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
Finders Keepers, Losers Weepers: Returning Items Lost In Restaurants [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:22
As a server, you come across your fair share of items left behind by forgetful guests. From sunglasses and umbrellas to cellphones and credit cards, someone calls – or stops in – almost daily to see if you’ve found their…
Setting Standards: Respectfully Raising The Bar In Restaurants [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:39
On a daily basis, you probably encounter “Type A” and “Type B” content on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and wherever else you’re consuming media these days. So, for those that relate more to the Type A tendencies, how do y…
Restaurant Reservations: The Pros and Cons of Open Table [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:13
When it comes to making reservations for dining out, OpenTable has changed the game, making it more convenient than ever to avoid talking to a person while planning your evening. The reservation system has also made it e…
Quasi Culinary School: Can Anyone Become A Chef? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:07
From diners to fine dining, one of the basic foundations of being a chef is having common sense. Inevitably, this means that not everyone is cut out to survive the long run in the kitchen, but can you teach anyone to coo…
Control vs. Chaos: Can Disorganization Derail Success? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:22
There are two types of people in this world: those who make their bed in the morning and those who don’t see any point in wasting their time on such trivial pursuits. Liz and Nikos fall into the first group, while Yianni…
Reasons Restaurants Close: Understanding Why Businesses Go Under [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:04
Restaurants open and restaurants close – it’s a given in the hospitality industry. Sometimes, we rack our brains trying to figure out why a sh*tty storefront stays open for decades, while other times, incredible cafés wi…
Entrepreneur Accountability: Owning Up To Being Wrong In Business [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:20
Admitting that you’ve made a mistake can be challenging for anyone – we’re all humans with egos, after all. But what happens when a business owner refuses to take accountability for their role in sh*t hitting the fan? No…
The Benefits of Branding: Why Consistency Matters in Marketing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:59
After a decade of working front-of-house positions across the Kara Restaurant Group portfolio, this week’s Guest Host, Emaleigh Kaithern, has used her marketing degree to pursue a career in branding and communications. F…
Flavor of the Week: Menu Additions and Restaurant Specials [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:39
For some diners, one of the most exciting aspects of going out to eat is hearing about that day’s specials, regardless of whether they’ve been the same for the past six days (or years). While some prefer to select their…
Recruiting for Restaurants: How Do You Hire The Right Team? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:22
Patrizia from Hangtime Bar and Grille in Absecon is back on the Restaurant Punk set with Nikos and Noelle to discuss hiring practices in the hospitality industry. From interviewing practices to knowing whether someone is…