Josh Kopel | Award Winning Restaurant Consultant

How to Compete in Today’s Restaurant Market: Mark Politzer on Reinventing a Legacy Brand

What if the hardest part of change isn’t strategy—it’s psychology?

5 Day Restaurant Profitability Challenge

Mark Politzer walked away from fine dining to lead Norms, a 76-year-old family-style chain deeply rooted in Southern California. Now he’s balancing evolution with preservation, trying to modernize a beloved brand without breaking what makes it work. In this episode, we talk about how to lead legacy teams through change, why internal marketing might be your most important job, and how culture becomes competitive advantage when accountability and pride collide.

This is for anyone navigating the tightrope of tradition and transformation.

To learn more about Norms and their evolving story, visit https://www.norms.com.
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5 Day Restaurant Profitability Challenge

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