Over the years we’ve helped many restaurants and landlords work with each other and have seen ugliness on both sides. We’re often baffled at the lack of empathy each side can have for one another. For instance, Landlords have a mortgage to pay. When tenants seek rent abatement because they’re not profitable or they are starting […]
5 Things Real Estate Developers Should Know About Leasing to Restaurants Read More »
Every day, local and national news agencies report on the state of the labor market. Governments anchor their discussion on unemployment rate, citing moving average trends or comparing today to a year ago. Business owners lament generational work ethic variances. Progressives blame a lack of career advancement opportunities while Conservatives blame liberal child rearing strategies
Restaurant Gig Labor – A Solution to the Great Resignation Read More »
There are a lot of restaurant consulting companies out there and they come in all shapes and sizes. Some are good, some are not so good. Some solve your problems; some leave you with more problems. In the search for the consulting company that is right for you, look first at the company culture to
It’s Our Company Culture That Makes Us the Right Choice Read More »
When creating a restaurant concept, the stage I look most forward to is design. We’re not designers but instead we get to work with different designers across the country – usually chosen by the client. Each designer has their own collection of superpowers, non-negotiables, and pet peeves. During design phases (kitchen, architecture, and design) our
Restaurant Lighting – 13 Philosophies Read More »
When you think of ambience in a restaurant, or anywhere for that matter, you often consider things like music, lighting, temperature, smells, materials, and acoustics. Those are certainly components of great ambience (which, by the way, I learned can be spelled ambience or ambiance). But in our series discussing a restaurants “LAMA” (lights, atmosphere, music,
6 Pillars of Restaurant Ambience Management Read More »
“Check Your LAMA!” was something a colleague drilled into my head many years ago. He had worked for Maggiano’s, and it was/is a reference to the four pillars of guest comfort. It’s an acronym for Lights, Atmosphere, Music, and Ambience. I’ve always found it very easy for restaurant employees to become desensitized to these things
Getting Guest Comfort Right Read More »
So, you think you want to quit your job and open a restaurant…or become a rock star. Those are pretty natural instincts when you’re trying to figure out where your life is going if you’ve made a wrong turn. Possibilities for becoming a rock star are a little easier to contain as talent is somewhat
Opening a Restaurant – How Much Should You Pay for Your Rock-n-Roll Lifestyle? Read More »
I was dining at a popular Italian restaurant in a popular outdoor lifestyle shopping plaza at a popular time – Saturday night, 7:30pm. We had a reservation, but expectations for being seated on time were low because of COVID. Generally, everyone gets a hall pass so minor grievances like wait time or long ticket times
5 Recommendations for Restaurant Music Management Read More »
It’s that time of year! July…halfway through the year… the beginning of Q3. Somewhere in December most restaurateurs compile a list of things they want to accomplish for the year, vowing to use the “down time” after the holidays to regroup and get ready for Q2. Springtime is usually good to restaurants and this year
Half Year Resolutions Read More »
Everyone has said for a year now that restaurants will not be the same when we come out of The Pandemic; that evolution is inevitable. Well, spring is here, shots are in arms, and restrictions are being lifted. It is time to decide what we have become, buy some land, and get those shovels in
What Restaurant Should You Build in 2021? Read More »
