Just Opened a Restaurant in Chicago? Do This in Your First 90 Days

Opening a restaurant in Chicago takes everything you have — permits, buildout, hiring, menus. By opening day, most owners have nothing left for marketing. And that's exactly when marketing matters most.

The first 90 days are your honeymoon window

"New" is a marketing asset with an expiration date. Food media covers new openings. Neighbors are curious. Instagram's algorithm gives fresh accounts a fair shot. Six months in, you're just another restaurant — unless you converted that early curiosity into followers and regulars.

Week 1-4: Capture everything

Get professional photos immediately — the space while it's pristine, the signature dishes, the team. This is your content bank for the next six months.

Week 4-8: Build the habit

Post consistently. Introduce dishes one by one. Show the faces behind the counter. People don't follow restaurants; they follow stories.

Week 8-12: Borrow audiences

Your own account reaches dozens. Established food accounts reach thousands. Getting featured during your "new" window is the single highest-leverage move — it stacks your novelty with someone else's audience.

The mistake that kills momentum

Waiting. "We'll focus on marketing once operations settle." Operations never settle, and the honeymoon window closes.

GENTE was built for exactly this moment: professional photos plus a feature to thousands of Chicago food lovers, while "new" still works in your favor. DM "CHICAGO" to @gente.