Stir Crazy Opens Two New Restaurants Under New Ownership; Exceeds Sales Expectations
Dec 19,2007
Stir Crazy, the full-service, casual Asian restaurant headquartered in Chicago, opened its tenth and eleventh stores in two Indianapolis area locations—Greenwood and Castleton Square—in November and December. The Indianapolis restaurants are the first locations to open under new ownership, boasting a new exterior and interior design, and demonstrating the Company’s aggressive growth strategy. Stir Crazy opened in Greenwood on November 8th in the Greenwood Park Mall’s new Lifestyle Center and in Castleton on December 17th in the new Lifestyle Center at Castleton Square. Creating 200 new jobs in the Indianapolis area, Stir Crazy received an enthusiastic welcome from the Indianapolis community, including sold out training meals that fed more than 2,400 people in the weeks leading up to the grand openings and first week sales that far exceeded management expectations. Both Indianapolis locations feature 6,500 sq. foot restaurants that boast an expanded open wok kitchen, a full-service bar serving liquor, beer and 30 quality wines, and giant red chopsticks hanging from the ceiling. Shea, Inc. designed the new Stir Crazy restaurants, which serve as the prototype for future restaurants, of which seven more are scheduled through 2008.
"These openings represent the rebirth of Stir Crazy,” said Stir Crazy President and Chief Operating Officer Greg Carey. “We've always had great food, and now we are taking our real estate, store design, marketing, and operations to the next level so we can become a national brand."
The Greenwood grand opening began with a VIP event to remember. Special guests included members of the Walnut Group – the private equity firm owner of Stir Crazy -- and their invited guests who drove up from Cincinnati, local Indianapolis dignitaries, business owners and managers, teachers and other community members. More than 750 people enjoyed continuous, complimentary samplings of Stir Crazy menu items while sipping wine, champagne and soft drinks. The event focus was not only on quality Asian food, but also Asian culture. The evening began with a Buddhist monk blessing and guests were treated to Japanese Taiko Drummers, a martial arts demonstration, traditional Chinese dancers, and Lion Dancers throughout the night. There was even a living kabuki “statue” at the entrance that people could pose with for a picture to remember the fun filled evening.
The November 8th Greenwood grand opening day started off with six feature segments on the local FOX-TV morning news from 6 – 9 a.m., that featured not only food and wine highlights but interviews with Stir Crazy President and COO Greg Carey, Stir Crazy Director of Marketing Peter Nolan and Stir Crazy’s Chef Ambassador, Rodelio Aglibot. Through the media and word-of-mouth the news of Stir Crazy spread and guests were lined up at the door before the official 11 a.m. grand opening in which Greenwood Mayor Charles Henderson declared November 8th, 2007 “Stir Crazy Day” in the City of Greenwood. The ribbon cutting ceremony followed the Mayoral proclamation when Stir Crazy’s own “Food Buddha,” Chef Rod, officially cut the ribbon with a cleaver. Then guests were led into the restaurant for the ceremonial “First Firing of the Woks” to kick off a bustling grand opening lunch hour.
Similar events led up to the second Stir Crazy grand opening in Castleton Square’s new Lifestyle Center. The Castleton grand opening day kicked off early with an in-studio cooking segment on FOX-TV morning news on Friday, December 14th. Chef Brian Donofrio showed FOX 59 viewers how to make Ahi Tuna Avocado Poke, a delicious appetizer that travels easily to any holiday party. This was followed by a ribbon cutting ceremony and ceremonial “First Firing of the Woks” and the second Stir Crazy location in Indianapolis was officially opened.
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