Bringing the Locals
SKYY
INFUSIONS
CITRUS
RATED
92 POINTS
92 - SKYY INFUSIONS CITRUS
90 - Grey Goose Le Citron
89 - Absolut Citron
89 - Ketel One Citroen
85 - Smirnoff Citrus Twist
Bar Uncommon is a bit of a
newcomer to New Orleans, a
city known for some of the country’s
oldest bars. It’s location in the lobby of
the Renaissance Pere Marquette Hotel,
just beyond the French Quarter,
prompted director of sales and
marketing Michael Touchy to scout
out a promotion that would drive both
locals and hotel guests to the lobby.
“We began looking for people to
partner with in the city, and we got in
touch with B-native.com,” he says.
B-native.com is a web site started by
New Orleanians to feature locally made
products that highlight the creative
and artistic spirits in the city. During
the few years it has been around, the
site has earned loyal fans among people
from the city and beyond who check in
weekly for new items.
“There is a following for this web
site,” explains Touchy, and these
people all know each other and
relate to each other more than just a
customer-to-vendor relationship.”
Touchy and the group from B-
native.com set up vendor booths
inside Bar Uncommon every Tuesday
from 5 to 7 p.m. for the month of
March. B-native advertised the live
gatherings on the site and through
customer email blasts, while Touchy
added announcements to the hotel
newsletter and to the welcome packets
for each hotel guest room.
“It really drew a crowd at about 6
p.m., and then those people usually
stayed beyond 7 p.m. We made a
good amount of revenue during
these events. It was mostly wine and
Martinis, because the buying crowd is
sophisticated.”
The bar also pushed local libations
like the Pimm’s Cup to underscore the
focus on New Orleans style.
Recession-Busting Bar Menu
Vodka tasting scores conducted by the Beverage
Testing Institute®. Test conducted December 2007
and January 2008.
SKYY Infusions™All Natural Citrus. Vodka infused with
Natural Citrus Flavors. 35% alc/vol (70 proof). ©2009
Skyy Spirits, LLC. San Francisco, CA. Enjoy responsibly.
In April, Shaw’s Crab House in Schaumburg, Ill. began enticing cash-strapped locals
to visit between 3 and 6 p.m. daily to enjoy its
Bar Bites Mermaid menu. Favorite apps
are offered by the piece: coconut shrimp
are $1.75 each, a selection of oysters
are $2.25 each and tilapia, tuna or shrimp
fish tacos are $2.50 each. The bites can
be paired with $2 Bud Light Lime or the
Austrian Trumer Pils. Six wines – one
sparkling, three white and two reds
– from the extensive Shaw’s cellar
are priced at $5.99 a glass. All told,
guest can quench their thirst and
enjoy a satisfying taste of Shaw’s for
