Fainmous BBQ takes catering to the next level with Popmenu

Client Spotlight:

Fainmous BBQ

James and Karen Fain have been perfecting Tennessee-style barbecue for over a decade, running two Houston-area restaurants, aptly named Fainmous BBQ, featuring dishes with distinctive hickory smoke flavor and savory vinegar-based sauces.

After finding success with their full-service restaurants, the Fains saw an opportunity to shift their business model to focus exclusively on catering. This shift enabled them to streamline operations, enjoy more flexibility, and deliver their signature hospitality in new and exciting ways.

"When we pivoted to catering, two big things happened. First, we were able to really reduce our staff and hire labor–when needed–for larger events. That makes the labor component a lot more predictable, enabling us to staff up when required. Second, we can now offer a number of items without holding that inventory ahead of time."

Seeking one platform for all operational needs

As their business evolved, so did their need for the right tools to help them run their catering business efficiently. Enter Popmenu, which became a vital technology partner to help navigate the unique demands of a catering company.

Working with Popmenu, the Fains were able to integrate online ordering into their website, creating a seamless experience for their catering customers–and easy access on the backend for the Fains to track and manage orders.

“Popmenu has been excellent in allowing us to be responsive to our bigger catering clients; when they fill out the online forms, I can readily see the information needed for the order, know who I need to bring in for staffing, and then close the deal and ultimately close the job with what we hope is a very good customer experience.”

Karen Fain

Owner of Fainmous BBQ

Popmenu has also helped Fainmous BBQ engage a wider audience by serving up guest communication through both curated and automated emails. The platform’s analytics also help them continue to craft the right type of messaging that resonates with their catering clientele.

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Driving online visibility means focusing on Google

Through their partnership with Popmenu, the Fains have also experienced the value of SEO. The best website, stellar marketing, and a superior online ordering process only matter if they help your restaurant rise to the top of a Google search. Luckily the Popmenu platform is designed to perform well on Google and allows the Fains to manage their operations, marketing, and Google profile all in the same place.

“What we have seen is the importance of actually showing up–not only from a physical foot traffic standpoint but also from a digital footprint perspective. You have to be integrated with what we call ‘the best influencer in the world,’ which is Google. You have to have that presence. If you are not posting, and if the Google ‘crawlers’ don't recognize you as relevant, then your restaurant will not be seen. That is just the reality of where we are.”

Karen Fain

Owner of Fainmous BBQ

The shift from dine-in service to catering–while leveraging Popmenu to manage leads, communication, and online visibility–has helped Fainmous BBQ streamline operations and expand its customer base. The Fain’s story illustrates that with the right tools in place, restaurants can continue treating customers like family–no matter how the business evolves.

“What I love about the Popmenu platform–and one of the main reasons why we went with Popmenu–is because of their proprietary technology and the integration they have with Google.”

Karen Fain

Owner of Fainmous BBQ

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Popmenu + Genius: one menu, one ordering flow, fewer manual updates

What initially drew Nick, along with marketing director Brennan Best, to Popmenu was its seamless integration with Great Basin’s POS system Genius. Prior to Popmenu, any menu or website changes were manual and time-consuming: menus changing two to four times a year and updates across locations via various technologies, all online orders were routed through third parties, cutting into the restaurants’ profits. After choosing Popmenu, the team has saved significant time: instantaneous website changes across all channels, online orders go directly from the Popmenu platform into the Genius POS, and guests’ orders are fulfilled with less room for error.

In the months following the launch, Great Basin has seen an average month-over-month 11% increase in online ordering gross payment value (GPV), which is the total amount processed during transactions. During that period, they’ve also gained more than 1,000 new guest contacts (a 9% increase)—and those new followers have driven almost 75% of their orders. With Popmenu, Great Basin is capturing guest information so they can stay top of mind and continue to build a loyal customer base.

“The ability [as a result of the Popmenu integration] for our customers to order directly from our website, and for that to be less expensive for them without the additional markups for third-party delivery, has been a gamechanger for us and has really improved the experience for our guests.”

-Brennan Best
Marketing Director of Great Basin Brewing Company

Stronger communications or better SEOhappier guests

For Great Basin, technology isn’t just about efficiency–it’s about staying connected with their guests and their community. So when they had to navigate between several scattered and disparate communications tools, they weren’t able to get their message across in the meaningful, consistent way that aligns with their values.

The Popmenu platform has enabled Great Basin to unify their messaging, while still allowing each location to have its own unique voice. Within the platform, they’ve been able to customize the look and feel of each location’s landing page to convey the fact that each restaurant has a different personality.

“It's always been important for us to listen to our community, while also conveying our brand’s narrative to our community as well. The Popmenu platform has been super helpful because not only does it allow us to receive feedback from our guests, but it also enables us to respond directly to those guests.”

-Brennan Best
Marketing Director of Great Basin Brewing Company

The brewery’s SEO has also improved since integrating with Popmenu, as their website’s event inquiry page for guests looking to host onsite parties has seen a surge in traffic. Soon after Great Basin made the switch to Popmenu, location managers were trying to understand why they were seeing unprecedented levels of interest in events. As a result, they are currently booked with private parties through mid-2026.

“Popmenu’s built-in marketing tools have replaced several standalone systems, saving costs and creating consistent messaging. We were able to cut a few hundred dollars a month by consolidating tools, and now our messaging – emails, events, promotions – all run through one seamless system.”

-Nick Meyer
Director of Operations and Owner of Great Basin Brewing Company

Smooth and supported implementation

As any restaurant team can attest to, rolling out new technology across multiple locations can be daunting and challenging. But Nick, Brennan, and the entire Great Basin staff credit both Popmenu’s onboarding process and its client service reps for a smooth transition. Even launching the integration during one of Great Basin’s busiest seasons didn’t slow things down.

“We had everything running in about a week across four locations – it was one of the easiest integrations we’ve done. We even went live right before summer events, and it didn’t faze the team at all. Once everything was set, we were off and running.”

-Nick Meyer
Director of Operations and Owner of Great Basin Brewing Company

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Want a closer look at how automation can bring in more orders while saving you time and money? Book a 20-minute, no-pressure demo with Popmenu.

We’ve got your back. Every. Day.

Fainmous BBQ takes catering to the next level with Popmenu

Seeking one platform for all operational needs

Driving online visibility means focusing on Google

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Nevada brewery saves time, grows direct online ordering, and unifies multi-location operations with Popmenu and Genius.

Popmenu + Genius: one menu, one ordering flow, fewer manual updates

Stronger communications or better SEOhappier guests

Smooth and supported implementation

For more tips, follow Popmenu.

We’ve got your back. Every. Day.

For more tips, follow Popmenu.

We’ve got your back. Every. Day.