10 exciting restaurant grand opening ideas

Preparing for the grand opening

A proper, well-received grand opening relies on months of preparation. Much of the focus tends to be on executing promotional ideas and highlighting your concept with glitz and glam, but none of those flourishes will matter if customers have a bad experience and the food doesn’t reach them in a timely manner.

One of the best ways to prepare is to have a soft opening. Think of this as a trial run; you aren’t just hoping you’re ready, you’ll find out for sure from the VIPs you invite to test your operational efficiency. There are quite a few steps involved in opening a restaurant, and a soft open gives you a chance to see what’s truly working, which staff members might need more training, and how you can tweak existing processes to make them better.

Some of the best grand opening ideas for your restaurant

1. Make a list of people to invite

A soft opening is usually restricted to invited guests you know will give you honest feedback and be kind to your staff as you iron out your steps of service. A grand opening, on the other hand, should be open to everyone and anyone. Definitely invite friends, family, neighbors, and vendors, but issue a public invitation as well.

2. Work with social media influencers

What’s a restaurant grand opening marketing plan without a few celebs in the mix? You might not be able to get Gordon Ramsay to cut the big red ribbon out front on opening day, but you can invite local public figures and social media influencers to make an appearance. The level of celebrity you get depends largely on your budget, but even resident VIPs will have an existing network they can use to generate buzz.

3. Make the grand opening a big event

What makes a big event “big”? It’s all about finding a way to stand out from the crowd. Most restaurants open with some live music and a prize giveaway. Include those ideas in your plan, too, but add something unique. Maybe your grand opening is part of a street-long block party, so you can get other storefronts involved. Maybe you can tie it in with a holiday and add games and contests. Get creative!

4. Partner with local businesses and charities

A rising tide lifts all boats. In other words, businesses in the same location and/or same field can share similar economic triumphs and challenges. Banding together could help each organization find growth and success. Invite local businesses to partner with you for your grand opening by finding cross-promotional opportunities that make sense – your giveaway bags could include swag from a local t-shirt shop or samples from an artisanal honey maker, for instance.

Charitable giving is important, too. Turn your grand opening into a clothing drive or have guests help fill backpacks for students in need.

5. Provide promotional freebies for attendees

There are lots of solid restaurant grand opening promotion ideas, but freebies remain a top contender. People love free stuff. Swag that can be used often and in public – think baseball hats, tote bags, coffee mugs, etc. – makes guests feel as though they won something while also acting as free publicity for your business.

Freebies can also be non-tangible items such as a discount code for future orders or complimentary membership in (or free points for) your loyalty program.

6. Spread the word through social media and physical signage

Social media is a major component of most restaurants’ marketing plans, and for good reason. Many diners still turn to social media to pick their next meal and learn about restaurants and related special events before making a reservation or ordering takeout.

Generate interest in your grand opening by posting about it on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. Include a mix of static posts, images, and videos highlighting everything from your food to your staff to what’s happening behind the scenes.

7. Think about entertainment options

Delicious food can be pretty entertaining, but most guests will be looking for a bit more pizazz from your grand opening. Consider hiring a band or DJ; set up a photo booth; or have your chef and bartending team do cooking demos and flair bartending exhibitions.

8. Make it a kid-friendly environment

Your grand opening should match the general vibe of your restaurant. If you’re an adults-only venue overall, it’s fine to restrict your grand opening to guests 18 years of age and older (or 21+ if you’re primarily serving alcohol or have other license-related restrictions). However, if you welcome guests of all ages and want to cater to families, your grand opening plans should include kid-centric food, entertainment, and activities.

9. Honor a special group

While you’re busy connecting with and giving back to the community, why not honor one of the groups that contributes so much to your city or county? Invite veterans, first responders, or teachers to be your special guests. Ensure they’ll be well taken care of and celebrated by other attendees – and it wouldn’t hurt if they left with some extra freebies, too. A donation perhaps? Just make sure you find a group that speaks to your beliefs – be genuine and do what feels right.

10. Host a meet & greet with guests

You don’t have to host a formal meet and greet with guests, but you do need to be available and working the floor as much as possible. This is how you establish yourself as the face of your restaurant. It’s also how you’ll hear honest feedback about your party, food, and service.

These restaurant grand opening event ideas can help you get off on the right foot, making a name for your business. You can keep that momentum going by onboarding the right tools to ensure your restaurant is busy, efficient, and prepped for success.

Contact a Clover Business Consultant today to see how we can help your restaurant reach the next level.

Editorial Team

Full Service Restaurants (FSR), Marketing, Quick Service Restaurants (QSR), Social media

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