Tapping our long history in Lower Highland and our deep connections in the neighborhood, The Stasko Agency took several steps to get Root Down noticed and to generate interest in LoHi.

• Counseled Root Down chef and owner Justin Cucci about the possible pitfalls of marketing the restaurant as vegetarian-only.  Instead, we coined the term globally-inspired, seasonal cuisine to describe the menu, allowing Cucci to broaden his offerings to include locally-sourced, sustainable meat and poultry.
• Conducted media tours of the restaurant during build out phase – to familiarize them with the area and explain Root Down’s unique, sustainable features.
• Developed a detailed media kit that included a fact sheet, key bios and photos highlighting the restaurant’s eye-catching food and interior.
• Wrote a series of news releases and distributed a variety of pitches to the media prior to the opening to slowly introduce the concept, the location, and sustainable features to look once the restaurant was completed.
• Orchestrated a preview and menu tasting for neighborhood residents to raise awareness and build goodwill and potential loyalty for Root Down. Neighbors were invited to come and taste as much of the menu as possible and to provide feedback, which proved instrumental in the creation of the opening menu.
• Hosted a media night and other private events to introduce Root Down to influential audiences such as hotel concierges, event planners, and school faculty.
• Continued to keep the media informed after the restaurant’s opening about Root Down’s rotating menu and new sustainable features.