On this episode of Bar Hacks, host David Klemt sits down with Rob Minucci, CEO and co-founder of Talkhouse Encore, a premium RTD brand inspired by the legendary dive bar Stephen Talkhouse in the Hamptons. Together, they delve into the story behind the brand's inception during the pandemic, discussing how Rob's business partner Ruby Honerkamp (whose family owns the iconic bar), sought to bring the spirit of the Talkhouse to the masses through gluten-free vodka and tequila seltzers. Or, as Rob explains, dive bar classics in RTD form.Rob shares insights into the challenges of launching a new beverage brand, from navigating distributor relationships to the importance of creating a standout product that resonates with consumers. He emphasizes the significance of authenticity and flavor, particularly for the Gen Z demographic, who are looking for more than just a drink;they want a story and a connection to the brand.You'll learn about the strategic decisions that shaped Talkhouse Encore, including its unique approach to market research and branding. Rob explains how they focused on building a strong local presence before considering expansion, ensuring that they meet consumer demands with quality ingredients and an engaging brand narrative.Join us for a fascinating discussion on entrepreneurship in the beverage industry, the power of storytelling, and the art of creating a product that stands out in a crowded market.NotesTalkhouse Encore websiteTalkhouse Encore InstagramPanoplaiBar Hacks IGDavid Klemt IGKRG Hospitality IGKRG Hospitality websiteShow notes generated in part by Headliner
Long-time listeners know we love it when previous guests return! On this episode, Finian Sedgwick, chief growth officer at BAXUS, comes back onto the podcast.Finian and David chat about the growth of BAXUS and the BoozApp, including new features for the peer-to-peer marketplace, popular bottles and spirits categories, and the rabbit hole members can go down when searching for items to purchase and trade. They also talk about bottles that have grabbed Finian's attention, why he's bullish on wine, and how alcohol-free cocktail menus are more important than some operators may think.Speaking of operators, the two also discuss the doom-and-gloom articles blaming Millennials and Gen Z for "killing" or otherwise "ruining" alcohol consumption and sales. Is that really the state of booze, or are people rage-baiting for clicks, and are some operators failing to meet their guests where they are?NotesBAXUS websiteBoozApp websiteFinian Sedgwick LinkedInBar Hacks IGDavid Klemt IGKRG Hospitality IGKRG Hospitality website
We sit down with real-life bartender, actor, and social media creator Matthew Rangel (@therealmattyrangel) an hour before he needed to open one of the three bars at which he works in Wisconsin to talk neighborhood bars, dive bars, mental health, social media, and the Midwest.For those who haven't yet come across Matty's bartending videos, they're quick, funny, and relatable to anyone who has worked behind the stick, or worked at a bar or restaurant. Matty breaks down his approach to creating his videos, which is a quicker process than most would likely expect. He also explains that people don't need to buy the most expensive recording gear or spend hours editing to make impactful videos.Matty also discusses mental health and the hospitality space, in particular bartending. He hosts Mental Health Mondays each week, hoping for people to reach out, share, connect, and work through their struggles.Cheers!NotesMatty Rangel IGMatty Rangel TikTokMatty Rangel YouTubeMatty Rangel FacebookMatty Rangel LinktreeHeard game websiteBar Hacks IGDavid Klemt IGKRG Hospitality IGKRG Hospitality website
We managed to squeeze three real-world hospitality situations into episode five of ReFire!On the last episode, David and Bradley talked about guest perception, and how the "little" things can have a big impact. This time, they discuss brand perception, and how quickly a misstep can turn into a catastrophe.Then, they talk about "skunking," and how it impacts your team.Finally, David and Bradley take a look at a restaurant's new SOPs shared by a team member, and why they're a problem.Cheers!NotesBar Hacks IG:@barhacksDavid Klemt IG:@david.ex.machinaBradley Knebel IG:@sommfabulousguyKRG Hospitality IG:@KRG.HospitalityKRG Hospitality website:KRGHospitality.com
