Menlo Park Launches ShopMenlo Rewards Program

The city's new program offers 5% back on purchases at participating downtown businesses.

Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Couponing

Gouache-painted editorial illustration of a cream shopping bag beside five golden coins on a dusty-rose ground, with a sage loop arrow suggesting rewards returning to shoppers. — Menlo Park launched ShopMenlo, a rewards program letting shoppers earn 5% back at participating downtown businesses, with downtown merchants automatically enrolled. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Would you shop downtown more often to earn rewards at local businesses?

Menlo Park has launched ShopMenlo, a rewards program that lets shoppers earn 5% back on purchases at participating downtown businesses. Downtown businesses are automatically enrolled in the program.

Why it matters

The program is designed to encourage residents to shop locally and support downtown businesses. It is part of the city's Downtown Vibrancy effort, which aims to strengthen the local shopping district.

Shoppers earn 5% back on purchases at participating downtown Menlo Park businesses, which must link a debit card through the Open Rewards app and pay via a phone's digital wallet. In a survey, 87% of Open Rewards users said local shopping rewards influenced their purchases, and 75% of businesses reported benefits.

The players

Open Rewards

Open Rewards is the rewards platform company that developed ShopMenlo in partnership with the city.

City of Menlo Park

The City of Menlo Park is the municipal government that launched the ShopMenlo program as part of its Downtown Vibrancy effort.

The details

Developed in partnership with Open Rewards, ShopMenlo lets customers earn and redeem rewards toward future purchases at participating downtown businesses. Shoppers download the Open Rewards app, link a debit card, and pay with their phone's digital wallet, while businesses can continue accepting debit card and mobile wallet payments as usual.

An exact launch date for ShopMenlo has not yet been announced.

Local Shopping Push

ShopMenlo is a component of the city's Downtown Vibrancy effort, extending that revitalization work into direct consumer incentives for downtown shopping. Its initial limit to downtown businesses places it within that targeted district-level strategy.

Shoppers who link a debit card through the Open Rewards app can earn 5% back on purchases at participating downtown Menlo Park businesses. Downtown businesses continue accepting debit card and mobile wallet payments as usual, so no change to existing payment habits is required.

The takeaway

Residents who already pay by debit card or phone wallet can start earning downtown rewards once the program goes live. Watch for the official launch date before changing your shopping routine.