How Dara AV Helped Build House of Que at American Dream Mall, New Jersey
Every restaurant AV installation is different. Every restaurant is unique. But some concepts are more original than others – like bringing Austin-style barbecue to suburban New Jersey in a sports bar and restaurant in the second-largest mall in the U.S.
With one successful location in Hoboken, House of Que opened its second restaurant in the American Dream Mall, just over the George Washington Bridge in East Rutherford, NJ. The second location delivers similar rustic Texas vibes, with some notable upgrades to the technology experience courtesy of Dara AV.
See more photos of our House of Que installation in our portfolio.
Bold Sound, Big Screens, and BBQ: The Right Combination
At House of Que, creating the right atmosphere for visitors is just as important as serving perfectly smoked ribs, pork, brisket, and chicken wings, topped with a choice of house-made barbecue sauces. (If your mouth is watering, you know how we feel right now!)
It’s not just the food that keeps people coming back. The right restaurant sound systems and cutting-edge video converge to enhance the customer experience. Whether you are playing trivia on a Thursday night, listening to dueling pianos, or enjoying a tasty meal and a few craft cocktails or draft beers, the AV systems deliver the right ambiance.
The AV Objectives
House of Que has three distinct dining areas: The bar area, the main dining room, and a patio overlooking the mall and AD’s live performance stage.
The challenges specific to House of Que included:
· Containing sound within the restaurant and patio area through careful speaker placement
· Enabling easy, real-time volume controls for special events, along with Crestron programming to automatically adjust audio levels based on time-of-day
· Giving customers an enticing video experience from any seat
Audio Systems for an Immersive Experience
The best speakers for restaurants depend on the placement, the client’s budget, and even the look to be achieved. With high, open ceilings and multiple zones in the venue, selecting the right restaurant speakers was crucial to achieve the versatile sound needed for background music and live events.
Dara AV chose JBL AC28 two-way speakers for multidirectional, high quality sound and JBL SRX828 18-inch subs for powerful, clean bass.
Due to the high, open ceilings with exposed beams, ceiling speakers were not an option. The JBL wide range, wall mounted speakers sit close to the ceiling where they blend in to the decor . The speakers are powered by Crown CDI amps.
Audio processing is accomplished through the tried-and-true BSS Audio Soundweb BLU-100, with 12 inputs and 8 outputs.
Direct View LEDs For a Seamless Bar Viewing Experience
House of Que’s original location on Sinatra Drive in Hoboken features video screens that span the length of the bar, creating an eye-catching array for sports fans.
The second location at American Dream borrows the concept but uses a giant Direct View LED to create a seamless look. Processing through the Creston DM 64 x 64 matrix enables House of Que staff to divide the giant LED wall into multiple images in virtually endless configurations.
Likewise, staff can send any programming, from house specials and promotions to the upcoming March Madness finals, to any of the restaurant TVs hung throughout the restaurant. In Dara AV style, we strive to make it so that guests don’t need to turn their heads to see their game of choice. Being a part of the design phase of House of Que, early in the game, made this easy to accomplish.
The dual monitors behind the hostess stand display digital signage advertising drink specials and special events, including BINGO and trivia nights.
Crestron Gives Restaurant Staff Complete Control
The Crestron matrix, paired with the Crestron AV4 control system and an intuitive Crestron TSW-1070BS touchscreen behind the bar gives the restaurant staff remote control over the restaurant audio equipment and all the video programming, volume, and architectural lighting.
Wireless Networking Makes It Easy
Increasingly, restaurant and bar owners want their multi zone audio video systems to live on a different network than their point-of-sale software or operational WiFi network.
Dara AV frequently turns to UniFi systems for reliable, affordable networking solutions for restaurants, bars, and retail outlets. UniFi provides a vital network for the AV systems, as well as networks for management and guests, separately, and keeps the network secure. Dara AV manages all the PoE devices and the point-of-sale machines through the UniFi network. That means fewer on-site service calls and less downtime. Most problems can be resolved remotely to keep the restaurant AV systems running consistently.
Living the Dream
House of Que was one of the first installations at American Dream for Dara AV. Following the successful grand opening of the casual dining BBQ restaurant, we’ve gone on to complete many more projects there.
Chances are, wherever you are in the mall, you can see or hear our work. We’d love to help you create your dream venue to attract guests from across the U.S. or just across the river.
FAQ
What is AV in restaurants?
AV in restaurants refers to the audio and video systems that enhance the guest experience with ambient music and visual entertainment. Companies like Dara AV, serving New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania provide custom speaker systems and video technology to match a restauranteur’s needs and budget.
What AV systems do restaurants use?
State of the art audio systems for restaurants and high definition screens with enticing programming elevate the dining experience. Some common brands of AV equipment you’ll find in top restaurants include Crestron, JBL, Community, and Samsung.
What technology is used in restaurants?
To enhance the guest experience, restaurants often deploy state-of-the-art sound and video systems, along with wireless networking capabilities and sophisticated control systems. If you are designing, building or upgrading a restaurant, you’ll want to choose a trusted professional to design and install these AV systems.
Why should you choose Dara AV for your custom restaurant AV systems?
Dara AV designs and installs restaurant audio video systems that elevate the guest experience and make your restaurant one that people want to visit time and again. Every system design is unique and tailored to your customers, your budget and your project timelines.
