FULL COMP: The Voice of the Restaurant Industry Revolution

Does the world really need another coffee shop?That’s the question Darren Spicer had to answer before walking away from a six-figure career to start Clutch Coffee. The answer wasn’t coffee—it was connection.In this episode, Darren breaks down why community, not caffeine, is his true product, what he learned from Dutch Bros, how he made it his own, and why being “Chick-fil-A for coffee” means never settling for average service.For every operator asking what business they’re really in—this episode delivers clarity.To learn more about Clutch Coffee Bar and their work in the community, visit clutchcoffeebar.com._________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.comFull Comp is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for Restaurants. Our goal is to build tools that help restaurateurs do more with limited time.We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other content:Yelp for Restaurants PodcastsRestaurant expert videos & webinars

How do you define luxury? What if it isn’t about white tablecloths—but about meeting every guest, every need, every time?Aaron Bludorn didn’t just open a restaurant—he opened a new playbook for hospitality. After a business education under Daniel Boulud and Gavin Kaysen, Aaron took a massive bet: move to Houston, build a concept mid-pandemic, and serve a community he was still getting to know. And that gamble paid off.In this episode, he shares how Bludorn became a “Swiss army knife” of occasion—able to host everything from business dinners to caviar-and-burgers at the bar. He also shares how flexibility became a growth engine and how promoting from within turned his group into a magnet for top-tier talent.This is for operators who want to scale without losing soul—and win by design, not default.To explore his restaurant, visit bludornrestaurant.com _________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.comFull Comp is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for Restaurants. Our goal is to build tools that help restaurateurs do more with limited time.We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other content:Yelp for Restaurants PodcastsRestaurant expert videos & webinars

Everyone says restaurants are about food, service, or scale. But what if it’s really about emotional engineering?Yann didn’t come from the kitchen. He came from the world of marketing and strategy. But when he opened Boqueria, he reimagined what a restaurant could be—vibe-forward, high-design, emotionally resonant, and built to scale.In this episode, Yann breaks down why restaurants are “weak link systems,” how to distill a concept to its essence, and why tension—not harmony—is the secret to a space that sings.If you’ve ever wanted to build something iconic without following industry dogma, this episode will challenge everything you’ve been told.To learn more about Boqueria, visit boqueriarestaurant.com____________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.comFull Comp is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for Restaurants. Our goal is to build tools that help restaurateurs do more with limited time.We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other content:Yelp for Restaurants PodcastsRestaurant expert videos & webinars

Eric Bost built something remarkable in LA. Then, like so many, he lost it to the pandemic. But what came next wasn’t a pivot. It was a complete reinvention.Today, Eric runs four thriving restaurants in a market many still underestimate—North County, San Diego. In this episode, he breaks down how he rebuilt his career by doubling down on team culture, operational clarity, and a commitment to place over prestige. If you’ve ever felt defined by a loss—this episode is your reset.To explore his work, visit restaurantlilo.com and thisiscampfire.com____________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.comFull Comp is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for Restaurants. Our goal is to build tools that help restaurateurs do more with limited time.We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other content:Yelp for Restaurants PodcastsRestaurant expert videos & webinars

What if your next move isn’t another location—it’s owning a moment in your guest’s life?Mark Rampolla built ZICO into a category and now backs founders with a $600M fund; his playbook is built for operators under pressure. We talk about the five-year reality of product-market fit, why velocity per store beats “more units,” and how owning a specific occasion (post-workout, post-shift, post-party) unlocks scale.Mark breaks down risk discipline—grow deep before wide—and what acquirers actually buy: a future customer and a missing occasion, not just a product.If you’re tempted to expand because it feels like progress, this episode shows a sharper path: focus, proof, and traction that travels.To learn more, visit groundforcecapital.com ____________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.comFull Comp is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for Restaurants. Our goal is to build tools that help restaurateurs do more with limited time.We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other content:Yelp for Restaurants PodcastsRestaurant expert videos & webinars

What if your factory was idling, your shelves were empty, and your business had just lost $15 million—and you still chose not to lay off a single person?That’s the line Pepper Baumer drew. As the third-generation CEO of Crystal Hot Sauce, he inherited a 100-year-old legacy—and nearly watched it collapse under the weight of supply chain failure, market loss, and generational transition. But instead of shrinking, he stood firm.In this episode, we get into the decision that nearly cost him everything—and why he says it saved the company. Pepper shares why one $100K social media experiment rewired their marketing strategy and how he’s introducing a century-old product to an entirely new generation.This one’s for operators who believe legacy doesn’t mean stuck—and that people come before profit, even when it hurts.To learn more about Crystal Hot Sauce, visit crystalhotsauce.com ____________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.comFull Comp is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for Restaurants. Our goal is to build tools that help restaurateurs do more with limited time.We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other content:Yelp for Restaurants PodcastsRestaurant expert videos & webinars

