DATE: March 2, 2026
TO: Council Economic Development Committee
FROM: Chief Economic Development Officer
SUBJECT
Title
Hayward Restaurant Month 2026
End
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
That the Council Economic Development Committee receives an update on the Third Annual Hayward Restaurant Month Promotion.
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SUMMARY
The Economic Development Division launched the third annual Hayward Restaurant Month in January 2026. The program supports local restaurants during a slow time of year after the holidays. The goal is to increase customer visits and sales.
In 2026, staff expanded digital marketing and media outreach. Staff created 15 custom social media reels to promote participating restaurants. The City continued its partnership with Yelp to increase online visibility. The promotion also received regional media coverage, including stories on Telemundo, the East Bay Times, and live segments on KTVU.
In addition, staff hosted two ribbon cutting events for participating restaurants. At each event, gift cards were raffled to encourage community members to dine locally. This report provides an overview of the program and its impact.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment I Staff Report