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
How To Make It In Hospitality: Side Hustles, Hobbies, and Vices [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:54
Canadian businessman Kevin O’Leary claims that one of the things that makes an entrepreneur great is having a passion on the side that helps them unwind from their day job. For some, it’s video games; for others, it’s ha…
What's Worse: Women Weeping or Mad Men? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:30
When you work in the restaurant industry, emotions can run high, and we all know that people handle those emotions in very different ways. From crying to screaming, cursing to leaving, we’ve seen it all. Nikos, Leah, and…
Horrible Bosses: How To Demand Respect Without Being An A**hole [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:11
As a manager or business owner, it can be easy for your employees to start to feel like they’re your friends if you’re overly nice, but it’s also pretty simple to become the horrible boss that everyone resents. Jenni fro…
Deal or No Deal: Negotiating Good Terms For Your Business [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:21
So, you’ve saved up some capital – or maybe gotten a loan from family and friends. You’ve perfected a menu of recipes – or perhaps just that one. You’ve got your business plan in hand – now, how do you secure the venue o…
Drinking and Dining: Getting Too Buzzed At A BYOB [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:50
As a bartender, you’re pretty well trained to spot when someone is too drunk to be served any more alcohol. But, the lines can become a bit more blurred at a BYOB. Leah, Yianni, and George are trading drunk stories (abou…
Unified or Unique: How Should Uniforms Be Selected? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:10
One of the final details to put in place before opening your business is selecting uniforms. Many companies use the standard “all-black” look, while others provide branded shirts or ties to keep the whole team consistent…
Networking & Name-Dropping: It’s All About Who You Know [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:32
When you own a business, everyone knows your name. So, how do you handle it when people start name-dropping to get reservations or extra favors? Leah, George, and Noelle are swapping stories and discussing questions, inc…
Food for Thought: Ranking Atmosphere, Service, and Food [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:57
When it comes to their rankings on the importance of atmosphere, food, and service to a restaurant experience, Yianni sits firmly on the opposite side of the fence as Nikos and Leah. Hear the trio debate the topic, inclu…
Kara Restaurant Rules: DDD (Don’t. Do. Diners.) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:31
Kara Restaurant Group may seem like the wild west, but we can assure you that there are some ground rules. First and foremost: NO DINERS, D*MNIT! There are many reasons for this rule, but mostly it’s because a diner does…