Avenue Steaks & Pizza is a Philadelphia-born pandemic success story. While many restaurants were closing their doors, owner Christian Palamone saw an opportunity to pivot careers and fulfill his dream of running a restaurant. Despite launching in one of the most challenging periods the industry has faced, Christian worked tirelessly to build a loyal following. Despite launching in one of the most challenging periods the industry has faced, Christian worked tirelessly to build a loyal following.
A few years in, Avenue Steaks was thriving, but Christian knew that simply having a website wasn’t enough to consistently grow his business. That’s when he signed up for Popmenu Boost: a service that connects restaurants with a dedicated marketing consultant who crafts tailored strategies using all of the tools available in the Popmenu platform. Popmenu matched Avenue Steaks with Nicholas Karlefors, an expert in helping restaurants grow their contact list and build customer loyalty.
One of the biggest selling points of Popmenu for Christian is its ability to capture guest contact information, providing a list engaged diners that he can send marketing messages to down the road to drive repeat business. Fostering relationships with customers to encourage them to return to the restaurant is among some of the most effective and affordable ways to grow sales–and critical for restaurants looking to become a fixture in their community.
That’s where Nick steps in. Using the full range of Popmenu’s marketing tools—including email and SMS campaigns, offer strategies, and more. He helps grow Avenue Steaks’ contact list while turning one-time guests into loyal regulars. Working closely with Christian, Nick crafts personalized messages tied to local events and customer behavior, delivering timely offers that drive results.
Take Phillies' home games, for example. Christian wanted to bring in more customers after the final pitch, so Nick set up game-day campaigns with exclusive offers, sent via text and email during the 7th inning. The result? Over $1,000 in online orders from just two messages and a wave of in-person traffic following the games.
What begins as a casual visit, like grabbing a post-game bite, can evolve into something much more: part of a weekly routine, a go-to spot for family traditions, or a favorite neighborhood hangout. These habits don’t just build community—they build reliable, cost-effective revenue.
For Avenue Steaks, that kind of loyalty adds up. On average, the restaurant earns around $5,200 in online sales each week. But here’s the striking part: their five most loyal customers have spent a combined $10,100 on online ordering alone. That’s nearly two full weeks of sales driven by just five people. In a business where every dollar counts, nurturing even a handful of repeat guests can have a powerful compounding effect and Popmenu Boost helps make that happen.
Beyond simply capturing guest data, Christian saw the broader potential of the Popmenu platform—and, with Nick’s guidance, began using every feature as a lever for growth. Together, they meet regularly to review performance, refine strategies, and ensure that every marketing move is backed by results.
One of their most powerful tools? The dynamic online menu. Designed for more than just browsing, it allows guests to like dishes, leave reviews, and place orders directly through the restaurant’s website. Each of these actions not only enhances the guest experience, it also provides another opportunity to capture valuable contact information.
With that data in hand, Popmenu’s automation tools take over, sending personalized emails and texts that invite guests to leave a review, follow the restaurant, or redeem a special offer. This takes care of the essential touchpoints, freeing Nick and Christian to focus on higher-impact tactics like targeted campaigns around local events.
While Christian is proud of the success Avenue Steaks has achieved with Popmenu, what he values most is the trusted partnership he’s built with Nick. With Nick leading the charge on strategy and execution, Christian has the freedom to focus on what he loves most about running a restaurant: cooking, connecting with guests, mentoring his team, and delivering an experience that keeps people coming back. It’s a partnership rooted in trust—and one that’s helped Avenue Steaks thrive without losing the personal touch that defines it.
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