Shows
Room For SecondsInside the Deal: How Craveworthy Brands Acquired Big ChickenIn this repurposed episode of Hospitality Hangout, hosts Michael Schatzberg and Jimmy Frischling are joined by industry leaders Gregg Majewski, CEO of Craveworthy Brands, and Josh Halpern, CEO of Big Chicken, to break down one of the most talked-about moves in hospitality—Craveworthy Brands acquiring Big Chicken.Go behind the scenes as they reveal how the deal came together, the strategic thinking that fueled the partnership, and what this means for the future of both brands. From accelerating growth and improving operational efficiencies to redefining market positioning, this episode offers a front-row seat to a transformative moment in...2025-04-0847 minRoom For SecondsDisrupting Hospitality: Jimmy Frischling on Tech and the Future of DiningIn this episode of Rooms for Seconds, Gregg Majewski sits down with Jimmy Frischling, Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Branded Hospitality Group, for a dynamic conversation about entrepreneurship, technology, and the ever-evolving hospitality industry. Jimmy shares his perspective on the challenges and rewards of being an entrepreneur, the growing demand for dining experiences and why 2025 may see major consolidation among restaurants and technology providers. Jimmy highlights the importance of embracing modernization and fostering collaboration over exclusivity, stressing that standing still is not an option in today’s competitive market.Key TakeawaysEntrepreneurship is a Ce...2025-01-1435 min
Hospitality HangoutREWIND OLYMPICS EDITION — Flipping Success: CEO Chronicles With GJ Hart | Season 10, Vol. 3In the latest episode of "Hospitality Hangout", industry insiders are treated to an enlightening conversation as hosts Michael Schatzberg, fondly known as "The Restaurant Guy", and Jimmy Frischling, dubbed "The Finance Guy", sit down with G.J. Hart. Currently at the helm of Red Robin as President, CEO, and Director, Hart's journey from the Netherlands to leading a renowned American food brand is nothing short of inspiring.G.J. Hart: From Immigrant Dreams to Restaurant RealityArriving in the U.S. in 1963 with dreams of freedom, Hart's initial foray into the hospitality industry was with...2024-08-0617 min
Hospitality HangoutNew Orleans Treats Meet Luxury Eats: The Sucré StoryIn today's episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “The Finance Guy” are joined by James Vitrano, Chief Executive Officer of Sucré.They discuss James' background, from his early ambitions to getting into the restaurant industry and working for major chains like Ruby Tuesday's. They talk about his current role as CEO of Sucré, a high-end New Orleans-inspired dessert chain that he and his partners acquired and are now focused on growing. The three discuss topics such as franchising models, use of technology in restaurants, what's right and wrong with the hospitality industry...2024-07-2337 min
Hospitality HangoutHattie B’s Recipe for Hot Success in HospitalityIn this episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg, “The Restaurant Guy,” and Jimmy Frischling, “The Finance Guy,” are joined by guests Nick Bishop Jr, co-founder of Hattie B’s Hot Chicken, and Todd Williams, co-president and CFO of Hattie B’s Hot Chicken.A partnership that took flight over a few rounds of golf eventually grew into the beloved Hattie B's Hot Chicken. Nick reveals his family's 50-year legacy in the restaurant business, starting with his grandfather and continuing through his father and uncles. Todd shares his transition from accountant to partner in the restaurant. Todd emphasizes the inspirin...2024-06-1852 min
Hospitality HangoutThe Hospitality Podcast with Josh Halpern, Founder & CEO of Big ChickenIn today’s episode of the Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg, “The Restaurant Guy”, and Jimmy Frischling, “The Finance Guy”, are joined by 5-time returning guest Josh Halpern, founder and CEO of Big Chicken and Beer Park.Josh narrates how he began his business and how the relationships he has fostered with shareholders like Dr. Shaquille O’Neal has become invaluable. He also delves into what it is like to own a franchise, walks us through the mindset needed to run one, and uncovers the often forgotten demographics businesses must consider serving in pursuit of success. des...2024-06-1145 minRoom For SecondsTransforming Failing Restaurants into Franchise GoldminesCraveworthy Brands has grown quickly, but it took a ton of work. Craveworthy CEO Gregg Majewski sat down with Hospitality Hangout hosts Michael Schatzberg and Jimmy Frischling, also co-founders of Branded Hospitality Ventures to discuss his journey from Jimmy John’s pioneer to thriving as a hospitality mogul.Listen now to learn about finding success in dumpster fires, partnering for success, and having an evolving tech stack while growing.#craveworthybrands #roomforseconds #hospitalityhangoutChapters:[07:57] - Gregg Majewski’s Background[12:32] - Transitioning from...2024-05-0849 min
