Monday nights at Hal & Mal’s are usually crowded with karaoke, live blues and Capital City Pride trivia. But even the Jackson staple could feel the effects of the typically slow season.
“August can sometimes not be the busiest month as people are transitioning out of summer break back into their routines,” said Damien Cavicchi, the restaurant’s owner.
Visit Jackson, the city’s marketing agency, is hoping to help bridge that gap across the city through JXN Restaurant Week, a weeklong campaign that runs through Saturday aimed at boosting restaurant sales during a notably slow time.
“JXN Restaurant Week is an opportunity to celebrate the chefs, restaurateurs and hospitality professionals who help define Jackson while encouraging residents and visitors to discover new favorites and support local businesses,” Visit Jackson CEO Ricky L. Thigpen said in a statement.
Urban Foxes is just one of 12 restaurants running a special this week — offering a 15% student discount. The coffeehouse’s co-owner Cody Cox said the weeklong event has helped put a focus back on local restaurants.
“Everyone’s getting back to school and getting back to a work schedule,” Cox said. “So it’s good to be like, ‘Hey, here’s some favorites that you might have not been visiting this summer.’”
Hal & Mal’s co-owner Damien Cavicchi talks with a reporter on Monday, August 4, 2026. Credit: Aaron Lampley/Mississippi TodayPatrons browsing Visit Jackson’s website can find localized dining itineraries alongside special discounts and menus.
Visit Jackson will also host a daily scavenger hunt alongside a spend-to-win giveaway during the week. It’s a new tactic Destination Development Manager Kim Lewis said is meant to boost participation among diners.
Patrons who spend $25 or more can message their receipt to 601-509-5674 for a chance to win two VIP tickets to the 2027 Jackson Food and Wine Festival. Runner-up prizes include a gift card basket valued at $150.
Clues for the scavenger hunt are posted to Instagram and Facebook every day at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., leading scavengers to restaurant gift cards ranging from $10 to $50.
“We’re really trying to engage with the community. Not just saying, ‘Hey, these restaurants are here. Go see them.’ But to really engage and get people involved,” Lewis said.
In previous years, restaurant week coincided with the state fair or National Travel and Tourism Week. Conversations with restaurant owners led Visit Jackson to move the event to the end of the summer.
Those conversations also led to many of the changes implemented this year. The adjustments include meal times beyond lunch. Neighborhood-based itineraries changed to reflect new restaurants in the area.
Despite Visit Jackson’s efforts, some restaurant owners told Mississippi Today that they weren’t informed about the event – and aren’t participating.
Lewis urged restaurant owners who want to participate to reach out.
With the newly updated schedule and implemented changes, Visit Jackson hopes to continue growing restaurant week to draw more tourists to the city.
“There’s Michelin-recognized restaurants and James Beard award-winning restaurants,” Lewis said of the capital city’s culinary scene. “There’s some great stuff here in Jackson, and sometimes we just have to remind people of that.”eople of that.”
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