Restaurant Grand Opening - Embark Marketing
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Interior of Jinya Ramen Bar

24 Apr Restaurant Grand Opening Campaign: JINYA Ramen Bar – San Antonio Culebra

Posted at 17:02h in Case Studies, Case Study, Restaurant Marketing by

Strategic Launch Planning for a High-Profile Restaurant Opening

When JINYA Ramen Bar prepared to launch its second San Antonio location, the brand turned to Embark Marketing to generate excitement for their restaurant grand opening. Our aim was to attract food lovers and drive grand opening foot traffic to the unique eatery. With limited lead time, our team activated a robust public relations and influencer strategy focused on storytelling and high-visibility media exposure.

JINYA Ramen Bar, known for its slow-simmered broths and meticulously aged noodles, brings traditional Japanese ramen culture to life. We knew that a concept with such integrity and culinary depth deserved an equally bold introduction to the San Antonio community for their 2nd location in the Alamo City.

Executing a Public Relations Strategy to Maximize Media Exposure

To kick off the campaign, Embark drafted and distributed a press release that told the story of JINYA’s legacy, highlighted the brand’s roots in Japanese cuisine, and announced the official opening date. We coordinated directly with food editors, restaurant writers, and media outlets to secure editorial coverage across major digital platforms. This approach ensured media coverage throughout the local area as well as regionally.

Notable media hits included:

  • MSN.com and Finance Yahoo, which contributed the highest AVE totals at over $575K and $36K, respectively.
  • MySA, San Antonio Current, KENS 5, CultureMap San Antonio, FSR Magazine, and News4 San Antonio, which helped saturate the local press circuit and establish credibility.
  • A featured broadcast segment on Great Day SA and a detailed profile in the San Antonio Business Journal, further solidifying JINYA’s presence in the city’s food scene.

These placements were supported by a total of 31 online articles and 25 quality backlinks to the JINYA website. These strategic media placements boosted both SEO value and brand authority for the eatery, ensuring high visibility in the San Antonio Market and a successful restaurant grand opening campaign.

Influencer Marketing & Content Creation That Drives Engagement

Simultaneously, we launched an influencer engagement program focused on San Antonio-based creators in the food and lifestyle space. Influencers were invited to soft-opening previews and encouraged to share their ramen experiences across Instagram Reels, TikTok, and Facebook.

Influencers who participated included:

  • @sanantoniomunchies (102K followers)
  • @eatmigos (68K followers)
  • @tallyjoycee (70K followers)
  • @foodiefeastsa, @allofsa, @chynnajo, and others

These posts yielded 36 social media mentions, thousands of engagements, and high-quality video content that created FOMO and drove real-time traffic to the new location. The anticipation these influencer partnerships generated led to a line around the building on grand opening day.

JINYA RAMEN
Jinya Flyer

Grand Opening Results: Buzz, Lines, and Lasting Visibility

Primarily, the grand opening of JINYA Ramen Bar’s Culebra location demonstrated the power of a well-executed launch campaign. By combining strategic public relations with local influencer engagement, Embark Marketing helped turn a single-day event into a citywide moment of culinary excitement.

The results speak for themselves:

  • A line of customers wrapped around the building before the doors even opened, with wait times stretching up to 90 minutes as San Antonians eagerly anticipated their first taste of JINYA’s signature ramen.
  • The campaign generated more than 1.74 million estimated views across digital media and social channels, helping to establish strong brand visibility both locally and nationally.
  • 31 pieces of online press coverage appeared across high-authority publications such as MSN, Finance Yahoo, MySA, News4SA, and San Antonio Business Journal, securing top-tier editorial exposure.
  • Earned media coverage alone totaled $643,686 in Advertising Value Equivalent (AVE)—a significant return on investment that exceeded industry benchmarks for restaurant openings.
  • 25 backlinks were earned from these media placements, improving JINYA’s SEO footprint and supporting long-term online discoverability.
  • Every article and mention reflected positive sentiment, highlighting community excitement, high-quality food experiences, and the authenticity of the JINYA brand.
  • 36 influencer and social media mentions helped drive foot traffic and engagement in real time, with content that resonated with both loyal ramen fans and new guests.

The campaign not only met its objectives, but it also elevated JINYA’s profile within the San Antonio market. By leveraging media buzz and social proof, this grand opening outperformed the brand’s previous launch and solidified its position as a major player in the city’s dining scene.

Client Feedback & Post Grand Opening

While the eatery declined to share specific sales data, Embark Marketing was assured by the management team that sales greatly exceeded expectations. Post grand opening, the new location is enjoying a steady stream of satisfied patrons. With a 4.9 Google rating and over a thousand reviews as of April 2025, it is safe to say that JINYA has found their place among San Antonio’s top spots for amazing Japanese cuisine.

“Y’all smashed that PR and awareness. This grand opening definitely outperformed our last one. We had such a long line!” – Cai Palmiter, Marketing Representative for JINYA Ramen Bar

Why Restaurant Brands Partner with Embark Marketing

This grand opening campaign showcases how Embark Marketing delivers high-impact restaurant launch strategies through targeted press coverage, curated influencer collaborations, and creative storytelling. From neighborhood gems to nationally recognized brands like JINYA, we know how to make an opening day feel like an event the whole city talks about.

Ready to Launch Your Restaurant’s Grand Opening with a Bang?

Whether you’re introducing a new concept or expanding your brand, Embark Marketing specializes in crafting impactful restaurant launch strategies that get people talking and lining up at your door. From media outreach to influencer activations, we handle every detail so you can focus on delivering unforgettable food and hospitality. Our proven marketing strategies for restaurant grand openings deliver measurable results, not only in media buzz, but foot traffic & ultimately sales. Contact us today to discuss the grand opening of your eatery or bar & let’s create the buzz you deserve!

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