Hospitality HangoutSolving Profitless Growth With AI — Chased by Grizzly Bears and Hunted by Alligators | Season 11, Vol. 6In today's episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg "The Restaurant Guy" and Jimmy Frischling "The Finance Guy" are joined by Clinton Anderson, CEO of HotSchedules (now powered by Fourth.) Clinton shares his journey from a farm in rural Canada to CEO of Fourth, a restaurant technology provider serving 125,000 locations globally. Listen as he discusses the importance of collaboration between operators and tech partners, ideas for controlling volatile back-of-house costs, how purchasing and inventory management remain antiquated for most restaurants, and the key role forecasting plays in profitability.Clinton also...2024-02-2748 min
Hospitality HangoutNew Orleans Treats Meet Luxury Eats: The Sucré Story | Season 11, Vol. 5In today's episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “The Finance Guy” are joined by James Vitrano, Chief Executive Officer of Sucré.They discuss James' background, from his early ambitions to getting into the restaurant industry and working for major chains like Ruby Tuesday's. They talk about his current role as CEO of Sucré, a high-end New Orleans-inspired dessert chain that he and his partners acquired and are now focused on growing. The three discuss topics such as franchising models, use of technology in restaurants, what's right and wrong with the h...2024-02-2037 min
Hospitality HangoutMEAT the man who pioneered the casual dining segment | Season 11, Vol. 2In today’s episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg, “The Restaurant Guy,” and Jimmy Frischling, “The Finance Guy,” are joined by George McKerrow, CEO of Ted’s Montana Grill.George pioneered the casual dining segment with LongHorn Steakhouse, which he founded in 1981 and eventually took public. He later partnered with Ted Turner to bring bison meat mainstream at Ted’s Montana Grill. Now CEO of Ted’s, George reflects on lessons learned over his long career launching concepts and delighting guests. Key Takeaways:[00:08 - 01:46] Live from Pepsi Studi...2024-01-3031 min
Hospitality HangoutBeyond Cookies and Coffee: Nestlé Professional CEO Perry Miele On How Nestlé Is Innovating Food Service and Hospitality | Season 11, Vol. 1In today’s episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg, “The Restaurant Guy,” and Jimmy Frischling, “The Finance Guy,” are joined by Perry Miele, President and CEO of Nestlé Professional North America.Perry talks about recently receiving the prestigious IFMA Oberkfell Award and what it means to be recognized for his leadership and impact. He also reveals that he will soon retire after an impressive 30 years at Nestlé! Perry provides insights into Nestlé Professional’s innovative efforts to embrace technology and better serve operators and consumers as he emphasizes the importance of understanding operators’ needs and leading the i...2024-01-2332 min
Hospitality HangoutFast Casual Revolution Part 2: The Sizzle Behind Emerging Restaurant Brands | Season 10, Vol. 13LIVE from the Fast Casual Executive Summit in Louisville, Kentucky, the guys catch up with the visionaries of emerging restaurant brands, unpacking their innovative concepts and roadmaps to expansion!In today's episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “The Finance Guy” are joined by Prakash Karamchandani, Chief Executive Officer of Balance Pan-Asian Grille; Chris Medhurst, President and Chief Operating Officer of District Taco; and Chad Coulter, Founder and CEO of Biscuit Belly.Key Takeaways[00:34 - 03:07] Prakash Karamchandani: Opening an Asian restaurant after losing his fina...2023-12-121h 03
