Florida Freebies And January 2018 Promotional Offers

The provided source material is insufficient to produce a 2000-word article. Below is a factual summary based on available data.

Introduction

While searching for specific Florida freebies available during January 2018, the source material offers limited information about promotional offers and deals occurring during that time period. The available data primarily includes New Year's Eve promotions extending into early January, restaurant specials, and business openings rather than comprehensive freebie programs. This article summarizes the verified promotional offers and freebies that were available in Florida during January 2018 based on the provided source materials.

Restaurant and Food Promotions

Several restaurant chains and food establishments in Florida offered promotional deals and free items during January 2018:

New Year's Eve and Early January Specials

• Applebee's: Featured the "$2 Captain and Cola" as the January drink of the month. This cocktail was made with Captain Morgan Spiced Rum and Pepsi and served in a 10-ounce mug.

• Baskin-Robbins: Offered regular and kids-sized scoops of ice cream for $1.50 on Mondays at participating locations nationwide, including Florida locations.

• Bob Evans: Provided a special promotion starting at 3 p.m. on New Year's Eve and continuing on January 1, where customers could purchase two select adult entrees for $9.99 each and receive free kids meals.

• Burger King: Offered a free order of Chicken Fries with a $5 minimum purchase on DoorDash. This promotion was valid from Tuesday through January 6 and required the promo code "NEWYEAR" at checkout. The offer was limited to the first 30,000 orders and was only valid for delivery through DoorDash, not for pickup or dine-in.

• Cumberland Farms: Provided free cups of coffee, either hot or iced, from 5 p.m. on New Year's Eve through 5 a.m. the following day.

• Bahama Breeze: Offered their Legendary Island Cocktails for $2.19 from 9 p.m. on New Year's Eve until closing time. This Caribbean-inspired promotion included drinks such as the Killer Bee, Painkiller, Goombay Smash, Zombie, and Dark 'N Stormy.

Restaurant Discounts During Government Shutdown

During a government shutdown period, several Florida restaurants offered discounts and free meals to affected federal employees:

• LaMotta's: An Italian restaurant located at 15660 San Carlos Blvd. in Iona, offered free meals to Coast Guard members working without pay. The restaurant could be reached at 239-482-5505 or through their website lamottasitalian.com.

• The American Grilled Cheese Kitchen: This fast-casual restaurant in Marlins Plaza at 5611 Six Mile Commercial Court in south Fort Myers provided free meals to furloughed government employees with valid ID, plus a 50 percent discount for family members dining with them. Contact information included phone 239-672-8444 and Facebook messaging at facebook.com/flgrilledcheese.

• Blackjack Pizza & Salads: Located at 28245 S. Tamiami Trail in Bonita Springs, this establishment offered a 50 percent discount to government employees who placed orders for pickup and showed valid government ID. Customers could use the code "GOV50" when placing orders online. The restaurant could be contacted at 239-495-3422 or through blackjackpizza.com.

Business Openings and Special Events

New Establishments

• Kava Culture: Opened a second store in January 2018 in Fort Myers, bringing kava, a euphoria-inducing Polynesian-born drink, to downtown Fort Myers. This location was a shared space with Buddha Blends and was dubbed the "Hippie Hideaway." The establishment offered smoothie bowls, waffles, avocado toast, and jackfruit quesadillas from Buddha Blends, a local food truck making its brick-and-mortar debut in this shared space.

Special Dining Events

• Society Restaurant: Located at Bell Tower Shops in south Fort Myers, hosted a Hell's Kitchen Takeover Chef's Dinner on January 31. This featured four past competitors from the Fox reality show hosted by Gordon Ramsay, including Chef Barret Beyer (season 11), Chef Bret Hauser (seasons 14 and 18), Chef Torrence "T" Gregoire (seasons 14 and 18), and Chef Sterling Wright (season 13). The event began at 6 p.m. with cocktails and appetizers, followed by a five-course dinner at 7 p.m. with wine pairings. Admission was $150 per person, with a VIP experience available for up to 50 guests.

Conclusion

Based on the available source materials, Florida residents and visitors had access to various promotional offers and free items during January 2018. Restaurant promotions included discounted drinks and food items, particularly around the New Year's holiday period. Several establishments also demonstrated community support by offering free meals and discounts to federal employees affected by a government shutdown. Additionally, new businesses opened in the state, providing unique experiences and products to consumers. While the source material provides specific examples of promotions and freebies available during January 2018, it does not offer a comprehensive overview of all such offers available in Florida during that month.

Sources

1. USA Today - New Year's Eve Deals
2. Forbes - Tax Day Specials
3. News-Press - Government Shutdown Discounts
4. My Sweet Savings - Birthday Freebies
5. City on Purpose - Birthday Freebies
6. Read and Reaction - Football Analysis