Guest experience drives perception, and perception shapes value. As you may have already learned, perception can be impacted on what may feel trivial to operators and their teams but is incredibly important from guest to guest.On this episode of Bar Hacks: Refire, David Klemt, partner at KRG Hospitality, and co-host Bradley Knebel of Empowered Hospitality break down a real-world story of two restaurants offering the same menu and pricing, but with vastly different outcomes. One felt like a letdown because of disorganization and sloppy service; the other delivered a memorable experience simply by getting the fundamentals right.The duo dig into why poor guest experience makes food and drinks taste worse; why discounting without strategy sends the wrong message; and why every detail—from lighting and music volume to greetings and check drop—matters. If your guests don’t feel good about the experience, they won’t feel good about the value. And if they don't see value, they won't see a point in returning for more visits.Tune in to rethink what you're really selling.NotesBar Hacks IG:@barhacksDavid Klemt IG:@david.ex.machinaBradley Knebel IG:@sommfabulousguyKRG Hospitality IG:@KRG.HospitalityKRG Hospitality website:KRGHospitality.comEmpowered Hospitality IG: @empoweredhospitalityEmpowered Hospitality website: EmpoweredHospitality.com
Hayden Lambert, co-founder of the unique and award-winning Above Board bar in Melbourne, Australia, pops by for an incredible chat.When Lambert would explain the reductionist philosophy behind the concept for Above Board to others in the industry, he was told it wouldn't work. Well, nearly ten years of operation, a few appearances on the World's 50 Best Bars list, and other accolades later, Above Board continues to prove that its unique approach works.On this episode of the Bar Hacks podcast, Lamber discusses his journey through hospitality, traveling the world, still being tested as a bartender, "simplexity," how brands can succeed in a bar without a back bar, the magic that is making guests feel like their experience was easy, and much, much more.Lambert drops a ton of useful information and experience in this episode that veteran, new, and hopeful bar owners need to hear and consider. Cheers!NotesAbove Board website: Aboveboardbar.comAbove Board IG: @AboveBoardBarMelbAbove Board Facebook: @AboveBoardBarBar Hacks IG: @barhacksKRG Hospitality IG: @krg.hospitalityKRG Hospitality website: krghospitality.com/David Klemt IG: @david.ex.machina
Jackie Williams, event vice president of Bar Convent Brooklyn, pops in to chat about this year's BCB!If you're listening to this podcast, you're likely well aware of BCB. But, just in case, this annual show, which takes place in New York City, of course, is a chance for hospitality professionals to network with peers and learn about new trends, techniques and products in the domestic and international markets, plus attend demonstrations, keynote addresses, and panel discussions with leading industry experts.The 2025 Bar Convent Brooklyn takes place from June 9 through June 11 at the Industry City complex, a very cool place to gather, sip, and learn. Register today!NotesBar Convent Brooklyn website: BarConventBrooklyn.comBar Convent Brooklyn IG: @barconventbrooklynBar Convent Brooklyn Facebook: @barconventbrooklynBar Convent Brooklyn LinkedIn: @barconventbrooklynBar Hacks IG: @barhacksKRG Hospitality IG: @krg.hospitalityKRG Hospitality website: krghospitality.com/David Klemt IG: @david.ex.machina
On this episode, host David Klemt sits down with William Brooks, the Global Brand Ambassador for Tequila Herradura. With a background from Johnson & Wales University and extensive experience in the spirits industry, William shares his fascinating journey from whiskey to agave.Discover the unique qualities of tequila, as William dispels common myths and misconceptions. He dives into the importance of terroir, the differences between lowland and highland agave, and how these factors influence flavor profiles. The conversation also covers the innovative practices at Tequila Herradura, including sustainability efforts, and the creation of the reposado category.Plus, William shares his favorite tequila cocktails, perfect food pairings, and tips on how to properly taste tequila (hint: replace the lime). Whether you're a seasoned agave enthusiast or just starting to explore, this episode is packed with valuable insights and delicious ideas.Cheers!NotesWilliam Brooks IG: @cuppateaquilaTequila Herradura website: Herradura.comTequila Herradura IG: @herradurateqBar Hacks IG: @barhacksKRG Hospitality IG: @krg.hospitalityKRG Hospitality website: krghospitality.com/David Klemt IG: @david.ex.machina