Hospitality HangoutCulinary Crescendo: Lauren Bailey Dishes Out Wisdom for Aspiring Restaurateurs | Season 10 Vol. 9In today's episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “The Finance Guy” talk to Lauren Bailey, co-founder and CEO of Upward Projects. As head of the Upward Projects Restaurant Group, Bailey steers five brands and 30 restaurants toward profit, success, and good experiences. In her conversation with Jimmy and Schatzy at CREATE, the trio discusses how Bailey got into the restaurant industry and some of the lessons learned as an emerging restauranteur. They also chat about working in the restaurant industries and the particular joy the environments can produce, including a story...2023-11-1532 min
Hospitality HangoutLessons learned and stories shared at FSTEC from stand up CEOS | Season 10, Vol. 6In the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, hosts Michael Schatzberg "The Restaurant Guy" and Jimmy Frischling "The Finance Guy" were on the road at FSTEC in Dallas, Texas. They ventured into the intricacies of the hospitality industry, with guests John Pepper of 211VC, Emily Williams Knight, CEO of the Texas Restaurant Association, Angela Leet, CEO of QSR Automations, and Golden Corral’s CIO, Dawn Gillis.John Pepper: From Restaurant Startups to Tech StardomOpening the session was John Pepper, the dynamic force behind 211VC. As the co-founder of Boloco and the executive chairman of Ho...2023-09-261h 34
Hospitality HangoutFlipping the Breakfast Script | Season 10, Vol. 5On the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, co-hosts Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “The Finance Guy” sat down with a breakfast industry giant: David Birzon, CEO at Snooze, an A.M. Eatery. This conversation offers unique industry insights that you will not want to miss.From Paradise Bakery to Snooze, A Journey of ExpansionBirzon, who began his journey in the hospitality realm with Paradise Bakery in Aspen back in 1988, recounted his experience of growing the chain to an impressive 80 restaurants. The successful endeavor ultimately attracted Panera Bread, leading to an acqui...2023-09-2018 min
Hospitality HangoutHow to Go from Dishwasher to Firehouse Subs CEO: The Secrets to Success | Season 10, Vol. 4In the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, hosts Michael Schatzberg, affectionately known as "The Restaurant Guy," and Jimmy Frischling, "The Finance Guy," sit down with the legendary Don Fox, Chairman of Firehouse Subs.The Meteoric Rise of Don FoxStarting his culinary journey scrubbing dishes at an Italian restaurant in New Jersey, Fox has seen it all. From his aspirations of being a trumpet player to a substantial 23-year tenure with Burger King, Fox's tale is nothing short of inspiring. The episode sheds light on his monumental contribution to Firehouse Subs, transforming it...2023-09-1222 min
Hospitality HangoutFlipping Success: CEO Chronicles with Red Robin's Visionary Leader | Season 10, Vol. 3In the latest episode of "Hospitality Hangout", industry insiders are treated to an enlightening conversation as hosts Michael Schatzberg, fondly known as "The Restaurant Guy", and Jimmy Frischling, dubbed "The Finance Guy", sit down with G.J. Hart. Currently at the helm of Red Robin as President, CEO, and Director, Hart's journey from the Netherlands to leading a renowned American food brand is nothing short of inspiring.G.J. Hart: From Immigrant Dreams to Restaurant RealityArriving in the U.S. in 1963 with dreams of freedom, Hart's initial foray into the hospitality industry...2023-09-0616 min
Hospitality HangoutREWIND | How A CEO Can Give You A Lyft To A Fast-Casual Chicken Chain w/Aaron Noveshen | Season 10, Vol. 2The Culinary Edge is a food and beverage innovation firm that was started by Noveshen over twenty years ago and Starbird is a fast-casual chicken chain that their team created after identifying chicken was about to grow significantly. The guys talk to Noveshen about the success of marketing Starbird’s limited time offers, better known as LTOs including the Cali Bacon Dutch Crunch. The Dutch crunch bread is baked in house and the chicken sandwich has made it to the menu. Novenshen says that their secret sauce is their Star Sauce. Starbird earlier this month ma...2023-08-2929 min
Hospitality HangoutUnveiling the Pulse of Success: Why Your POS is the Heartbeat of Your Business | Season 10, Vol. 1Get ready to indulge in the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, where your hosts, Michael Schatzberg "The Restaurant Guy" (Schatzy) and Jimmy Frischling "The Finance Guy," turn up the heat with an extraordinary guest. Samir Zabaneh, CEO and Chairman of TouchBistro, joins the culinary conversation.
