His 'sonic The Hedgehog'-themed Pop-up Restaurants Bring The Classic Video Game To Life — And Feature The Beloved Character's Favorite Food

Fans of Sonic nan Hedgehog cognize each astir his emotion of chili dogs. So why shouldn't nan bluish video crippled leader personification his ain restaurant? Kevin Seo, creator of nan Sonic nan Hedgehog Speed Cafe pop-ups, is nan 1 who made it a reality.

Seo started successful nan patient world but soon recovered his existent calling extracurricular of it. He now helps creators from galore different arenas motorboat brands and events. Seo is simply a co-founder of companies specified arsenic Secret Sauce Society, a trading agency, and Logistics Consulting.

Seo's first viral sensation was a edifice specializing successful smash burgers — too nan world's first NFT-themed restaurant. He and his partners purchased a Bored Ape Yacht Club NFT to get nan authorities to nan image. Their blockchain burger joint, Bored And Hungry, quickly dispersed to world locations. The idea, which started successful Long Beach, California, now has six locations successful Asia.

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Bored and Hungry's viral occurrence soon attracted nan attraction of bigger brands. Eventually, Seo talked to SEGA, nan institution down 1 of his favourite nostalgic video games, Sonic nan Hedgehog. The thought of turning nan beloved video crippled character's favourite food, chili dogs, into a real-world edifice was excessively bully to ignore.

Seo collaborated pinch up-and-coming imaginative designers connected everything from streetwear to packaging to curate a genuinely immersive experience. Bringing nan crippled to life required paying attraction to each detail, down to nan AstroTurf flooring successful nan restaurant. The squad had a pop-up conception made to spell viral.

The first location of nan Sonic nan Hedgehog Speed Cafe launched astatine ComicCon 2023 successful San Diego. Game fans could bask chili dogs, nutrient fries and more. Seo and his squad made judge to prioritize nan worth of ingredients to make nan astir of this nutrient experience.

Seo's accuracy regarding nan Sonic nan Hedgehog Speed Cafe was simple: He cared astir nan fans and wanted to bring them from nan video crippled world to a wholly caller platform.

The institution launched its existent pop-up successful Atlanta connected January 18; nan cafe will only beryllium unfastened for 60 days.

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Content authorities of mind

How do you support momentum successful a imaginative endeavor for illustration this? Seo sees everything arsenic imaginable contented for his individual marque aliases nan brands he partners with. His authorities of mind is "always content." You ne'er cognize what will activity aliases what will make an affectional effect successful conscionable nan correct way.

He embraced this thought by creating nan Good Service podcast. He teamed up pinch his friend Ben Chung to banal their belief lives pinch nan world. Seo said their belief drives everything they do, immoderate astatine activity and astatine home.

They started this show for nosy but soon committed to signaling each Thursday. They ever personification bully nutrient connected nan array to showcase conception restaurants. Their guests are broad, and nan conversations are deep.

Seo's champion connection for anyone reasoning of starting their ain podcast aliases akin show comes from his ain experiences. He believes that authenticity and vulnerability, though hard, are captious to making lasting connections pinch your listeners.

"It's truthful easy to spot personification conscionable faking it," Seo says.

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