Restaurant Owners Uncorked

Summary In this conversation, Dana Monfort shares her journey of opening a new restaurant concept, Town Pump, in Denver. She discusses her diverse background, the challenges of entering the restaurant industry, and her vision for creating a community-focused space that fills a void in the market. Dana emphasizes the importance of simplicity, intentionality, and building relationships with customers, while also balancing her career in real estate. The conversation highlights the resilience and passion required to succeed in the hospitality industry. Takeaways * Dana's journey reflects a diverse background in both medical and real estate fields. * The concept of Town Pump aims to fill a community void in Cherry Creek. * Simplicity in the menu is crucial for success in the restaurant industry. * Building relationships with customers is key to creating a loyal community. * Challenges in the restaurant business are seen as growth opportunities. * Dana emphasizes the importance of intentionality in every aspect of the business. * Creating a welcoming atmosphere is essential for customer experience. * The restaurant will focus on high-quality, clean ingredients. * Dana's leadership style is influenced by her parents' entrepreneurial spirit. * Balancing multiple ventures requires a strong support team.

Summary In this episode of the Restaurant Owners Uncorked podcast, Will interviews Jon Darby, owner of Darby's American Cantina. They discuss John's journey into the restaurant industry, the challenges of managing a restaurant, the impact of minimum wage laws, and the evolving trends in alcohol consumption. Jon shares insights on the importance of community support among restaurant owners and the realities of running a restaurant in today's economy, especially post-COVID. The conversation also touches on family dynamics within the business and the technological advancements that have changed the industry. Takeaways * Jon started in hospitality while working at Capitol Records. * He transitioned to running a restaurant after helping his mother. * Leases are crucial; longer terms provide stability. * The restaurant industry requires constant adaptation to trends. * Minimum wage increases impact pricing and profitability. * Post-COVID challenges have reshaped the restaurant landscape. * Alcohol sales trends are shifting towards higher-end spirits. * Community support among restaurant owners is vital. * Technology has transformed scheduling and operations in restaurants. * Family involvement adds a personal touch to the business.

Wil reads an incredible article by Simon Harris.

Summary In this episode of the Restaurant Owners Uncorked podcast, Wil interviews Ryan Handel, founder of Fixe, a bookkeeping service tailored for the restaurant industry. Ryan shares his journey from working in restaurants to founding his own, and ultimately creating Fixe to streamline bookkeeping for restaurant owners. The conversation covers the challenges of bookkeeping, customer acquisition strategies, and the competitive landscape of restaurant accounting software. Ryan emphasizes the importance of technology in simplifying financial management for restaurants and discusses his vision for the future of Fixe. Wil and Ryan explore the challenges faced by the restaurant industry, particularly regarding labor costs and the need for reliable financial reporting. The discussion also highlights the significance of building strong relationships within the franchise space and the necessity of providing exceptional customer care and authenticity in service. Takeaways * Ryan founded Fixe in 2019 to address bookkeeping challenges in restaurants. * He believes bookkeeping should be affordable and efficient. * Ryan's first restaurant venture was a fast-casual concept called Simple Things. * COVID-19 impacted his restaurant business, leading to the creation of Fixe. * Fixe targets small to medium-sized restaurants for its services. * The company offers month-to-month agreements to clients. * Ryan emphasizes the importance of partnerships with CPAs and restaurant consultants. * Fix integrates with QuickBooks Online to enhance its services. * The company aims to keep clients on QuickBooks as long as possible before transitioning to larger systems. * Ryan views QuickBooks as the iPhone of accounting, with Fixe as an app that enhances its functionality. From 2019 to 2023, we bootstrapped to 150 locations. * Raised a seed round in 2023 with New York Angels. * Now preparing for a series A round later this year. * Hiring the right team is crucial for growth. * Sales strategies include inbound demos and partnerships. * The restaurant industry is struggling with rising labor costs. * Building relationships with franchisees is essential. * Customer care and authenticity set businesses apart. * The importance of understanding restaurant owners' needs. * Navigating challenges requires patience and industry knowledge.

Summary In this episode, Wil speaks with Chand Harlow, co-creator and owner of Wonderbird Spirits, a distillery in Mississippi. They discuss Chand's journey from finance to the world of hospitality and distilling, emphasizing the importance of a grain to glass philosophy. Chand shares insights into the unique process of crafting gin using Jasmine rice, the challenges of starting a distillery, and the blend of art and science in creating high-quality spirits. In this conversation, the speakers delve into the intricate process of producing rice-based gin, discussing the unique methods and ingredients involved. They explore the challenges of funding and growing a distillery business, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The conversation also highlights the competitive landscape of the spirits market and the importance of building a strong brand identity to educate consumers about their unique product. The speakers share insights on marketing strategies, distribution challenges, and the evolving preferences of consumers in the alcohol industry. Takeaways * Chand Harlow's background in hospitality stems from his parents' love for entertaining. * He transitioned from finance to distilling to pursue his passion for food and beverage. * Wonderbird Spirits was founded in 2017, focusing on grain to glass production. * The distillery uses Jasmine rice from a local Mississippi farm for its gin. * Chand emphasizes the importance of controlling the entire distillation process. * Grain to glass means producing alcohol from raw ingredients to finished product. * Most distilleries use neutral grain spirits rather than producing their own alcohol. * Chand's approach combines both art and science in crafting spirits. * The entrepreneurial journey involves trial and error and learning from mistakes. * Chand's unique gin is one of the few rice-based gins in the world. Rice-based gin production is more complex and costly than corn-based. * Koji kin is essential for creating umami flavors in gin. * The distillation process involves multiple stages to achieve desired alcohol content. * Individual botanical distillation enhances flavor quality in gin. * COVID-19 presented unique challenges for new alcohol brands. * Hand sanitizer production became a temporary pivot during the pandemic. * Expanding the distillery was necessary for meeting growing demand. * Brand ambassadors play a crucial role in market education. * Navigating state regulations is complex for alcohol distribution. * Awards and recognition help validate the quality of the product.