Episode Credits:Produced by: Branded Hospitality MediaHosted by: Michael Schatzberg, JImmy FrischlingProducer: Julie ZuckerCreative Director: Adam LevineShow Runner: Drewe RaimiPost Production: Three Cheers Creativewww.thehospitalityhangout.com2023-08-2253 min
Hospitality HangoutFlavorful Insights: Unwrapping Success with PDQ CEO | Season 9, Vol. 16In the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg "The Restaurant Guy" and Jimmy Frischling "The Finance Guy" host Kep Sweeney, CEO of PDQ Restaurants. The guys start with the Tuesday trivia, revealing three facts about Kep, two of which are true and one false.Kep gives a brief background of himself and PDQ, sharing that the company has a presence in Florida and New York and is known for delivering non-QSR quality food quickly. He mentions PDQ's culinary ethos and its co-founders Bob Basham and Nick Reader.They talk about Sweeney’s Wa...2023-08-1551 min
Hospitality HangoutFrom the Heart of Hart House: Conversations with a Culinary Icon | Season 9, Vol. 15In the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg "The Restaurant Guy" and Jimmy Frischling delve into the innovative world of food with their guest, Andy Hopper, CEO of Hart House. Hart House, founded by comedian Kevin Hart, is revolutionizing the food industry with its mission to create craveable and nutritious 100% plant-based meals.With over 20 years of experience in the restaurant business, Hopper takes listeners on a culinary journey, recounting his first gig washing dishes at a now-defunct eatery to leading teams at global franchised brands like Burger King. Today, as the CEO of Hart House...2023-08-0156 min
Hospitality HangoutCrave to Conquer: Unleashing the Secrets of Restaurant Marketing | Season 9, Vol. 14In the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, hosts Michael Schatzberg, known as "The Restaurant Guy," and Jimmy Frischling, "The Finance Guy," deep-dive into the intricacies of restaurant marketing with industry insiders, Joe Reinstein, Executive Director of the Digital Restaurant Association (DRA), and Karim Webb, Buffalo Wild Wings Franchisee and Principal at Webb Investments.Reinstein, who holds the dual role of CEO and Acting Chair of the Board of Directors at the DRA, spearheads the association's mission to guide restaurants in maximizing profitability and growth in the digital world. This encompasses advocacy for public policy, educational resources...2023-07-2548 min
Hospitality HangoutTexas Eats Revolutionizing the Restaurant Scene Nationwide | Season 9, Vol. 13In the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “The Finance Guy” welcome special guests from the Texas Restaurant Association (TRA) - Ben Knorr, Director of Partnerships, and Joe Monastero, Chief Operating Officer. Broadcasting from Houston, Texas, the hosts revel in the larger-than-life experience that the Lone Star State offers.Broadcasting from Houston, the conversation gets cooking with jaw-dropping statistics: Texas boasts a record-breaking 55,000 restaurant units, 1.4 million employees, and an eye-popping $90 billion in sales in 2022. That's an incredible 20% growth from pre-pandemic levels, making Texas the only U.S. state in the black.2023-07-1941 min
Hospitality HangoutBuilding a Restaurant Empire One Emerging Brand At A Time | Season 9, Vol. 12In the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, hosts Michael Schatzberg, "The Restaurant Guy," and Jimmy Frischling, "The Finance Guy," sit down with Gregg Majewski, the CEO of Craveworthy Brands. Boasting an illustrious career of over 23 years in the food and beverage industry, Majewski holds a myriad of founder and senior executive roles under his belt.Among his significant accomplishments is the founding of Wildcat Investments and his former position as CEO of Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches. During his tenure at Jimmy John's, Majewski significantly increased the chain's footprint, growing the number of outlets from a mere 33...2023-07-1152 min
Hospitality HangoutFeast on Insights: How Mo'Bettahs is Transforming Hospitality with Tech, Tunes, and Tequila! | Season 9, Vol. 11Don't miss out on the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, where hosts Michael Schatzberg, fondly known as "The Restaurant Guy," and Jimmy Frischling, "The Finance Guy," dive deep into a compelling chat with food industry guru Rob Ertmann, CEO of Mo' Bettahs. This episode offers a delicious blend of insights and entertainment guaranteed to sate your curiosity about restaurant tech trends and Hawaiian food.From humble beginnings at a pizza shop to leading the helm at Mo' Bettahs, Ertmann guides us through his flavorful journey in the food industry, coupled with the joy of serving mouth-watering Hawaiian...2023-07-0435 min
