Jennifer Gonzalez awarded $2,000 in neighborhood gift certificates

Por Antonio Rey | Editor SDUN

Jennifer Gonzalez joined Fiesta Cantina manager Cyril Soubiran, waiter Jessy Liller and Hillcrest Business Association (HBA) Marketing and Communications Director Lisa Weir on Jan. 23 for a short celebration announcing Gonzalez the winner of over $2,000 in gift certificates from several Hillcrest businesses.

Gonzalez, who is a resident of University Heights, bought the winning raffle ticket at Fiesta Cantina in early December 2012, during the HBA’s SHOP Hillcrest for the Holidays campaign. She said she could not believe her luck.

“About five weeks ago, I went to Fiesta Cantina with a few friends to celebrate,” she said. “I ordered one of those awesome margaritas, and the waiter told me to fill out the raffle ticket for a shopping spree. I’m so glad I did.”

Liller, who lives in Mission Hills, has been working at the restaurant and bar for almost a year. He was on shift the night Gonzalez came in with a large group of friends, and said he remembered her filling out the ticket.

“It was a way to promote the sales for the event,” he said. “We had fliers for the prize and it came with a purchase of one of the margaritas. … The drinks that we offered for the tickets were really good.”

The SHOP Hillcrest raffle contest is used as a way to promote and support local business over the busy holiday season, Weir said. Businesses who offered raffle tickets to their patrons provided gift certificates to the HBA, who then bundled them together and to present to one grand-prize winner.

“We collected over 2,000 raffle [tickets] all holiday season long, generating $2,000 worth of gift certificates,” she said. “Fiesta was great. When we picked up the raffle tickets, they had a huge stack.”

Participating locations spanned the breadth of Hillcrest, and the prize includes gift certificates to restaurants, as well as boutique stores and services. Last year’s winner Kelly Horrell bought her ticket at Mint Shoes on University Avenue. The retailer participated again this year.

Gonzalez said she was particularly happy about the gift certificate to Mint, as well as Baja Betty’s.

“I go to Baja Betty’s all the time for brunch,” she said. “I’m actually going there on Sunday.”

Weir then went through the selection of gift certificates, telling Gonzalez little tidbits about each business and recommending favorites.

Now in its third year, prizes in the 2012 SHOP Hillcrest promotion included gifts from 45 businesses, marking a significant increase over the previous year, which had just over 25 retailers participating.

In all, Gonzalez won gift certificates to Akinori, Artist & Craftsman Supply, Babette Schwartz, Baja Betty’s, Bamboo Lounge and T-Deli, Bodhi Massage Center, Buffalo Exchange, Cathedral, Circulation Music & Movies, City Delicatessen, Cody’s Home + Gifts, Cohabitat, Column One, Crest Cafe, d bar, Fido & Co., Fiesta Cantina, Flashbacks, Fiji Yogurt, Gossip Grill, Green Fresh Florals, Haircrest, Hillcrest Brewing Company, Hillcrest Shell, House Boi, Jersey Mike’s, KASI Restaurant, Lalo’s Mexican Grill, Luna Grill, Mankind, Mint Shoes, Nutrimart, Ortega’s Mexican Bistro, Pinkberry, Pure Boutique, Revivals, The Range and 1202, The Ruby Room, Snooze, The Tractor Room, Twirl, Urban Mo’s, Urban Optiks Optometry, Village Hat Shop and The Wine Lover.