Restaurants use Pokemon to lure customers
The reboot of the Pokemon franchise has transformed strategy for restaurants, bars and coffee shops.
Pokémon Go players are now choosing their restaurants based on the availability of Pokémon in the area.
The game, launched last week, sends users to specific PokéStops, or specific sites where they can can “catch” Pokemon.
These sites can be anywhere, from hospital and hot dog stands to restaurants.
So if Pokemon Go shows that an eatery has a certain pokemon, it will attract a certain kind of customer.
The result: restaurants are suddenly being invaded by Pokemon seekers. And some customers are complaining when a restaurant doesn’t have Pokemon or just as bad, the right kind of Pokemon.
On the plus side, some bars and restaurants are saying their business has increased by 10 per cent since Pokemon Go came out.
As a result, some restaurants are being proactive and luring customers by using purchasable items that attract Pokemon. Some, like CitySen Lounge in Grand Rapids, Michigan, are offering discounts to players.
There are different strategies for different folks.
Danny Meyer's Italian restaurant Maialino in New York has now taken to operating as a Pokémon gym
Japanese street food spot/ramen house Yusho in Chicago also runs a gym. It also hosts Pokémon parties complete with food specials, including the raw fish dish poke.
Sydney Chinese restaurant Tanghui has announced it is activating a Lure Model daily at lunch and dinner times, starting on Tuesday.
“Be alert with the time so that you will not miss out the Pokémon that you are searching for!” the restaurant announced on Facebook.
Indeed, a lot of the restaurants are using social media to spread the word and share the news with potential customers, retweeting those who have caught Pokemon at their premises.
It’s early days yet, but it’s inevitable more restaurants will be jumping on the Pokemon bandwagon.
by Leon Gettler, July 12th 2016
