“This has really taken on a life of its own,” Jay Messier said. “It’s growing everyday.”

Several weeks ago Messier began promoting Wicked Local Week: Warwick on his Wicked Beautiful RI Facebook page. The initiative is one he successfully oversaw in West Warwick a month previous, which brought together various local businesses for one week of promotions to celebrate the community.

The idea is reminiscent of a modified Restaurant Week, incorporating other companies for the promotional week from salons to boutiques.

Wicked Local Week began after Messier saw a Facebook post that there could never be a restaurant week in West Warwick; he set out to prove that wrong. He began reaching out to different owners to host different specials throughout a specific timeframe, encouraging the community to “shop and eat local.”

“The way I see it, it’s a win-win. Business get free advertising and customers get special deals,” Messier said.

In the weeks prior, Messier spotlights several businesses a day to promote the Wicked Local Week. Members of the page get the opportunity to win gift cards and services during the announcements.

In West Warwick, Wicked Local Week was a huge success with more than 40 companies participating and other businesses outside West Warwick asking for the movement to come to their city or town. Now, Wicked Local Week has come to Warwick, and already more than 40 organizations have signed up to participate.

Messier would like to make Wicked Local Week a traveling phenomenon, visiting and highlighting a different municipality throughout the state every few weeks. He already has requests from cities all over Rhode Island for Wicked Local Week to come visit their town. West Warwick is already trying to make another Wicked Local event in a few months.

“Who knows where it will end up next,” Messier said. “There are endless possibilities with this. There are a lot of ideas in the pipeline like food competitions.”

Messier said he has received positive feedback from both businesses and the local community in Warwick; he even caught the eye of Councilwoman Camille Vella-Wilkinson. Vella-Wilkinson said she has always been a fan of the Wicked Beautiful RI page and immediately reached out to Messier to help when she heard Wicked Local Week would be coming to Warwick.

“This helps to build a sense of community,” she said. “This is the human side of business.”

She commended Messier for his efforts, saying that rather than complain, Messier stepped up to see positive change in the community.

“He saw a problem, a void, and acted on it. I find that inspiring,” Vella-Wilkinson said.

This initiative has a “cyclical, visible impact” on the community according to Vella-Wilkinson. By encouraging people to support local businesses, to become a “stakeholder” in their own communities, local organizations can hire more people and continue to stimulate the economy.

Similarly, because Wicked Local Week is featured on a statewide public page, people from outside of the city may come and support Warwick as well.

Messier said people like to see their “money in action,” and when you shop and eat local “that’s your neighbors you’re helping, not some nameless person. That money is going to pay rent, get new equipment for a local baseball team, new school clothes for the kids.”

Both Messier and Vella-Wilkinson agree that Wicked Local Week is an opportunity to try something new, to try a new restaurant or hairstylist.

“We are creatures of habit, and this will introduce you to other venues in the city,” Vella-Wilkinson said.

Messier said, “This is a chance to learn about a place you probably drive by every day and get a business a whole new audience.”

Warwick’s Wicked Local Week will be from Monday, April 18 until Sunday, April 24. Participating restaurants and services will be hosting various promotions on one of the days throughout the week for customers. Every day the page is announcing a couple of new businesses involved with the opportunity for members to win, helping to build excitement for the actual week. For a full list of businesses involved and which ones are spotlighted each day visit Wicked Beautiful RI’s Facebook Page.

There will also be a Wicked Local Week kickoff on Monday, April 18 at The Office Kitchen and Bar, 1795 Post Rd. The event is open to the public and will feature local business owners involved in Wicked Local Week as well as local officials. The kickoff begins at 7 and runs until 11 p.m. There will be complimentary food provided by The Office.

For more information or to sign up your business contact Messier at 490-1863 or visit the Wicked Beautiful RI Facebook page.