SYRACUSE — More than 40 downtown Syracuse restaurants are participating in the first “Delicious Downtown Deals” promotion.

The restaurants include five new eateries that just opened at the Salt City Market. The meals are available for dine in, curbside, and to go.

The promotion started Feb. 1 and continues all month long through Feb. 28, according to the Downtown Committee of Syracuse, Inc.

The specials and deals vary from restaurant to restaurant. Some eateries are offering package deals, including some for $20.21, reflecting the calendar year. Others are serving up three-course lunches and dinners at a fixed price point, similar to what the community has come to expect during the traditional “Downtown Dining Weeks” promotion, which the Downtown Committee plans to present “later this spring.”

“Right now, there is an exciting energy in our community as we continue to show our love for our local restaurants, retailers, and the cultural institutions that make this city center so special,” Merike Treier, executive director of the Downtown Committee of Syracuse, said in a statement. “We plan to hold the traditional Dining Weeks promotion later this year, but we didn’t want to miss out on celebrating the flavors that so many have come to look forward to each year around this time. We hope you’ll visit your favorite restaurants — and discover new ones — in whatever ways you and your families are most comfortable with. Enjoy dining in, curbside pick-up, and/or takeout.”

Passport-promotion contest

As part of the promotion, the Downtown Committee is also hosting a passport-promotion contest.

Throughout the month of February, as patrons visit one or more participating restaurants, they can earn stickers when they purchase a restaurant’s specified “Downtown Deal.”

Seven or more stickers (deal purchases) earn patrons one entry in the prize drawing, 14 or more earn two entries in the prize drawing, and 21 or more earn patrons three entries in the prize drawing. 

Participants may also email Mail@DowntownSyracuse.com, sharing their favorite 13202-zip-code restaurant, specifying their favorite meal and why it is, to earn an entry into the drawing.

Passport cards may be picked up at participating restaurants or downloaded at the Downtown Committee’s website. To redeem passports, patrons can email a picture of their card (front and back) to the Downtown Committee at Mail@DowntownSyracuse.com. 

If you don’t have a smartphone, please mail it to the Downtown Committee of Syracuse, Inc. at 115 West Fayette St, Syracuse, N.Y. 13202 c/o “Passport Promotion.” 

All submissions must be received by March 1. The drawing will be held during the first week of March.

Meal and a Museum 

Four museums are also joining the “Delicious Downtown Deals” campaign. Throughout the month of February, visitors are encouraged to visit any of the participating restaurants to pick up a pass that will grant them a 10-percent discount at the Onondaga Historical Association’s gift gallery or at the Erie Canal Museum, one free admission at the Museum of Science and Technology (MOST), or one free admission at the Everson Museum of Art. 

“Meal and a Museum” passes are only available at participating restaurants, the Downtown Committee said.

SYRACUSE — Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: TAST) recently appointed Carl Hauch as the company’s chief operating officer (COO), effective Feb. 15.

Syracuse–based Carrols is the largest Burger King franchisee in the U.S.

Hauch, age 54, comes to Carrols from NPC International, where he was president of the company’s Wendy’s division, from January 2019 to February 2021. NPC is the largest Wendy’s franchisee. Hauch led the company to its most-successful year in 2020, prior to its recently announced sale, Carrols said in a news release.

Before joining NPC, Hauch worked at Barnes & Noble, Inc., where he served as VP from July 2017 through June 2018 and co-CEO from June 2018 to January 2019.

Prior to Barnes & Noble, Hauch worked as senior VP of national operations and customer experience at Advance Auto Parts. He also held multiple leadership positions at Advance Auto Parts, including as head of operations and human resources. Hauch worked for the company from 2008-2012.

Hauch started his career working in management positions in the restaurant industry before launching a 14-year career at Starbucks in 1994. He worked in a variety of operational positions, including store manager, district manager, director of operations, and regional VP. Hauch ran national operations in Australia and became CEO/managing director of Starbucks Switzerland and Austria, where he led “a complete turnaround of the business in the span of 24 months,” per the release.

“Carl is a terrific addition to the Carrols team, and I am thrilled to have him on board to oversee our almost 1,100 Burger King and Popeyes restaurants in 23 states,” Daniel T. Accordino, chairman and CEO of Carrols, said. “He has a depth of experience managing large-scale restaurant and retail operations, as well as a proven reputation for growing businesses and managing costs. I believe his skills will be especially valuable as we re-engage in strong but balanced organic and non-organic growth strategies.”

Contract details

Under his employment agreement, Hauch will be paid an annual base salary of $550,000 that may be increased annually at the discretion of the Carrols compensation committee, according to a company filing with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission. Hauch will also get to participate in the company’s executive-bonus plan, with a target percentage of 100 percent of his annual base salary, and any restricted stock or other equity-incentive plans applicable to executive employees. Hauch will also receive a cash sign-on bonus of $120,000, in lieu of any payments for costs of his relocation and reimbursement for temporary-lodging expenses incurred through his relocation date or June 15, 2021 — whichever comes first.