Event showcases menus, deals at local eateries
“Bite of Brown” is a weeklong event to put the spotlight on Tallahassee restaurants from black owners.
“It brings a lot of exposure to black-owned businesses,” said Eric McKinnon, owner of Leola’s Crab Shack, now located at 1911 S. Adams Street. “Most are ma and pa businesses. We have a small budget for advertising so this helps us get beyond that.”
“We want people to know we’re really good at what we do,” said Eric. “We want it to be eaten and enjoyed by people of all walks of life.”
Long known for his mouth-watering garlic crabs and shrimp, Eric sees more black businesses in Tallahassee. “I see more of them coming up and flourishing,” he said.
As part of the second annual Bite of Brown marketing initiative, several restaurants will be offering daily deals. Earley’s Kitchen and 509 Caribbean were highlighted on March 21.
Eric is offering a discount on his Number 1 Combo dinner, normally $26.99, for $16.99 until 9 tonight (March 22).
Jarrett Maloy, founder and owner of SneauxBall Catering Co., at 2033 S. Adams St., is offering 25 percent off orders until 7 p.m. March 22. He’s also presenting a special event called Annual Give Back to the Community Day, not connected with Bite of Brown, from Monday, March 28 to Sunday, April 3, when there will be free snowballs. Look for other freebies during the week.
Bite of Brown is the brainchild of Dream Marketing Group, founded by five graduates of Florida A&M University. Caleb Ross, one of the owners of the group, said they decided to launch the event in ’21 after seeing a black restaurant event in Washington, D.C. They decided Tallahassee restaurant owners could also use a boost.
“We wanted to bring this to Tallahassee at a time when small black-owned businesses and restaurants needed it, with so much going on — Covid 19, George Floyd, political disputes,” said Ross, who now lives in Washington, D.C.
The event aims to drive traffic to minority owned businesses and create moments they can promote, said Caleb, who said that businesses made about 40 percent more during the last Bite the Brown week than they would have made in a comparable week.
The Dream Marketing Group has partnered with Capital City Chamber of Commerce, the Leon County Division of Tourism (Visit Tallahassee), the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association, Black Nickel and Yelp to present the Bite the Brown event.
The event is “a wonderful opportunity for residents and visitors to get out and try new restaurants they may not have had the opportunity to visit,” said Katie Kole, senior marketing director of the Leon County Division of Tourism, also known as Visit Tallahassee.
.
Here’s the lineup for the rest of the week.
TC Bakery, at 614 Eugenia St., is offering Buy One Get One Free from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Wednesday, March 23.
Decadent Delights, at 1779 Apalachee Pkwy., is offering $2 off any purchase of $20 or more from 2 to 4 p.m. through Thursday, March 24.
March 23
Island OMG Seafood: 1019 N Monroe St. Hours noon to 10 p.m. Discount: 25 percent off snow crabs all day and $5.99 lunch specials 2 – 3:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
Ryder’s Water Ice: Railroad Square, 618 McDonnell Drive C1. Hours: noon to 6 p.m. Discount: Buy 2 get 1 free all day
March 24
Smoothie Time: 174 Capital Cir SE. Hours: 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Discount: 11 a.m.-2 p.m.. Half off smoothie with sandwich purchase. 3-4 p.m. Happy Hour. Buy one get one free regular size smoothie.
Lovett’s B.C.F. Address: Governor’s Square Food Court, 1500 Apalachee Pkwy. Unit 1045, Hours: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Discount: $10 Tenderoni (chopped up chicken on fries with your choice of sauce) all day.
March 25
Tastee Turkey LEG: 2810 Sharer Rd Unit 27 Hours: 2 p.m.-10 p.m. Discount: 10 percent off of the favorite turkey leg 2 – 5 p.m.
Agapé’s Lemonade: 2810 Sharer Rd Unit 27. Discount: Buy 2, Get One Free.
March 26
Oh’ Lemonade Inc: Railroad Square, 618 McDonnell Dr. Hours: 10 a m – 8 p.m.
*** About the list of black-owned restaurants in Tallahassee, pictured at top of the page. It was compiled by Cassie Nicolace, a graduate of Florida State University, who also earned her master’s degree at FSU. She know has her own Tallahassee marketing company called Bee & Blume. Thanks to Cassie for her hard work in creating and updating this list.
- Here are some more pictures of restaurants from black owners in Tallahassee.
