Marina
Station
Restaurant
& Bar
ongoing
concept
naming
branding
interior design
imagery
landing page
socia media
Marina Station is a quantifiable success. Serving up creative dishes and slinging cocktails from open to close, it is the place to be on Lake Chatuge.
concept
Lake Chatuge’s surrounding counties have a population of 20,000+, and the demographic is unique. Full-time residents consist of lower-income rural mountain communities and retirees looking for value. During the “high season,” from May through October, wealthy vacation-homeowners flock to the area.
Previous owners encountered many problems throughout the years, but the view was never one.
naming
The name, Marina Station, was chosen knowing the restaurant would be the centerpiece of all surrounding lakefront activities provided by The Ridges Resort. The name quickly established a design direction. Service stations of the 1940s & 50s served as inspiration for the crisp white interior and exterior paint choice. The fresh white walls provided a clean canvas, proving to past patrons that a change was coming.
branding
As the interior and exterior remodel moved closer to completion, the restaurant’s identity began to take shape. A menu had been discussed, but it lacked direction. In came uber-talented chef, Adam Daniels. His creativity in building the menu inspired our design. Keeping with our concept, we created a menu influenced by vintage service station receipts.
restaurant design
At the time of the remodel, management had no idea what to expect. With the bottom-line in mind, the budget and work crew were kept small. To cut costs, we had to work with what we had–including the existing tables and chairs. These were sanded down to the original wood and lacquered. The black drop-ceiling was removed, beadboard was installed, and painted white.
social media
overview
After two soft openings and a few tweaks to the menu, Marina Station opened its doors on Memorial Day weekend, in 2019. The remodel was completed in three months for just over $80,000 dollars. It was the first property to open on time in the history of Duke Hospitality, the parent company. It has since grossed 400% over the estimated revenue and doesn’t show signs of slowing.
