Congress Austin

Congress Austin includes Congress, Second Bar + Kitchen and Bar Congress – three eating and drinking establishments in downtown Austin. Arsenal was asked to work on the marketing and public relations campaigns prior to and post opening.

Client Work

Case Study

Congress Austin is the all-encompassing name for three drinking and eating establishments in downtown Austin – Congress, Second Bar + Kitchen and Bar Congress. The three are located at the corner of Congress Avenue and Second Street, and they share a kitchen, an executive chef and management team.

The three establishments opened at the end of 2010, and two years prior to opening, the Arsenal team was approached by La Corsha Restaurant Partners to help brand and market the new spaces, as well as develop a community and media relations plan.

We knew that opening three concepts at the same time in a down economy was a challenge. But we were confident in the team and vision, and we were up for the challenge. We began with the branding process, which led to a strong visual identity for all three.

While establishing the look and feel, we also worked closely with key media, bloggers and community organizations to build buzz around new developments and opening dates. Now open, we continue to work to bring local and national attention to Congress, Second Bar + Kitchen and Bar Congress.