The owners of MOD Hudson, Dana Wegener and Mary DiStefano, had a successful restaurant in Catskill for five years. When they decided to venture across the river to Hudson, they knew they'd need a website.
Because MOD never had a website before, there was no existing copy or photos to work with. When I first met Mary and Dana, the restaurant was not yet open and the interior was in no shape to be photographed. The girls were renovating the space themselves, and were working night and day to meet their goal of opening mid-March. Finding time to also compile the required information we'd need for the site was going to be tough.
We started by determining the basics: what topics should be covered, how changes to the site would be made, when the site needed to be online. By reviewing other restaurant websites together, we determined the aesthetic they were looking for. Simple and easy to use would be key to an appropriate design for their business. Like their own style, the website needed good lines, lots of white space, and plain, simple language.
Just like the renovation of the restaurant, creation of the website took shape quickly. A short email to a few customers from their Catskill location came back with a pile of enthusiastic testimonials. I spent one morning at the restaurant, amid paint cans and drop cloths, taking placeholder photos. Piece by piece Mary sent copy - owner bios, catering and party details, and finally, the menu. I compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and together we worked to get the right answers. The moment the restaurant was ready, photographer Nora Adelman went back and took lovely interior and exterior finished photos.
MOD Hudson opened their doors at 20 South Front Street Wednesday, March 23 and has seen steady business ever since. If you're looking for a great meal, with generous portions, at a good price, I recommend you visit MOD. And if you're looking for an effective website using current web standards, I recommend you give us a call at 518.392.0846 or send an email.
