Grand Opening Press Release
A grand opening press release tells local press that a business is opening, where it is, when, what it sells and what is happening on opening day. Two samples and a template are below.
What to include in a grand opening press release
Local editors decide whether to cover an opening in about five seconds, and they are looking for four things: a real street address, a date and time, something happening that day, and a reason this matters to the neighborhood.
- Full street address, including suite or unit number and the cross street if the address is hard to find.
- Opening date and public hours — the day you open, and the day-to-day hours people can actually visit.
- Ribbon cutting or opening-day event: the time, who is attending (mayor, chamber, local officials) and whether the public is invited.
- Opening-day specials: discounts, free items, first-100-customers offers, giveaways.
- What you sell or serve, with two or three price points so readers can judge fit.
- Jobs and local impact: how many people you hired, what you spent on the build-out, which local suppliers you use.
- Owner quote with a personal reason for choosing this location.
Send it seven to ten days before the opening so weekly papers and community newsletters can schedule it.
Grand opening samples
Sample 1: restaurant grand opening
Harbor Line Kitchen Opens on Salem's Waterfront Oct. 18 With All-Day Breakfast
SALEM, Mass., Oct. 9, 2026 — Harbor Line Kitchen, a 74-seat all-day breakfast and lunch restaurant, opens Saturday, Oct. 18, at 82 Derby St. on Salem's waterfront. Doors open at 7 a.m. daily; breakfast is served until 2 p.m.
The menu centers on New England ingredients, including cornmeal pancakes with local maple syrup ($12), a smoked bluefish hash ($16) and a rotating daily chowder ($9 a cup). Coffee comes from a Salem roaster.
The opening celebration begins at 10 a.m. on Oct. 18 with a ribbon cutting alongside the Salem Chamber of Commerce. The first 100 customers receive a $10 gift card, and the restaurant will donate 10% of opening weekend sales to the Salem food pantry.
"I grew up two streets over and worked my first job at a diner on this block," said chef and owner Dana Ruiz. "Weekday breakfast on the waterfront has been missing for a decade. We're bringing it back."
Harbor Line Kitchen hired 22 people, 18 of them Salem residents, and used three local contractors for the build-out. Reservations are accepted for parties of six or more; walk-ins are welcome.
About Harbor Line Kitchen
Harbor Line Kitchen is an independent breakfast and lunch restaurant at 82 Derby St., Salem, Mass., open daily 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Menu and hours: harborlinekitchen.example.
Media contact: [email protected]
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Fictional example for illustration.
Sample 2: retail store grand opening
Ridgeline Outfitters Opens Second Store in Bend on Nov. 7
BEND, Ore., Oct. 26, 2026 — Ridgeline Outfitters will open a 4,200-square-foot store at 1180 NW Wall St. on Saturday, Nov. 7, its second location in Oregon. The store stocks hiking, climbing and fly-fishing gear and adds 11 jobs.
Opening-day events run from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and include a gear repair clinic and a fly-tying table with the Deschutes Anglers club. The first 50 customers receive a $25 gift card, and store hours will be Monday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
"Half our online orders already come from Central Oregon, and customers kept asking when they could try a pack on before buying it," said owner Ben Alderman.
Media contact: [email protected]
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Fictional example for illustration.
Grand opening press release template
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE [Business Name] Opens in [Neighborhood or City] on [Date] [CITY, State], [Mon. DD, YYYY] — [Business Name], a [what it is], will open [at this address] on [date]. [Hours, day one and ongoing.] [What you sell or serve, with two or three real prices and one local supplier or sourcing detail.] [Opening-day events: ribbon cutting time, who is attending, specials, giveaways, charity tie-in.] "[Owner quote with a personal reason for this location]," said [Full Name], [owner / chef / founder] of [Business Name]. [Local impact: number of jobs, local contractors, investment in the build-out.] [Parking, transit, reservation or walk-in details.] About [Business Name] [Business Name] is a [what it does] at [address], open [hours]. More at [website]. Media Contact [Name] [Email] [Phone] ###
Grand opening tips
- Send it 7–10 days early. Weekly papers and neighborhood newsletters publish on a schedule; last-minute releases miss the issue.
- Put the address in the dateline paragraph, not only in the boilerplate.
- Name the officials attending the ribbon cutting. Local coverage follows the people.
- Include jobs and local sourcing. "Hired 22 people, 18 from Salem" is the single most quotable line in the sample above.
- Follow up with one short release after the event if attendance or sales numbers are strong.
- Use correct dateline style — see the AP style dateline rules.
Other formats: all press release samples and the free press release template.
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How early should I send a grand opening press release?
Seven to ten days before opening day. If you are inviting press to a ribbon cutting, add a reminder two days before with the exact time and a contact phone number.
Should I invite press to the opening, or just send the release?
Both. Send the release so it can be listed in advance, then invite one local reporter to attend at a specific time when something is actually happening.
What if I don't know my final opening date yet?
Wait. An opening release with a date that moves loses credibility, and many editors will not run the second one.