Hospitality HangoutUndercover Innovators: The Managed Food Service Giant Secretly Leading Franchise Finesse and Innovation Revolution | Season 9, Vol. 10In the newest episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg, known as "The Restaurant Guy," and Jimmy Frischling, "The Finance Guy," host a riveting conversation with industry veteran Marc Bruno, the Chief Operating Officer at Aramark. Bruno, who leads ten of Aramark's U.S. food and facilities divisions, offers a deep dive into his personal journey, which took him from a summer intern to a driving force in the company's growth strategy and commitment to service excellence.Hailing from a Chicago family with a restaurant background, Bruno's lifelong passion for the food industry led him to hotel...2023-06-2744 min
Hospitality Hangout"BREAKING NEWS at NRA" Informa Acquires Winsight | Season 9, Vol. 9In the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, broadcast from The National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago, hosts Michael Schatzberg "The Restaurant Guy", Jimmy Frischling "The Finance Guy", and special guest Sterling Douglass, Co-Founder & CEO of Chowly, interviewed Joe Donnelly, Group Director & Publisher of Informa’s Restaurant & Food Group. The discussion centered on Informa's recent acquisition of Winsight, a company offering services in data, analytics, events, and content marketing for the foodservice industry.Winsight, with its portfolio of clients, is expected to enhance Informa's capabilities in delivering superior enterprise experience to all its restaurant clients, regardless of si...2023-06-2031 min
Hospitality HangoutThe "Friendly"iest Automated Pizza Concept | Season 9, Vol. 8In the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, hosts Michael Schatzberg "The Restaurant Guy" and Jimmy Frischling "The Finance Guy" sit down with Sherif Mityas, CEO of BRIX Holdings. BRIX Holdings is a Dallas-based franchising company that specializes in superior foodservice chains within the better-for-you segments. Their mission is to provide exceptional franchise opportunities and focus on brands that appeal to the expanding single-unit owner/operator franchise market, with the potential to become national and international award-winning chains. The current BRIX Holdings portfolio includes renowned brands such as Red Mango Yogurt Café Smoothie & Juice Bar, Smoothie Factory Juice Bar, Souper S...2023-06-1345 min
Hospitality HangoutFrom Navy Pilot to Ironman Athlete: MOOYAH's President Serves Up the Best Tasting Cheeseburger | Season 9, Vol. 5In the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, hosts Michael Schatzberg, "The Restaurant Guy," and Jimmy Frischling, "The Finance Guy," welcomed Doug Willmarth, President at MOOYAH Burgers, Fries, and Shakes, as their guest. Willmarth introduced himself as the president of MOOYAH and emphasized the restaurant's commitment to serving the best-tasting cheeseburgers. He highlighted their handcrafted approach, using great ingredients, hand-smashing burgers, and hand-cutting fries, along with made-from-scratch shakes. The key to their success is customization, offering a wide range of options for protein, toppings, sauces, and cheese choices, allowing customers to create their own unique burger experience....2023-05-2342 min
Hospitality HangoutBlend Your Way to Success | Season 9, Vol. 3In the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, hosts Michael Schatzberg, "The Restaurant Guy," and Jimmy Frischling, "The Finance Guy," were joined by Marianne Radley, the Chief Marketing Officer of Smoothie King. The trio engaged in a discussion revolving around effective marketing strategies and insights within the food and beverage industry.During the episode, Radley shed light on Smoothie King's recent marketing initiatives and shared valuable insights into the company's success. She emphasized the importance of understanding customer needs and tailoring marketing efforts accordingly. Radley pointed out that staying relevant in the ever-evolving marketplace requires continuous innovation...2023-05-1627 min
