La Bahia

End-to-End Brand & Launch Strategy for a Coastal Seafood Restaurant

Role: Creative Director & Marketing Lead (Freelance)
Timeline: 2022 – 2024
Client: La Bahia Seafood Restaurant
Scope: 100% solo — brand identity, logo, website, menu design, video production, social content, paid advertising, and full launch marketing

The Opportunity

La Bahia was launching as a new Gulf Coast seafood restaurant—but opened with $300K in startup debt and zero brand presence. The owner brought me on to ensure the restaurant didn’t just survive, but thrive. The goal: build a compelling identity, drive immediate foot traffic, and achieve profitability fast.

My Approach

• Brand Identity: Created a fresh, coastal-inspired brand—logo, color palette, and typography—that evoked freshness, authenticity, and local pride.
• Menu Design: Collaborated with the head chef to craft a visually stunning, easy-to-navigate menu that highlighted signature dishes—later featured in Texas Monthly.
• Website & Digital Hub: Built a mobile-optimized WordPress site with online reservations, menu highlights, and SEO-friendly content.
• Content & Ads: Produced mouthwatering video reels, social posts, and targeted Google & Meta ad campaigns to attract local diners and food enthusiasts.
• Launch Strategy: Orchestrated a phased rollout—from soft opening buzz to grand opening event—fueling word-of-mouth and repeat visits.

Tools: Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro), WordPress, Canva

The Result

✅ Grew monthly sales from $0 at launch to $60K within 6 months
📊 Reached consistent $80K–$100K/month in Year 2
🍽️ Co-created the menu that earned a feature in Texas Monthly
🤝 Restaurant successfully sold to a new partner—validating its brand value and operational success