TAMPA BAY, Fla. — Up for a game of Bingo? Restaurants across Tampa Bay are launching a new game that allows you to support your favorite local restaurants and get the chance to win cash or restaurant gift cards at the same time.
The game is called Tampa Bay Takeout Bingo.
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On each bingo card, there are 24 locally-owned restaurants. The idea is to fill up the entire card (not just five spaces in a row) by collecting receipts from take out purchases made at each business.
Once you visit all 24 restaurants, you can scan/screenshot and email your receipts for a chance to win $250 cash and gift cards from your favorite restaurants.
RSBP Event Planning and Public Relations hopes to draw a winner by May 2.
Currently, there are seven different Tampa Bay Takeout Bingo cards in seven different neighborhoods: Tampa’s Westshore/Gandy/Dale Mabry; Tampa’s Hyde Park and Palma Ceia; Downtown Tampa/Davis Islands/Ybor; Tampa’s Seminole Heights; Tampa’s Westchase and Oldsmar; Trinity and New Port Richey and St. Petersburg downtown and 4th Street.
Receipts can be submitted to tampabaytakeoutbingo@gmail.com.
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Tampa Bay Restaurant Bingo by wftsweb on Scribd
Brooke Palmer Kuhl came up with the idea after seeing a similar concept in other parts of Florida. She hopes it drives more people to local businesses who are struggling to keep their doors open during COVID-19.
With sit down options no longer allowed, restaurants are relying on take out and delivery options to stay open and continue to employ workers.
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“As someone who has worked with multiple restaurants, I know how hard it is. You see people who have worked for the companies for 15-20 years and you want to make sure they have a job to come back to after this virus is gone,” she said.
Kuhl also hopes to add bingo boards in Tampa Carrollwood and Sarasota as well.
“I hope people say ‘hey, I’ve never been to that sushi restaurant in my neighborhood’ and check it out now when they need the help most,” she explained.
Grace Jordan works at the Birchwood/Birch and Vine in St. Petersburg and says she is excited about the new game.
“We’ve never had take out before so we are relying on social media and people walking by to know we are still open for takeout. You can come down and enjoy some yummy food and take it right across the street for a nice picnic lunch. We want to come back better than ever and as soon as the coronavirus is wrapped up we want to be back rocking and rolling,” she said.
Diamond Wohlfelder of Fresco’s Waterfront Bistro also hopes the new bingo cards bring more customers in for take out options or ordering through delivery services.
“We are trying to keep our business open to help out employees. We’re doing everything we can to keep paying the bills and to help our employees in this time of need.”
