Marketing Movie Tavern

Have you heard of Movie Tavern? The concept of a "cinema eatery" is surprisingly simple but intuitively appealing: Offer a first-run or classic movie with the option of food--dinner, desserts, or snacks, plus beverages.

The original Movie Tavern featured a lobby ordering area, with food and drink delivered to customers in their seats. The "premier" version allows customers to order (from a larger menu) from their seats.

Here's a Movie Tavern general manager talking about the concept:


Movie Tavern also offers special weekend "Breakfast and a Flick" showings, including a kiddie menu, for family movie fun. And at least twice a week, Movie Tavern shows a classic movie as "Retro Cinema."

Today, there are 15 Movie Tavern locations around the US, from Pennsylvania to Colorado. The most recent to open, in Collegeville, Pennsylvania, anchors the second phase of a shopping center anchored by destination stores such as Wegmans, Dick's Sporting Goods, Best Buy, and Staples.

The ticket price is about the same as for any first-run film, with--of course!--food and beverages at an extra cost. Movie Tavern is active on Facebook and Twitter, two good ways to leverage word of mouth among target audiences.