Meet Quique Lopez of Panorama Press Marketing and Media

Today we’d like to introduce you to Quique Lopez.

Hi Quique, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
this is something that I made for my social media: I was born in Colombia, but Atlanta raised me. My father was a doctor, and his career first brought us to the U.S. when he studied in Boston. We went back and forth between Colombia and the States, but by the time I was in elementary school, we had settled here. I didn’t know a word of English, and I quickly had to learn how to navigate different cultures, races, and communities. Those early experiences gave me a perspective that has shaped everything I’ve done since.

Soccer, School, and Atlanta

Soccer was my first love. I was kicking a ball around by the age of three in Colombia, and by the time we were in the U.S., it became my way of fitting in. Soccer connected me with communities in Pensacola, New Orleans, and eventually Atlanta.

Academically, I studied business at Oxford College of Emory University, Tulane University, and finally Georgia State University, where I earned my BBA. I also played soccer during my college years, even dreaming of going pro until an ACL injury ended those aspirations. That setback pushed me back toward business — though I never fully separated soccer from my story.

The Birth of Somber Reptile

At 26, I decided I wasn’t going to wait for the corporate world to hand me an opportunity. I wanted to create my own. That’s how Somber Reptile Art & Music Development Center was born in a gritty corner of Atlanta’s Westside.

The place was a mess — abandoned, filled with junk and old machinery. I cut a deal with the landlord: I’d clean it up in exchange for a couple months of free rent. From there, I hustled. We started with vending — T-shirts, hats, screen printing with local artists — and then built momentum with parties and live shows.

Over the years, Somber Reptile hosted around 5,000 events. Bands like Korn, Fear, and the Black Eyed Peas passed through on their way up. During one unforgettable Freaknik, Queen Latifah even made an appearance — not as a performer, but rushing in to use the bathroom mid-chaos. That’s the kind of place it was: unexpected, raw, and alive.

Somber Reptile wasn’t just a venue. It was a movement. A mashup of music, art, and soccer culture that brought together communities who might never have crossed paths otherwise. We celebrated differences, and in a city often defined by race and division, that mattered.

Learning the Restaurant Business: Cajun Kitchen on Marietta Street

In the early ’90s, I expanded into the restaurant world with The Cajun Kitchen on Marietta Street, right alongside Somber Reptile. It was a 250-seat, full-service restaurant serving New Orleans–style Cajun and Creole food.

That venture taught me everything about hospitality and operations: supply chains, food costs, staffing, and how even the smallest detail could shape someone’s entire experience. But more than that, it became a gathering place. Georgia Tech students, Coca-Cola execs, local media, musicians, and downtown workers all came through. During the 1996 Olympics, international athletes walked over from the Olympic Village to eat there — proof that the little hub we had built had global reach.

Running Cajun Kitchen reinforced a lesson I’ve carried through every stage of my career: food, like music and marketing, is about community. It’s about giving people a space where they feel connected, welcomed, and part of something bigger.

From Flyers to AI: Riding the Marketing Revolution

When I first started promoting shows in Atlanta, the tools were simple: flyers, posters, and street teams. I’d be out late nights plastering walls, handing out handbills, and building word-of-mouth the old-fashioned way. That was marketing — raw, direct, and face-to-face.

Then came the first shift: online bulletin boards and forums. Suddenly, we had a way to connect with people beyond the physical streets. We could post events, share updates, and build communities virtually — something that felt revolutionary at the time.

From there, it moved fast. Websites and the internet became the new storefronts. If you didn’t have a digital presence, you didn’t exist. I carried over everything I’d learned from flyers and guerrilla tactics into designing online experiences that felt personal and alive.

And now? We’re in the age of AI-driven marketing. At Panorama Press, we use AI for personalization, content creation, lead generation, and analytics — but the core hasn’t changed. Whether it was a flyer taped to a wall in the ’90s or an AI-powered campaign today, it’s still about the same thing: connecting with people in authentic ways.

I’ve lived through every stage of this transformation. From street corners to cyberspace to artificial intelligence, I’ve seen how the tools evolve, but the principles remain the same: be creative, be bold, and always put community first.

Building a Legacy in Atlanta

That punk rock, DIY spirit carried me into everything else I’ve built. In 2004, I founded Panorama Press, a marketing agency based in Atlanta. Just like Somber Reptile, Panorama started scrappy — no big budgets, just creativity, grit, and hustle. Today, we’ve helped hundreds of businesses with lead generation, digital marketing, and creative strategies across industries from home services to SaaS, cannabis, entertainment, and beyond.

But I never left behind the things that shaped me. Through Atlanta Soccer News, I’ve chronicled the game in Georgia for over 30 years. With the Georgia Art Exchange, I’ve supported local artists and cultural projects. For me, business has never been just about profit — it’s about community, connection, and legacy.

What It All Means

Looking back, my journey from Colombia to Boston to New Orleans to Atlanta has always been about finding my place and helping others find theirs. Whether through soccer, art, music, food, or marketing, I’ve tried to build platforms where people could connect, express themselves, and grow.

I didn’t learn this from a textbook. I learned it from kicking a ball at age three. From being called “stupid” in classrooms where I didn’t speak the language. From negotiating with landlords in forgotten parts of Atlanta. From serving gumbo at Cajun Kitchen. From watching bands play to rooms full of strangers who left as a community.

That’s my story. And to me, it’s an Atlanta story: resilient, diverse, creative, and always evolving.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The biggest challenges have been adapting to constant change and competing with bigger agencies. From the early days of flyers and street teams to today’s AI-driven marketing, I’ve had to reinvent strategies to stay ahead. What’s helped me overcome obstacles is resilience, creativity, and building long-term client relationships.

As you know, we’re big fans of Panorama Press Marketing and Media. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Panorama Press is a full-service Atlanta-based marketing agency founded in 2004. We specialize in custom lead generation, PPC, SEO, social media, video, and email marketing for industries ranging from home services and SaaS to cannabis, soccer, and entertainment.

What sets us apart is our mix of grassroots creativity and modern digital tools — helping clients connect authentically while driving real growth. We’re proud that many clients have trusted us for years because we focus on long-term partnerships, not just campaigns.

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Resilience is the quality that’s carried me through every stage of my journey. From handing out flyers on Atlanta streets to leading AI-driven marketing campaigns, I’ve had to adapt, reinvent, and keep pushing forward. Staying authentic and creative through change has been my greatest strength.

Pricing:

• Custom Pricing

Contact Info:

• Website: https://panoramapress.net/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/panoramapressmtg/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/panoramapressmtg/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/panorama-press/
• Twitter: https://x.com/PanoramaPressGA
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1fuFHK8MN4k4ASHNgNdmCw
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/panorama-press-marketing-and-media-no-title-2
• Other: http://atlantasoccer.news/