Suomi Design Works is an award-winning hotel design studio dedicated to approaching every hospitality project with an exceptional level of creativity. In fact, Michael Suomi, president of the studio, actively seeks out unique, challenging projects.On this episode of the Bar Hacks podcast, host David Klemt chats with Michael about a number of these extraordinary projects. Further, Michael shares his approach to onboarding clients, building unique teams for exceptional projects, trends he thinks may stand out in 2025 (and which he'd like to see disappear), and more.Cheers!NotesSuomi Design Works: footprintsuccess.org/Suomi Design Works IG: @suomidesignworksSuomi Design Works FB: @suomidesignworksSuomi Design Works LI: www.linkedin.com/company/suomi-design-worksBar Hacks IG: @barhacksKRG Hospitality IG: @krg.hospitalityKRG Hospitality website: krghospitality.com/David Klemt IG: @david.ex.machina
We're back! Hosts David Klemt and Bradley Knebel tackle two real-life restaurant and bar situations in the first ReFire of 2025.The two tackle the topic of an operator who's hesitant to believe it when multiple employees claim a culinary team member is rude, hostile, and abusive...but believes that team member when they make the same accusation against a quiet but hard-working back-of-house peer. Don't worry - it gets worse!Then, David and Bradley take a look at a stunning, on-the-spot termination of a bartender who had been in role since day one. The restaurant was busy, the bar was slammed, and the word of a regular got the bartender of five years fired instantly. Something doesn't add up!Look, firing someone is never pleasant. However, it's going to happen. Operators and leadership team members need to have standards in place and communicated clearly, a process for terminations, and the understanding that how they fire people speaks to their credibility and reputation.NotesBar Hacks IG:@barhacksDavid Klemt IG:@david.ex.machinaBradley Knebel IG:@sommfabulousguyKRG Hospitality IG:@KRG.HospitalityKRG Hospitality website:KRGHospitality.comEmpowered Hospitality IG:@empoweredhospitalityEmpowered Hospitality website:EmpoweredHospitality.com
In 2008, Barbara Harmon volunteered at an outreach program for individuals with mental illness. Half of the patients attending the program wanted to work but were told by their clinical staff that the stress of working would cause more symptoms and more hospitalization. Barbara began researching organizations that helped individuals with mental illness find employment. She read an article about Fountain House in New York City. Fountain House is the first Clubhouse and is the blueprint for 320 Clubhouses around the world. Barbara opened a Clubhouse in Pompano Beach, Florida in 2010. Since starting Foot Print to Success Clubhouse, the organization has offered people with mental illness hope and opportunities to achieve their full potential. On this episode of Bar Hacks, Barbara shares the Foot Print to Success Clubhouse mission, talks about the benefits to program participants and hospitality operators, addresses the stigma of mental illness, and more. Cheers! Notes Foot Print to Success: footprintsuccess.org/ FPTS IG: instagram.com/fptsclubhouse FPTS FB: facebook.com/FootPrintSuccess/ FPTS X: x.com/FPTS_Clubhouse Bar Hacks IG: instagram.com/barhacks/ KRG Hospitality IG: instagram.com/krg.hospitality/ KRG Hospitality website: krghospitality.com/ David Klemt IG: instagram.com/david.ex.machina/
Giuseppe Gallo has accomplished a lot in his two decades-plus in the hospitality and beverage spaces: he's a respected vermouth and amaro expert, the winner of the 2014 Spirited Award for Best International Brand Ambassador, an educator and drinks historian, and a bartender's bartender.Among other topics, this episode explores the creation of SAVOIA Americano (and ITALICUS). Giuseppe introduces SAVOIA Orancio, an innovative new aperitivo made with natural orange wine. Throughout the conversation, Gallo emphasizes the importance of bartender insights in shaping successful beverage brands, and the guest experience. Tune into this informative and engaging episode to be inspired by Giuseppe Gallo's story, and learn how you can elevate your own bar or restaurant business. Notes SAVOIA website: https://casa-savoia.com/savoia-orancio/ SAVOIA IG: https://www.instagram.com/casa.savoia/ ITALICUS website: https://rosolioitalicus.com/ ITALICUS IG: https://www.instagram.com/ItalicusRDB Giuseppe Gallo LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/giuseppe-gallo-b3a81b14/ Giuseppe Gallo IG: https://www.instagram.com/peppegallo1/ ItalSpirits website: https://italspirits.com/ Bar Hacks IG: https://www.instagram.com/barhacks/ KRG Hospitality IG: https://www.instagram.com/krg.hospitality/ KRG Hospitality website: https://krghospitality.com/ David Klemt IG: https://www.instagram.com/david.ex.machina/
