The second annual Pueblo Restaurant Month is here. Local businesses–in conjunction with Visit Pueblo (a local tourism organization)–have been focusing on a new way to bring in customers during the winter dead season: bingo. 

Two years ago, the Historic Arkansas Riverwalk of Pueblo (HARP) approached The Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce with the idea to run a campaign to increase foot traffic along the riverwalk during the winter months, particularly in support of the local restaurants alongside it. 

The woman who took lead on the project, director of tourism Cara Siegel, noted how the idea blossomed into a city-wide project. 

“A lot of these big cities do these restaurant weeks. It’s an opportunity to really enhance the culinary scene of the city, but also give a lot of residents the opportunity to eat at these fine dining restaurants for a fraction of the price,” Siegel said. “When we were kind of analyzing how we wanted to go about this, we knew that community engagement was going to be the hardest part.” 

Basing the idea off of Denver Restaurant Week, which follows a similar concept, the Chamber wanted to ensure that the project would be financially feasible for Puebloans. 

That’s where the bingo card idea manifested. 

Pueblo Restaurant Month’s participants receive a bingo card from The Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce or any of the participating 36 restaurants. Then, citizens must spend $25 at any restaurant of their choosing with the goal of checking off six restaurants in a row. A waiter or waitress will stamp the bingo card, which can be turned in at The Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce once complete. Every filled out row is one entry into a giveaway, with a maximum of 6 entries from a completed bingo card. 

The grand prize includes $500 cash and a $25 gift card to each participating restaurant. 

“Every time someone’s eating at a restaurant, they’re spending money in the local economy, which is a win for the restaurant, it’s a win for the city, it’s a win for taxes, so it helps stimulate the whole economic ecosystem of Pueblo,” Seigel said. 

What began as a way to spur economic growth in winter months, which are typically slow for restaurants, has become a challenge that several locals have taken on, with notable figures like Mayor Heather Graham snapping pictures in front of local eats. 

Over 4000 bingo cards were originally ordered and around 1500 cards remain for anyone still seeking to participate. Siegel stated that this was a significant increase from the first year, crediting marketing around the campaign for creating more interest.

During the campaign’s first year, only 300 of the 1500 cards were returned to count. A total of 2800 stamps were collected, with a $25 average spend for each stamp, leading to over $70,000 in local restaurant revenue from the first year alone. 

Participating restaurants are included below: 

1129 Spirits – 115 E Riverwalk Unit 100

A’Tavola – 1110 US-50 W.

Angelo’s Pizza Parlor And-a-More’ – 105 E Riverwalk

B Street Cafe – 121 W B. Street

Bella Pasta & Seafood – 228 S McCulloch Blvd #130, P.W.

Beulah Inn – 8920 Grand Ave., Beulah, CO

Bollywood Bites at Fuel & Iron – 621 S. Union Ave.

Brues Alehouse – 120 Riverwalk Pl.

Cactus Flower – 4610 N Elizabeth St.

Custom Cravings Cafe at Fuel & Iron – 621 S. Union Ave

Graham’s Grill – 1749 S Pueblo Blvd. | 2149 Jerry Murphy Rd.

Feelin’ A Little Philly – 1111 S. Prairie Ave.

Gold Dust Saloon – 217 S Union Ave.

Gray’s Coors Tavern – 515 W 4th St, Pueblo, CO 81003

Grumpy’s Cafe – 811 W 4th St, Pueblo, CO 81003

Hopscotch Bakery – 333 S Union Ave.

I Heart Mac & Cheese – 1002 Market Plaza Unit A, Pueblo West

Magpie’s – 229 S Union Ave.

McAllister’s Deli – 1425 US-50 W.

Mozo’s Great American Heroes – 1904 Lake Ave

Mr. Tandoori Urban Bar and Grill – 310 S Victoria Ave.

Passkey – 1901 W US Hwy 50 | 3416 W Northern Ave.

Rita’s Mexican Food – 302 N Grand Ave.

RiverWok – 102 S Union Ave.

Shah’s The American Gyro – 940 Eagleridge Blvd.

Shamrock Brewing Company – 108 W 3rd St.

SRDA – 230 N Union Ave

Southwest Grill – 1000 W US Highway 50

The Black Swan at Fuel & Iron – 621 S Union Ave.

The Sunset Inn – 2808 Thatcher Ave

The Comfort Grill at Fuel & Iron – 621 S Union Ave

The Hungry Buffalo at Fuel & Iron – 621 S Union Ave.

The Senate Bar & Grill – 219 S Grand Ave.

Twenty One Steak – 101 S Main St.

What’s the Dilla at Walkingstick – 4301 Walking Stick Blvd.

Wings on Wheels at Fuel & Iron – 621 S Union Ave.