New store opening: Bristol seafood grill with Anthony Bourdain

Situation

Bristol Seafood Grill was an institution in Kansas City’s fine dining scene for 20+ years with its New England-inspired, traditional dining environment that was becoming staid and not attracting younger diners. 

Action

To appeal to both regulars and younger diners for sustained relevance, it moved to a new, modern development and transformed its dining experience. Its debut was with two exclusive events -one public, one for media- featuring emerging celebrity chef, Anthony Bourdain (not yet mainstream but known among hip foodies), and a brand partnership with the city’s new Performing Arts Center nearby.

Result

The ‘new Bristol’ was received extremely well at both sold-out events, attracting the city’s tastemakers and influencers in the food and beverage space and garnering significant social media. Both older theater-goers and younger urban dwellers patronized the restaurant, which retained its ‘institutional’ stature through its evolution.