Nancy Kuemper is the founding principal interior designer and creative director at Mabel Design Co. based in Halton Hills, which is located within the Greater Toronto Area. Similarly to the approach KRG Hospitality takes to projects, Nancy's approach to interior design is transparent, structured, bold, and client-driven. As you'll learn during this episode of the Bar Hacks podcast, she's enamored with the idea of telling the story of a client's project. You'll also hear about the phased structure Mabel Design Co. brings to each project, when to bring on an interior designer, how to maximize the relationship, design trends Nancy thinks will be popular in 2025, and more. Cheers! Notes Mabel Design Co. website: https://www.mabeldesignco.com Mabel Design Co. IG: https://www.instagram.com/mabeldesignco/ Mabel Design Co. Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ca/mabeldesignco/ Mabel Design Co. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mabel-design-co/ Bar Hacks IG: https://www.instagram.com/barhacks/ KRG Hospitality IG: https://www.instagram.com/krg.hospitality/ KRG Hospitality website: https://krghospitality.com/ David Klemt IG: https://www.instagram.com/david.ex.machina/
On the second episode of Bar Hacks: ReFire, host David Klemt (KRG Hospitality) and co-host Bradley Knebel (Empowered Hospitality) chat about three real-world restaurant and bar situations. The duo discuss guest perception, F&B influencer culture and marketing, "firing" problematic customers (a distinction is made between guest and customer), and more through the analysis of three stories pulled from various platforms. Cheers! Notes Bar Hacks IG: @barhacks David Klemt IG: @david.ex.machina Bradley Knebel IG: @sommfabulousguy KRG Hospitality IG: @KRG.Hospitality KRG Hospitality website: KRGHospitality.com Empowered Hospitality IG: @empoweredhospitality Empowered Hospitality website: EmpoweredHospitality.com
Welcome to the first episode of Bar Hacks: ReFire! We've changed the standard Bar Hacks format to address real-life hospitality industry issues. We're also introducing a co-host to help provide different insights and perspectives: Bradley Knebel, client services director at Empowered Hospitality. Bradley has 20 years of experience in hospitality, including ten years with Danny Meyer's Union Square Hospitality Group. On this inaugural episode David and Bradley discuss giving a second chance to a part-time employee hired to join a small culinary team; a bartender who may be experiencing imposter syndrome but who was also only given a single training shift at a high-end venue; and owners, operators, and leadership team members pulling pranks on staff. Notes Bar Hacks IG: @barhacks David Klemt IG: @david.ex.machina Bradley Knebel IG: @sommfabulousguy KRG Hospitality IG: @KRG.Hospitality KRG Hospitality website: KRGHospitality.com Empowered Hospitality IG: @empoweredhospitality Empowered Hospitality website: EmpoweredHospitality.com
Social media can seem daunting to some people. Where do you start? How often should you post? What kind of posts should you put out there? And what channels do you need to use? To answer these questions (and more), we asked Zachary Helsel if he'd come on the podcast. Zack will be the first to tell you that he's made all the mistakes one can make when building their social media presence. However, he learned from those mistakes, has sought expert advice, and led his whynot_ride motorcycle page to more than 466,000 engaged followers. He also operates his own social media marketing agency, complete with a digital creator community. During this conversation, host David Klemt and Zack talk platforms, strategy, mistakes and myths, the importance of learning the fundamentals, two key acronyms Zack has coined, why he's not afraid to pay for expert advice, the services he provides as a social media marketer, and more. Also, for the riders out there, he's giving away a 2023 Honda Grom and a 2024 CF MOTO Papio. Check out the giveaway on his whynot_ride IG page and Why Not Ride community. Cheers! Notes whynot_engage IG: https://www.instagram.com/whynot_engage/ whynot_ride IG: https://www.instagram.com/whynot_ride/ Why Not Ride Skool community: https://www.skool.com/whynotride/about Engagement Academy signup: https://www.engagementacademy.org/opt-in Bar Hacks IG: https://www.instagram.com/barhacks/ KRG Hospitality IG: https://www.instagram.com/krg.hospitality/ KRG Hospitality website: https://krghospitality.com/ David Klemt IG: https://www.instagram.com/david.ex.machina/
