Restaurant Rockstars Podcast

Never have we seen a crisis so devastating to our business, and never have we seen so many rally together to help however we can. This episode of the Restaurant RockStars Podcast is all about an initiative to help those industry workers most affected. I’m speaking with Sean Weissbart, a NYC attorney specializing in setting up tax-exempt non profit organizations who has teamed with Danny Meyer of U...

The new normal is contactless ordering & payment. If you have pivoted or are ready to pivot your business model to take out, curbside pickup and delivery, here’s a solution. In this episode of the Restaurant RockStars Podcast, I’m speaking with Laurent May, leader of READY. Ready is a virtual ordering system that allows your customer to view your menu digitally, place the order and pay without cas...

The Government has all but shut us down, and returning to days of normal is still out of sight for most of us. We’re scrambling for a new plan and that plan keeps shifting day by day. What to do next? In this episode of the Restaurant RockStars Podcast I speak with George Deeb of www.restaurantfurnitureplus.com George and I originally recorded an episode on all things furniture for your operation...

This crisis has hit us all like a ton of bricks, and we can either cry in our soup (pardon the pun) or kick some A! Now that our restaurants are either idle or we’re offering limited service, we have a choice. We can either muddle along and hope for the best when things get back to more of a normal, or we can create a whole new game plan today and improve your operation for greater efficiency and...

RockStars: The fact is that you need technology to run an efficient and profitable restaurant operation, and everyday, new software is coming on the market. Whether you are a veteran, brand new or aspiring operator; Its our goal at the Restaurant RockStars podcast to bring you new technologies so that you can make an informed decision for your hospitality business. LATE BREAKING NEWS: Since this e...

This crisis is turning our industry upside down, and we are pivoting almost daily to stay in business and stay relevant with our customer. What every restaurant needs right now is to notify, communicate and keep the customer informed as to the status of your business. In this episode of the Restaurant RockStars Podcast, I’m speaking with Tasso Roumeliotis, the founder of NUMA, a virtual business a...

RockStars…this is it, our BIG 200th Episode of the Restaurant RockStars Podcast and it comes at a most CHALLENGING time. This crisis is unprecedented and the worst disaster to ever hit our industry. The Stats are staggering: Hundreds of Billions of Dollars Lost, Millions and millions of our employees out of work and worst of all, complete uncertainty for the future. When will we be able to re-open...

This situation is unfathomable and it’s constantly shifting. Every minute, there’s new information, new challenges and lots of uncertainty. No one knows what will happen next or how long before its over. Now’s the time to take action… to think your business through. To protect yourself, your employees, your customers, your business. In this episode of the Restaurant RockStars Podcast, my friend an...

We’re all looking for a Marketing Edge… one that not only drives business, but builds your Brand! Sometimes it’s elusive and we brainstorm endlessly and scratch our heads, but sometimes like a bolt of lightning the idea is right there in front of us. In this episode of the Restaurant RockStars Podcast I’m speaking to Anisha Blodgett of Powerhaus Pizza. She set out to start a health & wellness busi...

The Bar is the “One” place in your restaurant where you can really make money. Labor dollar for dollar and for the amount of time it takes to pour a drink versus preparing a menu item, your bar provides serious profit. You want to fill your bar all day long day in and day out. Problem is, most restaurant and bar owners are Not maximizing their Marketing Firepower! Well in this episode of the Resta...

I know what you’re thinking… “how can all natural, fresh and sustainable food still make money for my restaurant”? Yes, its true that it is becoming harder and harder to find a balance between healthy operating practices and profitability, but my guest today may change your mind. In this episode of the Restaurant RockStars Podcast I’m speaking with Chef Ali Gonzalez, a man who has dedicated 30 yea...

If you’re thinking about freshening up your restaurant with a makeover or if you’re starting a brand new place, you have to listen to this episode of the Restaurant RockStars Podcast. Today I’m speaking with a 30 year veteran designer in the hospitality and food service space. Its incredible! Lu Schildmeyer of LU S Design Associates has designed over 700 restaurants, 400 bars and 1500 food service...

Anyone can market a business, but few can build an “Unstoppable Brand”! What’s the difference? Passion, inspiration, creativity, commitment! A Brand represents your customer’s image, perception and opinion of your business. Do this right and you’ll create a lasting legacy. There are so many aspects to Brand Building… logo, colors, font, ambiance, uniforms, signature dishes and drinks and theatrics...