Hospitality HangoutTransformative Tech Strategies for Restaurantsl | Season 9, Vol. 2In the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, hosts Michael Schatzberg "The Restaurant Guy" and Jimmy Frischling "The Finance Guy" are joined by Christi Ravneberg, Director of Content Integration, Restaurant & Food Group, and Joe Donnelly, Group Director & Publisher, Restaurant and Food Group at Informa Connect. Informa, a leading B2B global media exhibition company, aspires to become the foremost voice in content, connections, and intelligence. Generating approximately $2.2 billion in annual revenue, Informa is traded on the London Stock Exchange. Joe Donnelly and Christi Ravneberg are integral members of Informa Connect, the company's Knowledge & Networking division, which is...2023-05-0953 min
Hospitality HangoutThe Battle Over The Better Bagel, New York vs. Montreal | Season 9, Vol. 1In the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout podcast, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “ The Finance Guy” chat with Amer Wahab, President of Kettlemans Bagels. Founded over two decades ago, Kettleman's Bagels, led by CEO Craig Buckley and President Amer Wahab, has established itself as a veritable food institution in Ottawa, with a steadfast commitment to crafting the best bagels the old-fashioned way. Operating around the clock, every day of the year, Kettleman's Bagel is renowned for its traditional Montreal-style bagels, made with premium ingredients, hand-rolled, kettle-boiled in honey water, and baked in a wood-burning oven sto...2023-05-0246 min
Hospitality HangoutRestaurant Leaders Share Their Path to Expansion and Secrets to Success | Season 8, Vol. 30In the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout podcast, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “ The Finance Guy” were on the road at Restaurant Leadership Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona. Their guests include the President of Dunn Brothers Coffee, Kim Plahn, Alex Eagle, CEO of Freebirds World Burrito, Daran Han, Cargill, and Scott Taylor, President and CEO of Walk’Ons Sports Bistreaux. Ed and Dan Dunn were on a mission to roast in small batches, serve freshly brewed coffee, and provide an experience and the community was front and center. Dunn Brothers Coffee opened in 1987. Plahn has...2023-04-251h 02
Hospitality HangoutDelivering the Digital Restaurant Part 2 | Season 8, Vol. 28In the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout podcast, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “ The Finance Guy” chat with the authors of “Delivering the Digital Restaurant: The Path to Digital Maturity,” Meredith Sandland and Carl Orsbourn. Sandland, co-author of two books, “Delivering the Digital Restaurant, Your Roadmap to the Future of Food”, as well as the new one “Delivering the Digital Restaurant, The Path to Digital Maturity.” Sandland says, “My background, I was at Taco Bell for many years, leading development there and building lots and lots of Taco Bells and started to wonder, why are we building all th...2023-04-0452 min
Hospitality HangoutFrom Mom's Kitchen To A Multi-Unit Brand | Season 8, Vol. 26In the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “The Finance Guy” chat with Otto Othman, Chief executive officer and Co-founder of PINCHO, a premium Latin street food concept. Othman was born and raised in Brazil and moved to the United States when he was sixteen. He was a software developer for years, then design and advertising. Prior to PINCHO he was a creative director for a large advertising agency. Othman says, “I'm a big computer nerd and I got into design and I was working for this ad agency. But prior to t...2023-03-2147 min
Hospitality HangoutCoffeeChat-GPT And Three Ingredients Of Hospitality To Elevate Your Business | Season 8, Vol. 24In the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “The Finance Guy” chat with Jacob Jaber, Co-Founder of Philz Coffee and Consumer Investor. In 1978 Phil Jaber purchased a convenience store and in his off hours, he blended and tested coffee, looking to make the perfect cup. Philz Coffee was born and has gone from starting from one store to seventy-five. Jaber says, “I love people, I've been in business since I was nine years old. I started in a convenience store in my dad's convenience store in the Mission District in San Franci...2023-03-0746 min