Just weeks after speaking with design legend Roger Thomas we were given the opportunity to speak with Alex Woogmaster. Alex is one of Roger's protégés, and the former creative director for Wynn Resorts. Toward the end of 2019, Alex founded Woogmaster Studio, the design agency for which he is also creative director. Interestingly, Las Vegas wasn't on his radar. In fact, neither was interior design; he was studying architecture initially. On this episode of the Bar Hacks podcast you'll hear about how Alex found himself in Vegas, working for one of the most influential and successful gaming and hospitality brands in the world; the Woogmaster Studio "gentle manifestos"; his approach to interior design; maximizing the relationship between operator and designer; and more. Cheers! Notes Woogmaster Studio IG: https://www.instagram.com/woogmasterstudio/ Woogmaster Studio website: https://woogmasterstudio.com/ Bar Hacks IG: https://www.instagram.com/barhacks/ KRG Hospitality IG: https://www.instagram.com/krg.hospitality/ KRG Hospitality website: https://krghospitality.com/ David Klemt IG: https://www.instagram.com/david.ex.machina/
Psychotherapist, soon-to-be organizational psychologist, and former bartender Laura Louise Green drops by the Bar Hacks podcast to talk about a very important topic: burnout. The hospitality industry has been taking strides to address many of the challenges that affect hospitality professionals' physical, mental, and emotional health. Burnout is one of the many dangerous issues we all face, yet we don't always acknowledge. Among other important conversations we need to have that are long overdue, Green has been taking on burnout head-on. On this episode, she defines burnout, shares symptoms, explains the truth and myths about burnout, offers some ways to heal from it, and much more. Notes Laura Louise Green IG: https://www.instagram.com/laura.louise.green/ Healthy Pour IG: https://www.instagram.com/our.bestwork/ Healthy Pour Website: https://healthypour.org/ Healthy Pour Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/healthypourconsulting Bar Hacks IG: https://www.instagram.com/barhacks/ KRG Hospitality IG: https://www.instagram.com/krg.hospitality/ KRG Hospitality website: https://krghospitality.com/ David Klemt IG: https://www.instagram.com/david.ex.machina/
Real Las Vegas royalty stopped by the Bar Hacks podcast! That's not hyperbole: Roger Thomas truly changed the face of Las Vegas and how people approaching gaming around the world over his 40-year career. While Roger has made "cameo" appearances on projects for clients here and there, he really worked for a single client, building the Mirage, the Bellagio, and Wynn and Encore resorts and casinos in multiple markets across the globe. During this conversation, Roger shares how he got his start in interior design in hospitality, his approach to luxury design, how he has mentored other designers, some of his favorite design features, his new book Resort Style: Spaces of Celebration, tips for hiring and working with interior designers, why designers flock to Las Vegas, and so much more. Cheers! Notes Roger Thomas IG: https://www.instagram.com/rogerpthomas/ The Roger Thomas Collection: https://therogerthomascollection.com/ GoTab Facebook: www.facebook.com/GoTabInc/ Bar Hacks IG: https://www.instagram.com/barhacks/ KRG Hospitality IG: https://www.instagram.com/krg.hospitality/ KRG Hospitality website: https://krghospitality.com/ David Klemt IG: https://www.instagram.com/david.ex.machina/
Let's tech and point-of-sale systems! Adam Howe, solutions engineer at GoTab, popped in to talk to host David Klemt about what the platform can do for operators. GoTab is a feature-rich, operator- and guest-focused POS that, interestingly, can run on basically any operating system. That means that it's very likely an operator looking to switch POS platforms already has hardware that can run GoTab, and that translates to savings. It's the company's transparency, ease of use, and cost-saving measures that convinced KRG Hospitality to choose GoTab as a preferred partner. In this episode, Adam shares GoTab's mission and focus, the time it takes to get their system up and running at a given venue, new features, and much more. Cheers! Notes GoTab IG: https: www.instagram.com/gotab.inc/ GoTab website: gotab.com/ GoTab YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/GoTabInc GoTab LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/gotab/ GoTab Facebook: www.facebook.com/GoTabInc/ Bar Hacks IG: https://www.instagram.com/barhacks/ KRG Hospitality IG: https://www.instagram.com/krg.hospitality/ KRG Hospitality website: https://krghospitality.com/ David Klemt IG: https://www.instagram.com/david.ex.machina/