Think what would happen if you had a fire in your restaurant. You might be insured, but would you lose your business to the competition while you remodeled or even rebuilt? Do you think your staff would stick around and wait for you to reopen or would they find jobs with the competition? This is scary stuff, but statistics show it happens. Don’t let it happen to your restaurant! In this episode of...

We’re all inspired by those incredible entrepreneurial journeys. The vision, the dreams, sacrifices, hardships and victories. Ideas can come from anywhere and the next great thing may be around the next corner. In this case, its all about a drink you may want to serve in your operation. In this episode of the Restaurant RockStars Podcast, I’m pleased to introduce you to Alejandro Russo, a young se...

You’ve probably all seen the film “The Founder” about how Ray Krok created the most powerful restaurant brand and franchise on the planet. Well in the film, you see its all about the “Systems”. You can’t grow a successful business without proven systems. In this episode of the Restaurant RockStars Podcast, I’m speaking with a franchise expert who cut his teeth in several other most successful bran...

I’m always amazed at those dynamic hard-charging people that can grow a concept to multiple locations. It takes courage, fortitude, an unwavering vision, not to mention leadership to build a brand and maintain consistency and quality that’s on point. In this episode of the Restaurant RockStars Podcast, I’m speaking with Leslie Silverglide who’s the co-founder and CEO of a fast growing chain of hea...

Payroll is a necessary detail with a huge impact on your bottom line, but it doesn’t need to be a challenge. There are so many other critical details in running your operation, so let’s talk Profit, Convenience and Efficiency. Payroll processing has come so far beyond just time and attendance reporting and paying your employees. In this episode of the Restaurant RockStars Podcast, I’m speaking wit...

Everyone’s says you need to Market your place on Social Media. Not only that, you need to know how to post, what to post and how often? Today’s guest Mr. Erik Shellenberger is going to turn that idea upside down and tell us why Social Media Marketing has Lost its Effectiveness. I love Erik’s “Test Taking” analogy. “Picture a room full of people all taking a test that nobody studied for. Everyone i...

This is one of the most powerful interviews I’ve ever done. Every word inspires, motivates and lays a foundation for how we all should approach growing our restaurant business. Passion, Vision and Leadership are the core elements that have led Sal Lupoli to the pinnacle our of our industry. From humble beginnings with the first Sal’s Pizza shop in Salem, New Hampshire, Sal has continually grown hi...

The most challenging issue in the restaurant business today is the labor shortage. Finding, motivating and keeping a dedicated staff has most of us up at night wracking our brain for a solution. In this episode of the Restaurant RockStars Podcast, I’m speaking with Mr. Duncan Parker the founder of DineGigs. He is sharing with us what he calls the “Linked-In” for the Food Service Industry. It is a...

It’s rare that one single “Hook” in a restaurant enterprise is so powerful that it defines the brand, and even rarer when that same hook inspires and drives that brand forward. Walk into any location and what first catches your eye and your appetite is the huge glass display filled with endless varieties of dessert and not just any desserts, but the most amazing cheesecakes the world has seen. I c...

Don’t just run a restaurant, build a BRAND! To do this, you need to follow a proven marketing strategy and one size does not fit all.  How do you cut through all the noise and clutter out there vying your customer’s attention?  The answers are in this episode of the Restaurant RockStars Podcast. Mr. Dan Westmoreland is the Vice President of Demand Gen at Fountain.com and a true marketing “Super He...

Imagine serving 1 Billion eggs, 340 Million Hotcakes and 326 Million cups of Coffee over 7 decades, serving generations of loyal customers and continuing to add locations. In this episode of the Restaurant RockStars Podcast, I’m speaking with Mike Colonna, the President and CEO of Norm’s Diner, a Southern California institution that’s all about Value & Service. We’ll talk about Norm’s unique conce...

Spunky lady has an idea, develops and tests prototypes, finds volume producer then takes on Coffee sweetener industry! Wow guys, if you sell coffee and tea, even if you just love to drink coffee or tea, you have to listen to this episode of the Restaurant RockStars Podcast. I’m speaking with Carolyn Barbarite, a very smart and savvy lady flying under the radar of the big corporations with her disr...