The Location for Less: No Money, No Problems

The Location for Less: No Money, No Problems

Author: Kara Restaurant Group May 31, 2023 Duration: 11:25

You’ve got the vision and the drive, but you’ve got no budget - how the hell do you open your dream venue? Be it a bar or a restaurant, there are some design corners you can cut and some menu adjustments you just have to make when you’re trying to launch your new location. Peter, Leah, and George are debating how to debut a hospitality venue with no money in the bank and discussing questions including:

  • Does it cost $100,000 to open a new restaurant?
  • Do you need to renovate completely before opening your new location?
  • Can you open a new location for less than 20k?
  • Can you count on your current regulars to follow you when you open your own place?
  • How the hell do I get started when it comes to launching a hospitality venue?

Behind every great meal is a story that’s often messy, chaotic, and surprisingly funny. Restaurant Punk is that story, told straight from the trenches by the team behind Kara Restaurant Group. This isn't a polished, corporate guide. It's the raw, unfiltered conversation that happens after hours, where decades of hard-won experience collide with the absurd reality of running restaurants. You'll hear the kind of hilarious, cringe-worthy anecdotes that only come from a life spent in hospitality, paired with genuinely humbling advice on building a business that actually treats people well-staff and guests alike. Each episode feels like pulling up a stool next to veterans who have seen it all, offering a necessary release valve for the industry's daily pressures and a spark of inspiration for entrepreneurs brave enough to try it themselves. It’s a blend of business savvy, artistic struggle, and comedic relief, all served up without the pretense. Tune into this podcast for a unique mix of lessons learned the hard way and the unvarnished truth about creating a place where people want to be, all delivered with the kind of energy that keeps the kitchen-and the conversation-moving.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 219

Restaurant Punk
Podcast Episodes
Rules of Thumb: How To Present Plates While Serving [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:19
Perhaps one of the greatest advantages of being a human is having opposable thumbs that make it easier to grasp and manipulate objects firmly, but when you’re serving tables, the standard is only to use them for stabiliz…
Working For Free: What It Really Takes To Build Your Dream Business [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:18
They say it takes money to make money, but does making money in the long run also require free labor in the short term? Noelle, Yianni, and Liz are discussing their experiences working for free and how its shaped their c…
Wining & Dining: Drinking With Customers While On The Clock [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:33
When you own a BYOB restaurant, it’s a pretty common occurrence for tables to offer you a glass of whatever you’re drinking. So, should you accept or decline, and are there any standard rules of engagement? Yianni, Noell…
Restaurant Repeaters: How To Create Repeat Customers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:03
Sometimes, you return to a restaurant for the food, while other times, it’s just something about the atmosphere that makes you feel at home. From knowing the owner and having inside jokes with half the staff to being con…
Breaking The Budget With Bread: Customer Complaints For Up-Charging [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:36
From the outside looking in, it often seems like restaurant owners are raking in cash, so it can feel off-putting when establishments charge for things like bread, soda refills, and extra sides of sauce. Any business own…
Initiative vs. Insubordination: Trust And The “I” In Team [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:05
As a business owner, it can be awesome to see your employees taking the initiative to go the extra mile at work, but at what point does their desire to do better turn into insubordination? Nick, Yianni, and Liz are talki…
Helping People You Hate: How To Be A Team Player At Work [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:10
Unless you’re the most easygoing person in the world, you’re bound to encounter someone you don’t love in the workplace – especially in the hospitality industry. Some people may ignore or avoid assisting the person they…