Restaurant.com marks 10th anniversary with more deals
Arlington Heights-based Restaurant.com marks its 10th year providing consumers a break on their favorite restaurant meals.
The Web site has grown from a local suburban site to a nationwide outlet where you can still get a $25 gift certificate for $10 for yourself or others.
Despite a tough economy, the site has grown to offer about 13,000 restaurant deals nationwide, including 750 in Chicago and the suburbs.
Its staff also has grown from a few dozen to about 270 employees nationwide, including 170 at its Arlington Heights headquarters, said Chief Marketing Officer Tony Bombacino.
"For restaurant owners, we try to fill their empty tables, and for consumers, we provide a more affordable way of dining out," said Bombacino.
Restaurant.com was one of the online pioneers to provide consumers an alternative by offering discount dining. It allows you to search for restaurants in your area or where you will be traveling, and to print out a gift certificate to get discounted meals. You also can read about the restaurant, look at its menu and location and see other details.
"We didn't invent the concept, but it was how we delivered the service and how we positioned the offers and made them available," said Bombacino.
The site extended itself on eBay in 2001 and then started offering restaurant deals in other cities in 2003. It's also now active on Facebook and Twitter.
In recent years, it has offered the Feed It Forward program that has given away more than $15 million in gift certificates to help feed the less fortunate.
In the future, Restaurant.com plans to make the site more personal, smarter and provide more deals, said Bombacino.
"We want to go beyond just saving you a couple of bucks," he said.
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