Restaurants in Manhattan's theater district will extend a 15 percent discount to customers in an effort to stimulate business that has slowed because of a shutdown of most Broadway shows. The discounts will be available at lunch and dinner from Saturday, November 17, through Sunday, November 25, except for Thanksgiving Day. They were announced Friday by Mayor Michael Bloomberg on behalf of the Times Square Alliance and NYC & Company, the city's tourism office.
Many Broadway shows have not performed since November 9, the day before the stagehands union went out on strike. With so many fewer people going to the theater, restaurants from 41st to 55th Streets and between Fifth and Ninth Avenues have lost much revenue in the past week.
More than 25 restaurants are participating in the weeklong "Dining in the District" program. A list is available at www.nyc.gov, www.nycvisit.com and www.timessquarenyc.org.