Richmond Highway revitalization group promotes eateries with bingo

Frequenting local restaurants in the Richmond Highway corridor could pay off in gift cards.

The Southeast Fairfax Development Corporation, a nonprofit that promotes revitalization of the corridor, is running a bingo campaign through April 11 to encourage residents to eat at the area’s establishments.

This is the first time the SFDC is running the contest. The idea came from a community volunteer on its committee that focuses on public outreach, the nonprofit’s marketing and communications specialist Alexis DeFrancisco told FFXnow.

“Part of SFDC’s mission is to design projects designed to stimulate economic growth in the Richmond Highway corridor by working closely with business owners,” she said. “Bingo is a fantastic way to get people to visit local businesses and generate economic growth with the added incentive of winning prizes.”

Among the 24 restaurants that are listed on the bingo card are Mamma’s Kitchen, Woodlawn Press Winery, Cedar Knoll, Mezcalero Cocina Mexicana, Grounded Coffee Shop, and more.

Anyone who makes a qualifying purchase — $10 or more at participating restaurants — at five places that line up horizontally, diagonally or vertically, is entered into a raffle for the chance to win a $50 or $100 gift card. Three winners will be chosen. The first person to cross out the whole card will win a $100 gift card.

The SFDC promotes businesses from the Capital Beltway to Fort Belvoir, including in the communities of Penn Daw, Huntington, Beacon/Groveton, Hybla Valley, South County, and Woodlawn. Since 1981, it has helped direct nearly $2 billion of private investment to the area, according to its annual report.

Over the next five to 10 years, the corporation expects residents will see a transformation of the Richmond Highway corridor as multiple multifamily housing projects have started construction and there are plans for a revitalized mixed-use Metro station.

“New businesses are looking for space and most legacy businesses have survived the hardships of the last couple years,” DeFrancisco said. “With everything that’s in motion, the future of the Corridor looks bright.”