Hospitality HangoutAdventures in Candyland Cocktails, Mensa and Meat | Season 8, Vol. 23In the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “The Finance Guy” chat with James O'Reilly, Chief Executive Officer of Smokey Bones. O’Reilly has been in the restaurant industry for 25 years. Prior to joining Smokey Bones as CEO in 2019, he was President and CEO of Long John Silver’s. O’Reilly held leadership roles at other restaurant brands, including Sonic Drive-in, Pizza Hut, and KFC. “Our tagline is meat is what we do and what that means is you cannot find a casual dining restaurant that has more cuts of meat, pr...2023-02-2742 min
Hospitality HangoutFood Wars, Tech Stars, and raising the Marketing Bar! | Season 8, Vol. 22In the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “The Finance Guy” chat with Anton Nicholas, Managing Partner at ICR. ICR is an integrated communications firm. Nicholas says, “We do everything from public company investor and public relations to private company consumer public relations and brand public relations. We also do a ton in the transaction support world and crisis communications.” Nicholas is responsible for managing the firm’s consumer corporate and financial communications practice as well as the ICR Lifestyle Lab, ICR’s consumer and brand public relations practice.Frischling...2023-02-2043 min
Hospitality HangoutChowly Announces Acquisition of a Guest Experience Platform | Season 8, Vol. 21In the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “The Finance Guy” chat with Sterling Douglass, Co-Founder & CEO of Chowly.Douglass says “Chowly is a leading point-of-sale integration company. We're enabling restaurants to expand and maintain different off-premise capabilities. So you know today we're seamlessly integrating orders from all the biggest platforms. So, Grubhub Uber Eats, DoorDash, and when Google food ordering came out last year and we've got a couple of hundred other integrations on different platforms.” He adds, “We've got over 12,000 restaurants on our platform and they're increasing their revenue. They...2023-02-1445 min
Hospitality HangoutHave A Game Day Ready Restaurant All Year Round | Season 8, Vol. 20In the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “The Finance Guy” chat with Wade Alle, SVP and Chief Digital Officer for Brinker International for a special Super Bowl episode where they talk about kitchen automation and the importance of a back to the basics game plan on strategy. Brinker International a leader in casual dining restaurant companies whose brands include Chili’s Bar & Grill, Maggiano’s Little Italy as well as virtual brands. Allen says, “Let me start with if you don't know Brinker you probably don't know casual dining because over t...2023-02-0736 min
Hospitality HangoutHow Revolving Sushi Led To Automated BOH Operations | Season 8, Vol. 19In the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “The Finance Guy” chat with Bo Davis, co-founder and chief executive officer of MarginEdge.Davis before founding MarginEdge was the founder of Wasabi, a group of conveyor belt sushi restaurants currently operating in DC and Boston. Before Wasabi, he was in the US Peace Corps serving in Macedonia, earned an MS in Finance from London Business School, and founded an educational software company, Prometheus, which he sold to Blackboard in 2002. Davis had a restaurant in Northern Virginia and where he is based and prim...2023-01-3041 min
Hospitality HangoutLIVE from the Restaurant Marketing Summit | Season 8, Vol. 18In the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout podcast, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “ The Finance Guy” were live from the Restaurant Marketing Summit where they talked with Robert Guarino, partner at Chef Driven and Andrew Nash, chief executive officer of Targetable. Guarino is a New York City restaurateur that has been in the city managing and owning restaurants since 1996. Chef Driven is a multi-concept restaurant group with all of their locations in New York City. The company has thirty years of history and are currently running 14 restaurants, 13 are unique concepts with 2 new concepts in developm...2023-01-2442 min
Hospitality HangoutOn the Road at ICR | Season 8, Vol. 17In the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout podcast, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “ The Finance Guy” were on the road at the ICR Conference 2023 in Orlando, Florida with guests Jim Balis, Managing Director, Capital Spring, Scott Lawton, CEO & CoFounder, Bartaco and Fred LeFranc, CEO, Results Thru Strategy. Balis leads CapitalSpring’s Strategic Operations Group. He stops by to talk with the guys at ICR to discuss what’s new at CapitalSpring. Balis shares the news that they closed on a fund back in April. He says he is excited about it and that they are going to...2023-01-1742 min
