Articles

Local Business Boost Program 2023 Grant Recipient: The Karibbean Lounge

Name: Dative, Inc
Price range: $

The Karibbean Lounge is a Caribbean restaurant that opened in 2020. Their slogan is “Where Life is Beautiful” and they serve irresistible cuisine, and sensational cocktails. They also offer live and non-live entertainment in their 134-seat venue, which also caters to private functions.

Post Date: Thu, Feb 2
: Local Business Boost Program

LOCAL BUSINESS BOOST PROGRAM NARRATIVE CASE STUDY

The Karibbean Lounge
662 Main Street, Hyannis
thekaribbeanlounge.com

Owner Allanah Bodah's top priority was letting the community and visitors know the restaurant is there. Having opened at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, reaching customers was much more challenging.

Additionally, the interior decor of the restaurant could use a branding facelift to feel warmer and more welcome and there is a private function room that sits idle and would better serve the restaurant as a lounge area (that could also be rented out) to complement the dining room and bar seating.

Because third party delivery apps charge upwards of 30% of the sale, Allanah purchased a vehicle to start making delivery orders to Hyannis and surrounding area herself.

Alannah — Allanah Bodah, owner The Karibbean Lounge

IDENTIFIED CHALLENGES AND PRIORITIES:

Enlist a local artist to paint an already-designed mural for the main wall in the dining room.
Design and print takeout/delivery menus to distribute to local hotels and send to residents in the area.
Continue to develop in house delivery program to combat the huge fees third party delivery apps charge, which includes putting signage on the delivery vehicle.
Develop social media and online marketing strategy through Empower Digital grant program.
Work to convert current underutilized function room into a lounge.
1. New site plan needed for space use change.
2. Furniture and pool table purchases.

COMPLETED PRIORITIES:

Local artist Anastaci Pacella painted a new mural on the interior of the restaurant.
New takeout menus were created and printed by local graphic designer Kim Adams and distributed to local hotels and visitors centers.
A vehicle wrap was designed and applied by Phases Creative Studios to advertise her delivery services.
Allanah applied for and received the Empower Digital grant from the MGCC.
New outdoor plantings were purchased from Hyannis Country Garden to add more interest to the front patio for passersby.

The Local Business Boost Program started in 2022 and is currently a partnership between Love Live Local and the Hyannis Main Street Business Improvement District. Additional funding is being sought to take the program to other local businesses across Cape Cod.