MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO — The owners of the newly renovated Crabby Joe’s at 276 Dundas St. in London, Ontario knew they needed to go big with their AV system to draw guests from local competition. A videowall was their top choice for displaying major events and multiple events at once, so they went to the AV professionals at Advanced to design and install the biggest videowall that would fit.
More details from Advanced Inc. (www.advanced-inc.com)
Canada’s premier AV and IT integrator designs and installs large videowall to draw crowds to restaurant chain’s newest flagship location.
According to Advanced General Manager of Systems Integration Omar Prashad, the installation gives Crabby Joe’s a sophisticated multi-display solution that is simple to control.
“At our initial meeting Crabby Joe’s owner Howard Pennell told us that he wanted something that would blow his guests away as soon as they walk through the door,” Prashad said. “We determined that the best solution was to build a 3×3 video wall that would allow them to show a single video feed or all six available video feeds at once.
“There was enough room for us to create a 165” videowall composed of nine 55-inch HD Orion display panels, and we installed a simple-to-use Crestron system to give them fast, easy control over which video feed plays on which display. We configured the videowall to allow for all nine panels to show a single feed, or to show the main feed on the four upper-left most displays while each of the remaining five displays can show the other five independent video feeds.”
To ensure the installation went according to plan and that the customer would be 100 percent satisfied with the result, the team at Advanced installed, configured and calibrated the videowall at their warehouse before the real on-site installation even began.
“Monitors need to be color calibrated,” Prashad said, “and LED LCD technology tends to work through most of its color shift in the first 10 hours. We like to get every installation right the first time, so we rig up each videowall we build in our warehouse and make sure everything is working and calibrated before the customer ever sees it. The last thing we want is to start hanging panels in the restaurant and find that one of them is defective. This pre-installation testing process allows us to sort out issues so the customer doesn’t have to.”
Pennell knew that not every AV company can pull off this type of installation. After deciding he wanted a videowall for the new restaurant’s grand re-opening, he researched companies in the area that specialize in large, complex AV systems, and found that Advanced had the experience and expertise he was looking for.
“I wanted the guest experience to be unforgettable, and I wanted the videowall to make a statement to our guests. Advanced delivered everything I could have hoped for, and I hope to work with them again in the future,” Pennell said. He added that while it wasn’t the lowest-cost option, the final effect of the videowall can’t be underestimated.
“The cost of the videowall was worth the effect that it has on passersby and guests once they enter the restaurant,” he said. “We could have simply hung a bunch of TVs on the wall, but this system has as much value as a marketing tool as an actual video display. London has the highest concentration of restaurants in Ontario, so we’re always looking for anything we can do or provide that guests can’t get elsewhere. The ‘WOW” factor when you see this videowall is amazing, and it really is the best place in town for people to catch all their favorite sports. People see it when they walk by our window, and then they bring their friends the next time they come in. Plus it’s much easier to use and stay organized with the Crestron system than having nine more separate TVs.”
Crabby Joe’s is a fresh, entertaining concept that is setting new standards in the hospitality industry. Since 1996, the Canadian-owned company has grown from Sarnia to Belleville, with more than 40 franchises operating in 2013. Crabby Joe’s Tap & Grill is managed by Obsidian Group, Inc., a management company formed to develop market and manage hospitality and real estate interests. For more information visit www.crabbyjoes.com.
