New York Restaurant Offers Economic Stimulus Plan For Diners For Next 4 Months

January 14, 2009 10:53 a.m. EST

Long Island, NY (AHN) - Laguna Grill, a New York restaurant described as offering eclectic cuisine, is offering a free meal daily worth $87.99 for the next four months twice a day in two locations to a lucky diner.

The freebie, which does not cover alcoholic drinks, is owner Frank Minier's version of an economic stimulus package designed to help feed New Yorkers who are tightly guarding their finances and at the same time bring in more diners. Laguna Grill restaurants, found in Woodbury and Westbury, have experienced a 10 percent drop in patrons the past six months due to the economic crisis.

"We have to stimulate customers to go out... This is a time when small businesses have to be creative... We have to think it can be better," Minier told Newsday. He added, "Everybody deserves to be bailed out once in their lifetimes."

Because of the hard times, dining out has plummeted by 35 percent on Long Island, said New York State Restaurant Association Long Island chapter executive vice president Mario Saccente. To battle their declining revenues, dining establishments in the area are offering menus with fixed prices and discounted gift cards. But he admits it will not save a number of restaurants.

Saccente predicts about 50 Long Island restaurants will shutter in the next two months, to follow 15 which had already closed their doors since July.

Minier's economic stimulus meals follow a promo he launched in September in which children under 10 got free meals, but with a maximum of two kids per table. The marketing gimmick cost him $960, but he said it was worth it because Laguna Grill still makes money.

He explained, "As a human being, I want to feel better... If you want to make money, money, money and not satisfy the customers, you're going to lose the customers."