The Big Kahuna

eCommerce, Featured, Restaurant Sites, Seafood

Status:
Online
Client:
PopMenu
Established:
2025
URL:
thebigkahunaoob.com
Location:
ME, USA
Project Scope:
Landing Page Dev & Design, Brand Identity, Domain Migration, Local SEO Strategy

Project Overview

From Tex-Mex to Tidal Wave

The owner of Tequila Frogs, a staple in Old Orchard Beach, decided it was time for a radical transformation. Rebranding into The Big Kahuna, the concept shifted from Tex-Mex to a laid-back, surf-inspired beach bar. With construction underway and a grand opening slated for May, the business faced a critical gap: the old brand was gone, but the new physical space wasn't ready to show off.

The mission was to create a digital bridge between the past and the future. We needed to launch a captivating "Coming Soon" microsite that would capture the summer crowd's attention, retain the traffic from the old domain, and start building a loyal customer base before the first drink was ever poured.

Challenges & Goals

The Challenges

Brand Migration: Moving from an established name (Tequila Frogs) to a new concept required careful domain redirection to ensure existing customers weren't lost in the digital shuffle.

Asset Vacuum: With the restaurant under renovation, we had zero photography of the interior or food, forcing a reliance on stock imagery to sell the vibe.

Pre-Launch Engagement: The site needed to do more than just say "Coming Soon"; it had to actively capture emails and generate hype without a full menu or booking engine.

The Goals

Visual Rebrand: Execute a modern "Surf & Sand" aesthetic (inspired by Salt Island) using a custom palette of Aqua, Navy, and Beige.

Audience Capture: Implement a friction-free email signup form to grow a marketing list for the Grand Opening announcements.

SEO Foundation: Establish a Google My Business profile and domain authority early to ensure the new brand ranks for local search terms by summer.

Strategy & Approach

Phase 1: Coastal Visuals

To establish the new identity instantly, we curated a "Surf & Seafood" stock image library from Freepik to fill the visual gap left by construction. We defined a breezy palette of Aqua, Navy Blue, and Beige, paired with the playful Kool Beans display font for headers and Nunito for body text. This combination communicated "fun, family-friendly, and beachside" immediately.

Phase 2: Technical Migration

We managed the DNS transition to ensure that anyone typing in the old Tequila Frogs URL was automatically redirected to The Big Kahuna. This preserved the SEO equity of the location while introducing the new concept.

Phase 3: Lead Generation

We turned the landing page into a lead magnet. Instead of a static "Under Construction" graphic, we built a dynamic page featuring an Events Teaser and a prominent Email Capture Form. This allows the owner to market directly to interested locals as the opening date approaches.

Solutions Delivered

Area	Highlight
Visual Design	Implemented a custom theme with Kool Beans typography and a Navy/Aqua palette to evoke a modern surf vibe.
Microsite Strategy	Built a robust "Coming Soon" landing page that acts as a marketing tool rather than just a placeholder.
Domain Management	Seamlessly redirected the legacy Tequila Frogs domain to the new site, preserving traffic flow.
Lead Capture	Integrated an email signup form to build a subscriber list for the upcoming Grand Opening marketing push.
Local SEO	Provided comprehensive consultation on setting up the new Google My Business profile to replace the old listing.