Blog Posts
The Takeaway: Why Nobody Wants to Work for You
What if your staffing problem is a leadership problem? Every week I hear owners blame the labor market. The restaurants that keep great people run
Jim Tselikis: You’re Never Out of the Trenches
What if the hardest part of building a brand starts after you’ve made it? Jim Tselikis co-founded Cousins Maine Lobster in 2012 with his cousin
The Takeaway: This Is Killing Your Restaurant’s Growth
What if your willingness to do whatever it takes is the thing holding your business back? Most owners plan to set boundaries once they’re successful.
Adrianne Calvo: Shrink the Group, Grow the Brand
What if the next restaurant you open is the thing standing between you and the business you actually want? Adrianne Calvo opened her Miami restaurant
The Takeaway: The Myth Keeping Busy Restaurants Broke
What if putting your guests first is the reason your packed restaurant still can’t pay its bills? Plenty of operators run full dining rooms all
Johanna Hellrigl: The Expensive Way Is Cheaper
What if the ingredients you’re afraid to buy are actually the cheaper option? Johanna Hellrigl opened Ama in Washington DC in June 2024 and built
The Takeaway: The $72,000 Hiding in Your Restaurant
What if your next $72,000 is already sitting on your guest list? Chasing new faces feels like growth. The faster money is in the people
Justin Devillier: Stop Fixing What’s Already Broken
What if the standard you are most proud of is the thing holding your restaurant back? Justin Devillier has run La Petite Grocery in New
Al Lucas: Go Work for a Chain
What if the fastest way to become a great independent operator is to go work for a chain? Al Lucas spent 21 years at Chart
Amanda Signorelli and Nick McMillan: Legacy Doesn’t Equal Profit
What if the thing you are most proud of in your business is also the thing quietly draining it? Amanda Signorelli and Nick McMillan took
Telly Justice & Camille Lindsley: Repel the Right People
What if the customers you’re driving away are exactly why your restaurant works? Telly Justice and Camille Lindsley built HAGS into one of New York’s
Ashley Morris: Product-Market Fit Forgives Every Mistake
What if the reason you survive your own mistakes has nothing to do with how smart you are, and everything to do with your product?
Nick Wong & Lisa Lee: We Opened at 40 on Purpose
What if the smartest thing you can do for your restaurant is refuse to rush it? Nick Wong spent twenty years in kitchens like Momofuku
