Blackbird, a New York-based restaurant loyalty app, recently celebrated its official launch in the Holy City. While some local restaurants first started using Blackbird last year, the app’s September kickoff included more than 30 local restaurants.
Blackbird founder Ben Leventhal said Blackbird, which is also available in New York City and San Francisco, will be available in 50 Charleston-area restaurants by the end of the year.
“I love Charleston,” Leventhal said. “This is one of the best gastronomic cities in the country, and I think it far exceeds its class in terms of size and number of restaurants.”
Leventhal knows a thing or two about the restaurant world. He is also the co-founder of booking platform Resy and pioneering digital media brand Eater.
Through Blackbird, Leventhal said he wants to reward loyalty to local bars, restaurants and coffee shops. Diners earn points when they check in to participating restaurants and gain access to exclusive benefits such as last-minute tables, welcome drinks and off-menu items.
“We want to go anywhere in the world that has great restaurants,” Leventhal said of Blackbird. “And Charleston checked that box.”
So far, so good
“The response has been amazing,” Leventhal said of the Blackbirds’ first foray into Charleston. “We couldn’t be happier with how the app works and how it connects with people. We feel like Charleston gets that.”
Beautiful South and Kwei Fei owners David and Tina Heath-Schuttenberg have been using the app for several months.
“Once I learned the details, it was easy to think about,” Heath Schuttenberg said. “Not only can you provide VIP services to your guests during their visit, but you can also update reservations or invite them to previews through our messaging feature.”
She said she liked that it was accessible to anyone who ate at the restaurant. “Blackbird makes me feel like I’m texting with a friend.”
Heath Schuttenberg also said he was grateful to be able to “pamper” the longtime loyal customers of Kwei Fei, the cult-favorite James Island Sichuan restaurant.
In Charleston’s oversaturated food and beverage scene, which relies heavily on tourism dollars, locals can have a hard time feeling like they’re getting special treatment. This is a problem for local business owners given how important local people are. After all, locals are the ones who are responsible for eating there repeatedly, and a restaurant’s identity is often determined by the nature of its frequent patrons.
Leventhal agreed that locals are the “foundation” of the restaurant industry.
When it comes to the industry, morale can seem low at times with many restaurants closing recently. Is Charleston’s hospitality industry in crisis? Are restaurants becoming too expensive to operate?
Leventhal doesn’t think so.
“We’re here because we believe in the long-term viability of restaurants… There are ups and downs in the industry,” he said. “But we deeply believe that restaurants are important in the long term, and we think Blackbird has the potential to be an important part of the future restaurant economy. That’s what we’re here for.”
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