WASHINGTON (7News) -- Pinkey Reddick, owner of Flavorture in D.C.'s bustling Woodley Park area, is prepping for a big rush of diners.

August is already a slow month for restaurants, which is why Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Week was created to provide a sales boost. It is also Black Business Month.

Reddick said she has seen even less foot traffic in the past few days in the wake of the beefed-up federal law enforcement presence.

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"I know that deterred a few people at the beginning of Restaurant Week, so they decided to extend it to just kind of push people in and let people know it's fine to come out to D.C. restaurants and dine," said Reddick.

The extension of restaurant week is thanks to the Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD).

The department decided to extend restaurant week through the end of August to provide an extra boost for businesses and a benefit to restaurant goers.

"What I'm hearing from our restaurant owners is that they may be seeing a blip in some of the traffic," said Rosemary Suggs Evans, the Director of DSLBD.

"That's the whole point of restaurant week and extending restaurant week. It's an incentive to come on out, and more importantly, it's an incentive to show people who we are in DC, and we support our small businesses."

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About a mile and a half away on U Street, there was also an extended youth curfew zone in effect for the weekend.

It's an added D.C. police presence that some business owners have told Seven News is needed to encourage people to dine out and shop.

Reddick hopes those who may be feeling uneasy will continue to help small businesses thrive in the District.