Diners eating inside a restaurant

Grand openings are more than just celebrations, but you might be asking yourself if it’s really necessary. According to Yelp, new restaurant openings in 2023 surpassed pre-pandemic numbers, and increased 10% compared to 2022. This indicates strong growth in the industry, as well as more competition within the space. A well-executed grand opening is a critical marketing tool and opportunity to start on the right foot and set your restaurant up for success. With this initiative and intention, you can create buzz, build a loyal customer base from the start and quickly establish your restaurant as a staple and favorite in your community. ChowNow knows how important promoting your new restaurant is, so we gathered grand opening ideas, information, and resources to help you make your restaurant’s grand opening as successful as possible.

How to Plan Details for Your Grand Opening

Set a Date

All grand openings begin with picking a date. Try to pick a day on the calendar that will give you ample time for prepare and train your staff accordingly. Make sure you avoid holidays and local events that might be occurring in your community so you don’t have to worry about competing for attention.

Create a Realistic Budget

Before a grand opening takes place, it’s important to set time aside to look at costs and allocate funds for marketing, staff training, decor, entertainment and menu specials. This will help you make the most of the grand opening and not overspend.

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Consider Relevant Activities

Integrating fun activities into the grand opening can help the event feel more cohesive and ultimately, more successful. Some options for activities might include:

  • live cooking or mixology demonstrations
  • a ribbon-cutting ceremony
  • a meet-and-greet with the chef
  • games
  • a food and wine pairing session
  • a photo booth

It’s also common for restaurants to incorporate live music or a DJ into a grand opening. This could be a good idea depending on your space and the ambiance you’re looking to create.

How to Train and Prep Your Staff for the Grand Opening

Comprehensive Training

Before your restaurant hosts a grand opening, it’s important to make sure that all of your staff members are well-trained on the menu, your service standards and the POS system that your restaurant uses. Try to integrate role-playing customer exercises to help prepare your staff for real-life situations that might come up.

Emphasize Customer Service

First impressions matter, and they can often make or break how a customer sees your restaurant – and whether or not they’ll make the decision to return and tell their friends about it. Reliable, excellent customer service is crucial to succeeding. Make sure you share this message with your staff ahead of the grand opening, and answer any questions they may have.

Do a Dress Rehearsal

Take initiative and schedule a dress rehearsal to prepare for the grand opening. This can include preparing and serving the food that you plan to serve for the grand opening and walking through all of the ins and outs of the day. This will help your whole team feel prepared and get ahead of any last-minute issues that might pop up.

Ideas to Promote Your Grand Opening

You want to make sure your grand opening makes a splash and leaves an impression on the people in your community, and that starts with getting the word out.

Share Info on Social Media

Use platforms like Instagram, Facebook and X to share the details of your grand opening. This will help spread awareness within your community, and it makes it easy for people to share the grand opening information with their family and friends. The more the merrier!

Connect With Local Media

Working with local newspapers, magazines and radio stations can be helpful when it comes to spreading the word about your grand opening. It will help you bring in more customers and form solid relationships that will be important and useful in the future.

Send an Invitation Via Email

Utilize your current contacts and invite people to your grand opening via email. You can use the email as an opportunity to get creative and show off the personality and hard work behind your restaurant.

Offer Discounts or Special Deals

Let potential customers know that they can get special discounts and deals for both the grand opening and future dining experiences. Consider offering discounts on the whole meal – or something specific like drinks or appetizers – or give customers a limited-time coupon they can use in the future. This will persuade them to come to your grand opening and dine at the restaurant again.

Day-Of Grand Opening Ideas

The day of the grand opening is an exciting day. It’s filled with promise and opportunity, and it’s a great time to sprinkle in little memorable details. Here are some ideas to get you started.

Make the Entrance Memorable

Help your restaurant stand out on the day of the grand opening by decorating your entrance in a way that is memorable and aligned with your vision. This is a great place to get creative and integrate flowers or greenery. Balloons or streamers can work too, if that feels right to you.

Music Matters

Whether you create an awesome playlist or decide to integrate a DJ or musicians, make sure you’ve considered your options and nailed down your final choice by the time the grand opening rolls around. Keeping music playing throughout the grand opening will help create an atmosphere that feels lively and engaged.

Fun With Photos

Set up a photobooth or create a DIY opportunity with a backdrop and props. Make sure to include signs that remind people to tag your restaurant if they share the pictures on social media. This is a great opportunity for free promotion.

Dive In With Decor

Lean on your cuisine to guide your decor decisions and don’t be afraid to go with a subtle and well-executed theme. When it comes to decorating, think about table settings – including table cloths – lighting, floral arrangements, silverware and glassware that stand out. If you’re feeling like you want to go the extra mile, try to customize things, like napkins or cups.

Specials on the Menu

Add some specials to the menu for the grand opening, if that feels natural to you and in line with your vision. Plus, it will make guests feel like they’re in on a unique and one-of-a-kind moment. Consider offering samples of some of your favorite items, too, so guests can get a taste of what’s to come.

Ultimately, hosting a successful grand opening requires careful planning, an enthusiastic staff, and strategic promotion. By focusing on these elements, you can create an unforgettable event that sets the stage for your restaurant’s success.

Once you’ve nailed it with the grand opening, read about how you can amp up your restaurant’s website with SEO and optimize your Google Business Profile to bring in new diners.