As the sun comes up across the city skyline on Monday morning, many Philadelphia city staffers that spent the last 4 years working from home are returning to their desks full-time as the mayor’s report-to-work mandate takes effect.
Reporting a 20 to 40% dip in lunch sales since 2020, the move comes as a pleasant surprise to Center City restaurants that have struggled to stay afloat thanks to a smaller city workforce.
To ease the transition, and show these once loyal 9-to-5 customers their appreciation, many local restaurants are welcoming office workers back to town with incentives, discounts, and giveaways.
Here’s a list of restaurant offerings as the City begins to buzz.
1225 Raw
1225 Sansom St.
To welcome back city staffers, every employee will receive 10% off their meal at this Center City sushi hotspot from Tuesday, July 16th to Friday, July 19th. To be eligible, city staffers must simply present their ID and mention the “Back-to-the-Office” special.
Chika Ramen Bar
1526 Sansom St.
Offering city employeees a complimentary fried ice cream dessert with any ramen or bowl purchase from July 16th to 19th, Chika Ramen Bar will also be sporting some new happy hour specials including half-priced appetizers and basic hand rolls, as well as $5 beer, wine, sake, and sake bombs for those looking to unwind after work.
Fashion District Philadelphia
901 Market St.
fashiondistrictphiladelphia.com
To welcome the city’s office workers back to town, the first 75 city employees will receive a complimentary goodie bag, featuring beauty samples from Ulta and a voucher for the City Winery. Select bags will also include gift cards from boutiques, including Ulta and Levi’s Outlet Store. To be eligible, employees must present their city ID at Maison Philly Fashion Week on the concourse level.
Cavanaugh’s Rittenhouse
1913 Sansom St.
Sounding the alarm, Cavanaugh’s is offering all City of Philadelphia employees a 25% discount on in-person dining as well as buy-one, get-one-free wings beginning Monday, July 15th to welcome the office crowd back to town.
Bagels and Co.
17 S 11th St. and 1526 Sansom St.
To beat the Monday morning blues, two Bagels and Co. locations in midtown and Rittenhouse Square will be offering the first 50 City of Philadelphia employees a free bagel with cream cheese on Monday, July 15th and 10% off breakfast and lunch orders all week long.
The Ground Rittenhouse
120 S 18th St.
The new one-stop coffee, bubble tea, and plant shop is offering city employees 15% off all breakfast and lunch sandwiches, Croffle, coffee drinks, and bubble tea from Monday, July 15th to Friday, July 19th.
Dim Sum House by Jane G’s
1930 Chestnut St.
To make the back-to-work transition a little less stressful, Dim Sum House will be offering Philadelphia city employees 10% off dine-in and take-out/pick-up orders from July 16th to 31st.
DBG Philly
1311 Sansom St.
Philly city employees will receive 10% off their meal with an ID and enjoy happy hour specials including $2.95 smash burgers, $4 beers, $5 wines and $5 well drinks from Tuesday, July 16th through Sunday, July 21st.
Lamberti Pizza and Market
707 Chestnut St.
Lamberti Pizza is offering specials to city employees all year long. City employees who present an ID can enjoy 25% off any dine-in and pick-up/take-out orders on Monday, July 15th and 10% off until the end of 2024.
P.J. Clarke’s
Curtis Center, 601 Walnut St.
City of Philadelphia workers who present their ID will receive one complimentary appetizer from the Bits and Bobs Menu with the purchase of any entree or sandwich from July 15th to 21st as well as summer happy hour specials including $8 wine and cocktails, $5 draft beer, and specially priced appetizers.
By Eileen Strauss