If your guests remember the night but forget the meal, did you succeed?Sara Fay Egan never planned to run restaurants—she built experiences. After a career in high-end event planning, she was thrust into leadership at Beale Street Blues Company after the sudden passing of her father. But instead of mimicking traditional models, she brought an outsider’s eye—and a showrunner’s instinct.In this conversation, we break down the strategy behind “improvisational hospitality,” the power of sensory immersion, and why giving your team the freedom to perform might be your strongest cultural move. If you’ve ever wondered how to make your place unforgettable—this is the playbook.To learn more about Beale Street Blues Company, visit bealestreetbluescompany.com ____________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.comFull Comp is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for Restaurants. Our goal is to build tools that help restaurateurs do more with limited time.We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other content:Yelp for Restaurants Podcasts

What if your restaurant’s biggest threat isn’t your competition—it’s your own irrelevance?Jean-Pierre Lacroix has spent decades helping brands regain their footing after losing touch with what made them matter.In today’s conversation, we unpack what’s killing restaurant loyalty—and it’s not what you think. Jean-Pierre argues that operators are over-indexing on price and efficiency, while starving their brand of emotional connection. We get into how to build a restaurant that creates memories, not just meals; why frequency is the new frontier of growth; and how to design an experience so strong, your customers do the marketing for you.This isn’t about promotions. It’s about staying relevant, meaningful, and unforgettable.To learn more about his work in brand transformation, visit sld.com ____________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.comFull Comp is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for Restaurants. Our goal is to build tools that help restaurateurs do more with limited time.We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other content:Yelp for Restaurants PodcastsRestaurant expert videos & webinars

Most restaurant owners think better food or better service will win the game. But Allan Dib has a different take: your product is not your problem—your marketing is.Allan is the best-selling author of The 1-Page Marketing Plan, and in this conversation, he dismantles the myths that keep restaurants stuck. We get into the high cost of bad positioning, why most marketing attracts the wrong customers, and the dangerous assumption that quality alone will drive sales.He shares how loyalty is about identity, not discounts—and why clarity, not complexity, is the real growth lever.This is for operators who are tired of being the best-kept secret and ready to market like they mean it.To learn more about his work and access free tools, visit https://allandib.com/____________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.comFull Comp is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for Restaurants. Our goal is to build tools that help restaurateurs do more with limited time.We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other content:Yelp for Restaurants PodcastsRestaurant expert videos & webinars

Ahu Hettema didn’t hedge her bets—she burned the boats. No Plan B. No safety net. Just a belief that betting everything on one restaurant could rewrite her life. And it did. But not through stubbornness. Through adaptation.In this episode, Ahu breaks down how listening—really listening—to her guests saved her concept, why comfort matters more than cuisine, and how leadership based on likability, not fear, created a team that shows up like it’s opening night, every night.This is for every operator who’s done the math and knows the numbers don’t work unless the heart of the place does.For more on Istanbul Hawaii and her story, visit istanbulhawaii.com 

Chris Adams does. He’s built a business on showing some of the biggest brands in the world how to make guests feel something—without faking it.In this episode, we dig into what defines modern luxury and why it has less to do with money and more to do with culture, people, and emotional precision. Chris shares how AI and tech can enhance—not replace—hospitality, why perceived value is the new battlefield, and what most operators get wrong about training.If you’re still trying to out-system your staffing problems, this is your wake-up call. Luxury isn’t about perks. It’s about people. And Chris is here to show you how to invest in them the right way.To learn more about Ellis Adams Group and their work in luxury hospitality, visit ellisadamsgroup.com____________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.comFull Comp is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for Restaurants. Our goal is to build tools that help restaurateurs do more with limited time.We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other content:Yelp for Restaurants PodcastsRestaurant expert videos & webinars

Most people buy a restaurant and inherit someone else’s problems. John Gelastopoulos bought a closed breakfast spot, maxed out his credit cards to keep it alive—and turned it into a 41-location powerhouse. The secret? Relentless persistence and an obsession with people.In this conversation, John shares how he went from washing dishes to franchising nationwide, why filling the dining room once can create a lasting ripple effect, and the systems that keep his culture intact across dozens of locations. We get into scaling without losing empathy, making smart pricing moves through economic swings, and focusing only on what you can control—no matter the competition.If you’re ready to see how grit, relationships, and a well-timed Rolodex can build an empire, this episode delivers.To learn more about Broken Yolk Café and their franchise opportunities, visit www.thebrokenyolkcafe.com____________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.comFull Comp is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for Restaurants. Our goal is to build tools that help restaurateurs do more with limited time.We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other content:Yelp for Restaurants PodcastsRestaurant expert videos & webinars

After 30 years with restaurant conglomerate Lettuce Entertain You, Geoff Alexander could teach a masterclass on building and scaling a restaurant brand. And that’s exactly what he’s done for us today. In this far reaching conversation we discuss the essential elements of leadership, how to build a brand from the ground up, turnaround strategies for struggling brands, and how to outsmart the competition. For more information on Wow Bao, visit https://www.wowbao.com/.____________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.comFull Comp is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for Restaurants. Our goal is to build tools that help restaurateurs do more with limited time.We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other content:Yelp for Restaurants PodcastsRestaurant expert videos & webinars

