Punch Bowl Social mixes fun and food
An interview with Scott Sibley, head of marketing at Punch Bowl Social in Schaumburg.
Q: Tell us a little bit about the business.
A: Punch Bowl Social is a disruptive brand in the "eatertainment" space. We're first and foremost a restaurant with a craft kitchen and craft beverage program, driven by culinary partner and James Beard Award-winning chef Hugh Acheson. We're also known for our social gaming program that includes an 80s arcade, bowling, Ping-Pong, karaoke, bocce ball, darts, Bonzini, bags, giant Jenga, and what we like to call wall scrabble.
Q: Explain the history. How did it get started?
A: Punch Bowl Social was started by Robert Thompson in 2012. The first store was in Denver, Colorado's Baker neighborhood and struck a cord with young diners and drinkers seeking something authentic and out-of-the-ordinary. Since then the company has grown to 14 locations, all built to integrate elements of the local community.
Q: What do you offer when it comes to corporate meetings?
A: We offer a max reception capacity of 933 people but can be flexible to accommodate parties and events of various sizes and needs. We encourage guests to mix and match any number of areas in our venue of any type of event. Punch Bowl Social is that we're never a one-size fits all solution.
Q: Describe the atmosphere.
A: We refer to our overall atmosphere as dirty modern - a mix of Victorian, midcentury modern, mountain lodge, industrial, as well key elements from the location itself.
Q: What are people in your industry talking about?
A: Everyone is trying to market themselves to Millennials. At Punch Bowl Social we've always connected with a Millennial audience because our product is so experiential, and if you're not authentic they can sniff it out a mile away.
Q: Tell us a little about yourself. What is your past experience in the industry?
A: I grew up in Colorado and I've spent my career working in advertising agencies on national brands across many categories, until coming to work for Punch Bowl Social earlier this year. I felt like this was the perfect time to make the jump from agency-to-client, because I believe this concept is so unique, there's a great team in place, and we're poised to keep growing as we expand on what the brand can connect with in culture.
Q: Tell us one interesting fact about the business that most people may not know.
A: Punch is at the core of what our brand stands for, but most people don't know that to be called a punch the drink needs to have 5 specific ingredients: alcohol, sugar, lemon, water, and tea or spices.
Q: List two Twitter accounts that you would suggest following and why?
A: @Wendys - love their attitude and social commentary. They're never afraid to jump in and comment on what's happening in culture, and take a shot at McDonald's any time they can. @FastCoDesign - it's a great follow for inspiration, and I appreciate its focus on the intersection of all sorts of design and business overall.
Business: Punch Bowl Social
Address: 1100 American Lane, Schaumburg, Illinois 60173
Owner: Seasoned Development LLC
Number of employees: 300+
When business opened: Sept.19, 2015
Web address: <a href="http://www.punchbowlsocial.com">punchbowlsocial.com</a>