The Case for a Nic and Norman's Restaurant Expansion in Georgia: A New World Menu and Mission to Save Us and The Planet One Restaurant at a Time.
- SimplyRheumatoid.com
- Feb 28, 2024
- 8 min read
I promised to publish my paper so here it is, I can only hope Greg Nicotero and Norman Reedus read it. @BigBaldHead @NicandNormans_Offical_Page @Gnicotero @DianeKruger @jeffreydeanmorgan @Danai Gurira @amcthewalkingdead @laurencohan
The Case for a Nic and Norman's Restaurant Expansion in Georgia: A New World Menu and Mission to Save Us and The Planet One Restaurant at a Time.
Lidia Page
Colorado State University Global
COM312: Public Relations Techniques
Dr. Sorin Nastasia
2.11.24
Executive Summary
Nic and Norman’s restaurant chain was the brainchild of Greg Nicotero and Norman Reedus. Greg Nicotero is a producer of the hit TV franchise series The Walking Dead, and Norman Reedus is the star of two Walking Dead series. The two opened the first Nic and Norman’s restaurant in Senoia, Georgia, where much of the first Walking Dead series was filmed. The restaurant has a roadhouse theme, adorned with Walking Dead cast photographs with a laid-back feel. The menu features some of Mr. Nicotero and Norman’s favorite dishes and a line-up for rough roadhouse grub and manly drinks. Nic and Norman’s has four locations and has plans for future expansion. The appeal of a welcoming modern-day rough and ready roadhouse entices Walking Dead Franchise fanatics and those who want a modern, edgy, creative atmosphere with an inclusive world fan feel.
Nic and Norman’s Can Lead Impact Opportunity Growth
Impact investing is a growing hot topic for social justice advocates and small to medium-sized businesses. Restaurants like Nic and Norman’s have always been stewards of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). No matter if you grew up on a ranch in Montana or a migrant camp, people from all across America have the opportunity to be included and uplifted by finding employment at a local restaurant. According to the National Restaurant Association (2024) statistics, “Every additional $1 million spent in Georgia’s restaurants generates 19.9 jobs in the state economy.” Also, according to the National Restaurant Association (2024), “49% of managers and 56% of supervisors are female. As a result, the restaurant and foodservice industry employs more female managers than any other sector in the economy.” And now, in Georgia, Nic and Norman’s can leverage their impact growth by investing in social impact like SABMiller did to address growing water scarcity. Mennel (2015) states, “the brewer has partnered with The Nature Conservancy to raise a $15 million fund to protect the Cauca River, the water source for its local beverage production.” Nic and Norman’s can impact humans' relationship with food and our planet by adjusting their menu to fit The Walking Dead’s New World theme of scarcity and adapting.
Nic and Norman’s Expansion Requires A Focused Theme and Message
My public relations plan includes a new menu, mission, vision, theme, and well-crafted press release. A social media blitz focused on franchise fans, climate justice warriors, and strategic partnerships with franchise artists and influencers contribute to this being a successful new menu launch. As a fan of the Walking Dead Franchise and Nic and Norman’s, I believe artists and creatives can change and shape the future in ways that can positively impact the world. Norman Reedus’s character, Daryl Dixon, is a major factor in my response and love of the show. Daryl’s rough but true heart brings tears to my eyes as I write this because far too often these days, we are fed false heroes with superpowers that may rake in millions at the box office, but the thought of those heroes doesn’t comfort me when I am feeling unsafe, guys like Daryl do. People are starving for flawed human leaders. For people like me, Daryl’s character and Norman’s personal growth through his shows bring authenticity to the ambiance and tone of the restaurant. People want to connect; Nic and Norman’s provides a place for connecting. Norman’s character represents more than a show; he represents a human who must continually adapt to his ever-changing environment- he represents all of us. We must adjust to a future where a plant-based diet plays a significant role in our diets, and we must do that at an uncomfortable pace because our planet and our bodies are signaling that sidelining it is at our peril. In his book Eat to Beat Disease (2019), Dr. William W. Li noted the following,
“One study showed that by the age of forty-five, people who were otherwise healthy have a 49 percent chance of developing prediabetes, and among those, 74 percent will eventually go on to develop full-on type 2 diabetes. Diabetes is a disease to avoid at all costs.”
Furthermore, in his best-selling book Food Fix (2020), Dr. Mark Hyman states,
“Our natural capital is near exhaustion. Every five seconds a soccer field’s worth of soil erodes because of bad land management practices. At the current rate of soil erosion, we have only sixty harvests left before our soil is too depleted to grow food.” Nic and Norman’s can drive change for the health of our planet and the human race.
Measuring Success Metrics Include Net Sales, Net Followers, and Net New Fans
Nic and Norman’s investment in this impact-investing change would bring new customers and fans to both franchises. Measuring the success of this mission, menu, and narrative shift would include factoring in net sales, net followers, and, more importantly, net new fans during the first year of this campaign. Fans and supporters like me will support a restaurant like Nic and Norman’s with our money if we can. Sales will increase with time invested in engaging and gaining support for the vision. Social media, fans, and activists will happily plug the restaurant and the mission on their own, measuring these metrics by the number of likes, comments, follows, and new posts will be noticeable in the first year. As more people adopt a wellness living mindset, the sales and support for new Nic and Norman’s establishments will grow.
New Menu, New Mission, New Opportunities for Connection with Consumers
As noted earlier, connecting with consumers is a must. When searching for restaurants to include for my Nic and Norman’s SWOT analysis competition, I selected three Atlanta establishments that I believe Nic and Norman’s could easily take market share away from. I chose Logan’s Roadhouse, Zaxby’s, and Ted’s Montana Grill for different reasons but primarily because I feel their weakness provides drilling in on my argument for an Atlanta area Nic and Norman’s expansion.