Sometimes the only difference between those who succeed and those who fail is the decision to not give up. Today’s guest, Chef Brad Wise, is a testament to the grit required to build something prolific in our industry. In our conversation we discuss how to overcome a slow start and how he turned a failed bar into the hottest steakhouse concept on the West Coast. For more on his restaurant concepts, visit https://www.trustrestaurantsd.com/____________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.comFull Comp is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for Restaurants. Our goal is to build tools that help restaurateurs do more with limited time.We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other content:Yelp for Restaurants PodcastsRestaurant expert videos & webinars

Chef Bruce Bromberg is not the typical restaurant magnate that comes to mind when you think of a national restaurant group. More than anything, he’s a chef, leveraging the universal truths he’s learned over the years in innovative ways. His ability to translate the fundamentals of cooking to the fundamentals of business has led to his meteoric success. Today we sit down to discuss the essential elements involved in building a successful brand and business that can last decades. For more information on the chef and his restaurant group, visit https://www.blueribbonrestaurants.com.____________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.comFull Comp is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for Restaurants. Our goal is to build tools that help restaurateurs do more with limited time.We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other content:Yelp for Restaurants PodcastsRestaurant expert videos & webinars

I always looked at the big restaurant groups out there with envy. How amazing must it be to own 6, 8, or more locations? At what point do you get rich? At what point do you go from backup dishwasher to brand evangelist. Chef Lisa Dahl has grasped the brass ring. Over the last two decades, she’s built a restaurant empire. In today’s conversation, we look back on what got her to where she is today and where she’s headed next.For more information on the chef and her restaurant group, visit https://www.dahlrestaurantgroup.com/. ____________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.comFull Comp is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for Restaurants. Our goal is to build tools that help restaurateurs do more with limited time.We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other content:Yelp for Restaurants PodcastsRestaurant expert videos & webinars

What if a restaurant wasn’t a business—but a way to rebuild a broken city?That’s how Robért LeBlanc saw it after Hurricane Katrina. He didn’t just open a venue—he created a space to reconnect a fractured community. In this episode, we go deep on how Robért has used hospitality to heal, unite, and inspire. From the ethos behind his post-Katrina nightclub to the values driving his now 350-person company, Robért shares how storytelling, humility, and a culture of ownership have become his ultimate competitive edge. We talk about failure, course correction, and what it really takes to build a team that gives a damn.This isn’t just about restaurants. It’s about using our work to serve something bigger and why that’s never been more urgent.To learn more about his work, visit leblancandsmith.com.____________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.comFull Comp is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for Restaurants. Our goal is to build tools that help restaurateurs do more with limited time.We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other content:Yelp for Restaurants PodcastsRestaurant expert videos & webinars

What if you could take the precision of fine dining and scale it to millions of people—without diluting the magic?That’s the challenge John Karangis has spent a lifetime solving. From the kitchens of Paris and Gramercy Tavern to leading culinary innovation at Shake Shack, John has mastered the art of translating high-end experience into high-volume impact. In this episode, he reveals the playbook behind Shake Shack’s wildly successful LTOs, why most “innovation” fails, and how he balances creativity with consistency in a system built for scale. We also explore the emotional drive behind his work—how fatherhood reshaped his leadership, and why humility may be the sharpest tool in his kitchen.For any operator looking to elevate their food without losing their soul, this one hits deep.To learn more about Shake Shack and their culinary innovation, visit shakeshack.com.____________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.comFull Comp is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for Restaurants. Our goal is to build tools that help restaurateurs do more with limited time.We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other content:Yelp for Restaurants PodcastsRestaurant expert videos & webinars

What if the best restaurant marketing isn’t digital—it’s emotional?Giancarlo Pagani has built some of the most talked-about restaurants in LA, not with ads or gimmicks, but with atmosphere.In this episode, we get into the blueprint behind Mother Wolf’s success, why frequency—not first-timers—is the real metric to chase, and how to design concepts where guests don’t just eat—they escape.This episode is a wake-up call for every operator chasing virality over loyalty.For more on his projects, visit https://motherwolfla.com.____________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.comFull Comp is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for Restaurants. Our goal is to build tools that help restaurateurs do more with limited time.We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other content:Yelp for Restaurants PodcastsRestaurant expert videos & webinars

What if the goal wasn’t retirement—it was alignment?Derek Coburn spent decades helping high-net-worth clients chase the dream of early retirement. Today, Derek argues for a radical new philosophy: build a life so meaningful, you wouldn’t want to retire from it.In this conversation, we dig into the emotional and financial toll of deferring joy, how rethinking retirement can restore time, money, and purpose, and why investing in your relationships, health, and energy yield the greatest ROI. Derek’s not pitching escapism—he’s showing us how to design a life with nothing to run from. To learn more about his book Let’s Retire Retirement, visit https://www.derekcoburn.com/.____________________________________________________________Full Comp is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for Restaurants. Our goal is to build tools that help restaurateurs do more with limited time.We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other content:Yelp for Restaurants PodcastsRestaurant expert videos & webinars