soft openings
Quiet debut events
A soft opening is a trial run for a new business, restaurant, or venue before its official public launch.
The business operates with limited hours, reduced capacity, or invited guests only, allowing staff to work out problems before the grand opening.
The phrase also applies to exhibitions, theater productions, and other events that preview before their formal debut: The restaurant had a soft opening last week for friends and family.
- beta testPrerelease software evaluation
- trial runPreliminary test attempt
- previewAdvance showing sample
- sneak peekAdvance partial viewing
- pilotOne who steers aircraft
dry run · practice run · limited release · pre-launch · warm-up · preliminaries · prototype · introductions · behind closed doors · controlled environment · dress rehearsal · testing the waters · shakedown cruise · alpha testing · test audience · curiosities · staff training · design iteration