A downtown Hattiesburg restaurant group, Front Street Eats, is hoping to make dining out a little easier for college students by rolling out weekly discounts tied to student IDs.
“We decided to start doing student discounts so that we could not only attract students to our locations downtown but give them a bit of a break from paying full price for everything,” said Mallorie Pittman, public relations lead for Front Street Eats. “College can be tough, and giving a discount to students is like saying, ‘Hey, we got you. Go Eagles!’”
Southbound, Nellie’s Chicken & Daiquiris, Hattiesburgers and Blues are all participating in the promotion when students show a valid ID.
At Hattiesburgers, Mondays feature $10 burgers for students starting at 5 p.m. On Tuesdays, the restaurant offers its four for $40 takeout deal.
“That deal is perfect for college roommates to share,” Pittman said. “That’s $10 for a burger, side and drink for each person.”
At Nellie’s Chicken & Daiquiris, every Thursday is College Night. Students 21 and older can get a chicken and daiquiri combo at a discounted rate, while underage students can purchase a chicken and soft drink combo at a lower price with their ID.
At Southbound, students can get a free cup of coffee with a breakfast purchase on Tuesdays.
“We are calling it To the Top Tuesdays,” Pittman said.
She added that the group also owns Blu Jazz Cafe and Bourbon on Front, “two different concepts perfect for a date night in downtown Hattiesburg.”
The promotions are designed to make dining more accessible for students while driving foot traffic to local businesses.
“It is always really important to have student discounts at restaurants across Hattiesburg,” said Hilawe Tibebe, a USM junior. “For different students, eating out is a luxury they cannot afford, so discounts make it possible for them to get a treat at a more affordable price.”
“We love being in a college town with two great universities nearby and hope this brings awareness to our five locations,” Pittman said. “Downtown is walkable, loaded with retail shops, and has quirky stops around each corner, from murals to statues big and small.”
