have been tallied.

Downtown Kalamazoo Summer Restaurant Week

Downtown Kalamazoo Summer Restaurant Week is back for another year of great food and beverages from area restaurants beginning Friday, July 23 – Sunday, August 1. Summer Restaurant Week is designed to invite guests from Kalamazoo and surrounding areas to try featured menu offerings from downtown restaurants during the winter months.

Participating restaurants are asked to create menu offerings that are available for dine-in and/or takeout this year. The menus are priced at $10, $25, and/or $35 offering something for every guest to enjoy.

In addition to food offerings, a fan-favorite element of the week is back as well: the Summer Cocktail Competition sponsored by Green Door Distilling Co. Participating restaurants are crafting up delicious cocktails, and diners can purchase a featured cocktail and vote for their favorite. Many restaurants are able to offer cocktails to-go if permitted to do so through the Central Commons Refreshment Area.

During these times and always, the health and safety of Restaurant Week diners and staff at each participating location and community are top priorities. Each restaurant is required to follow all local and state regulations, as well as CDC recommendations for safe dining practices. Diners can expect to see some modifications to the dining experience at various locations, i.e. menus accessed via QR codes, limited condiments, and utensils on tables, expanded outdoor seating, hand sanitizing stations, etc.

All are invited to experience Downtown Kalamazoo Restaurant Week, whether it be by ordering takeout, visiting an old favorite for a meal inside or outdoors, or grabbing a cocktail to enjoy with friends. We ask that diners be patient, respectful, and support participating restaurants and their teams.

Menus of participating Downtown Kalamazoo Summer Restaurant Week locations can be found at downtownkalamazoo.org

Summer Sidewalk Sales

Brought to you by Downtown Kalamazoo Merchants, Summer Sidewalk Sales return to the central business district with the best deals of the season Thursday, July 29 – Saturday, July 31. Shop, eat, and enjoy live music along the Kalamazoo Mall and downtown.

About Kalamazoo Downtown Partnership

Kalamazoo Downtown Partnership is a 501(c)3, non-profit organization that works with both the public and private sectors in preserving and enhancing the economic health of Kalamazoo’s downtown area and, in turn, the Kalamazoo community. In conjunction with its affiliate organizations, it manages a full range of activities that include capital improvement projects, business development and recruitment programs, image marketing and event planning in order to establish Downtown Kalamazoo as an accessible, diverse, green, progressive and vibrant urban center. For more information, visit downtownkalamazoo.org, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, or find more downtown news on our website.

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