In 2021, NYC restaurateur Daniel Humm made headlines when he changed the menu at his Michelin Star restaurant Eleven Park Madison. According to an interview with Pasko (2021), Humm stated this reason for the change to a plant-based menu, “We have always operated with sensitivity to the impact we have on our surroundings, but it was becoming ever clearer that the current food system is simply not sustainable, in so many ways.” Science shows that climate change is affecting our planet. Imagine the impact of another disruptive disease event in the food chain. Such an event would devastate Nic and Norman’s competitors in Atlanta's ability to deliver their menus at reasonable prices. Nic and Norman’s can mitigate these issues via their Walking Dead New World menu in a creative and tasty manner. Consumers will drive the change with their mindset, slowly chipping away at Atlanta area competitors.
Cool Manly Men Greg Nicotero and Norman Reedus Make Being Vegan Hot And Sexy
People tend to resist change until they see their role models and idols stir the pot and lead the way. Two of the coolest and manliest men on the planet are Greg Nicotero and Norman Reedus. These edgy visionaries' style and mentality reflect and emanate a rough but worldly presence. Mr. Reedus’s fellow motorcycle enthusiasts and his Walking Dead fanbase look to him for leadership and knowledge about what’s hot and happening. As a Walking Dead fan, I root for his character Daryl, and I wait desperately for Mr. Nicotero to paint me a picture of what’s next. Nic and Norman’s is every person’s local water hole and eatery. Because of people’s admiration and respect, these two men can win and influence crowds to nourish their bodies and spirits with savory real food. These two “It” guys can single-handedly influence critical thinking and change people’s hearts and unhealthy learned behaviors just by revamping their menu and driving a vision and mission for the future. More people and celebrities are going all in on a plant-based diet. Actors like Woody Harleson and Brad Pitt, rock stars like Anthony Kiedis and Lenny Kravitz, and even 7-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton have all adopted a plant-based diet. The question is, why is the rest of America so sick? Diabetes and autoimmune diseases are on the rise despite the influence of those mentioned above. One reason could be the lack of restaurants offering a plant-based centric menu while dining out. Nic and Norman’s could offer Americans a place to eat that incorporates the ease of consuming a plant-based in a hip environment. Despite my numerous attempts to reach Mr. Nicotero and Mr. Reedus for this assignment for comment and input, I have a few scary options: I can publish this paper plea to them on my blog, which they probably will never see, I can publish it on Meta (Facebook) for the whole world to see and judge, or I can mail it to them and hope one day it gets to them to read. I like none of these options because I am not a scholar, writer, or anyone of significance, and I don’t seek fame. Like many autoimmune warriors, I am tired of writing all day, and at this hour, my flaws are showing in this assignment. Therefore, I will publish it on my blog once graded so I can fix, refine, and revise my theory. I hope they see my good intentions and look past my imperfections.
References
Hyman, M. (2020). Food Fix: How to Save Our Health, Our Economy, Our Communities, and Our Planet—One Bite at a Time. Little, Brown Spark.
Li, W. (2019). Eat to Beat Disease: The New Science of How Your Body Can Heal Itself. Grand Central Publishing.
Mennel, J. (2015). Driving corporate growth through social impact: Four corporate archetypes to maximize your social impact. Social impact has evolved from a pure PR play to an important part of corporate strategy to protect and create value. In our recent study, we identify the four social impact archetypes companies typically fall into. Deloitte.com. Retrieved from: https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/pages/operations/articles/driving-corporate-growth-through-social-impact.html
National Restaurant Association. (2022). Georgia restaurant industry at a glance. Restaurant.org. Retrieved from: https://restaurant.org/getmedia/6fad33b6-0f1a-4657-ac95-748439de12c5/Georgia.pdf
National Restaurant Association. (2022). Restaurant Employee Demographics: Data Brief – March 2022. Restaurant.org. Retrieved From: https://restaurant.org/getmedia/21a36a65-d5d4-41d0-af5c-737ab545d65a/nra-data-brief-restaurant-employee-demographics-march-2022.pdf
Pantony, A., Mamona, S., Smith, J., & Waheed. (2022, October 17). 55 vegan celebrities inspiring us to adopt a plant-based diet: From Sadie Sink to Billie Eilish, these celebs are paving the way 💚. Glamour Magazine UK. Retrieved from: https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/gallery/celebrities-who-are-vegan
Pasko, K. (2021, May 4). Eleven Madison Park Is Reopening as an All-Vegan Restaurant:
This June, NYC’s three-Michelin-starred restaurant—Eleven Madison Park (EMP)—will reopen with a new, 100% plant-based menu. Owner and chef, Daniel Humm, recently announced the relaunch is set for June 10. VegOut Magazine. Retrieved from: https://vegoutmag.com/news/eleven-madison-park-is-reopening-as-an-all-vegan-restaurant/
Prudom, L. (2017, February 26). 'The Walking Dead' recap: Negan's having some personnel issues: Et tu, Eugene? [Image]. Mashable.com. Retrieved from: https://mashable.com/article/the-walking-dead-recap-season-7-episode-11-hostiles-and-calamities-eugene-negan
Page, L. (2024). The Case for a Nic and Norman's Restaurant Expansion in Georgia: A New World Menu and Mission to Save Us and The Planet One Restaurant at a Time. SimplyRheumatoid.com. Lidia Page. Self-Published.
Please help me get this paper noticed. Yes, my RA is back as of 2024.
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