When our friends and former clients at Hey Love introduced us to the team behind Cult Classics, we couldn’t resist the opportunity to work on the launch press for this VHS-themed bar. Amazing press always starts with an amazing concept and Cult Classics had no shortage of angles for us to work with – from the hand reupholstered leather booths, to the top-tier selection of streaming movies, and the neon backlit bar that featured custom shelves designed to fit the owner-partner’s massive collection of VHS tapes. Our job was to develop a PR strategy that would bring meaningful attention to this one-of-a-kind space that was brought to light by some of the most creative and passionate folks in the bar industry.
One of the most important assets a PR team has to work with are images that capture the client’s brand in a way that will be compelling for editors and audiences. Our first order of business was to curate and creative direct the best images we could from a photo shoot of Cult Classics. This resulted in a series of beautiful images that showcase what makes the bar so unique, from its neon-lit space to its wall of VHS tapes. Our next step was to craft a descriptive and evocative narrative that captured the film connoisseurship and vintage nostalgia behind Cult Classics. This language was utilized in a press release which we shared with local and national food and beverage writers.
A&O PR successfully secured announcement press for the 2025 opening of Cult Classics in local Portland outlets including Oregonian, Portland Business Journal, and Eater. In addition to press placement, A&O PR brought value in advising on content marketing, influencer partnerships, and event programming which helped Cult Classics maximize their reach through relationships with strong local relevance and film connections such as Hollywood Theater.