Hospitality HangoutUnderstanding Restaurant Data And Making It Actionable | Season 8, Vol. 16In the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “The Finance Guy” chat with Trevor Shimizu, co-founder and chief revenue officer of Brizo FoodMetrics. It is a data and analytics provider for the foodservice industry, analyzing 1.3 million eating and drinking establishments in Canada and the United States. Shimizu played professional ball for a few years before getting into technology. Frischling repeats one of his favorite podcast topics and says, “That operators did not get into the restaurant industry to become data analysts and funny enough Brizo didn't start off in the data indus...2023-01-1039 min
Hospitality HangoutIncreasing Restaurant Profitability With Revenue Management | Season 8, Vol. 15In the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “The Finance Guy” chat with Tablz chief executive officer, Frazer Nagy. Tablz is an immersive 3D booking experience that is redefining the future of dining by enabling diners to select and to the table of their choice. Nagy talks about getting started in the restaurant industry, he says, “I think like a lot of successful founders and a lot of people in our space that make this jump, it's because we started in the industry. I was 13 when a family friend got me working...2023-01-0342 min
Hospitality HangoutA Deep Dive Into Shake Shack's Tech Stack | Season 8, Vol. 14In the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “The Finance Guy” chat with Dave Harris, chief information officer as well as chief technology officer at Shake Shack about how technology can enable and enhance the guest experience. Harris has been with Shake Shack for four years and has led technology teams across companies in retail, hospitality and consumer packaged goods. Some companies include Virgin Atlantic, Avis, JetBlue, Yankee Candle and more.Shake Shake serves elevated versions of the classics using only the best ingredients, says Harris. He adds that the...2022-12-2042 min
Hospitality HangoutA Former Professional AFL Football Player Is Changing People’s Coffee Perceptions | Season 8, Vol. 13In the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “The Finance Guy” chat with Nick Stone, Founder and chief executive officer and Amy Hom, chief operating officer and chief people officer from Bluestone Lane. Stone talks about Bluestone, an Australian-inspired coffee shop, cafés & lifestyle brand committed to providing a genuine daily escape for all our locals. They offer premium coffee and healthy and delicious food through an ‘Aussie’ approach to life. Stone comes from a financial background and said he created Bluestone out of necessity. Stone adds that he didn’t leave finance...2022-12-1351 min
Hospitality HangoutThere Is No Debate Over Taco Tuesday Vs. Fried Chicken Friday | Season 8, Vol. 12In the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “The Finance Guy” chat with R.J. Melman, President of Lettuce Entertain You, a fifty-one year old restaurant group that is privately held with over one hundred and twenty restaurants across the country in thirteen different states. It is based out of Chicago, Illinois. Melman’s dad, Rich Melman started the company back in 1971 when he opened a restaurant with his best friend Jerry Orzoff. Melman’s siblings Jarrod and Molly are both part of the Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants team. The guy...2022-12-0637 min
Hospitality HangoutHow A CEO Can Give You A Lyft To A Fast-Casual Chicken Chain | Season 8, Vol. 11In the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “The Finance Guy” chat with Aaron Noveshen, Founder and CEO of Starbird and Founder and Chairman of The Culinary Edge. The Culinary Edge is a food and beverage innovation firm that was started by Noveshen over twenty years ago and Starbird is a fast-casual chicken chain that their team created after identifying chicken was about to grow significantly. The guys talk to Noveshen about the success of marketing Starbird’s limited time offers, better known as LTOs including the Cali Bacon Dutc...2022-11-2929 min
Hospitality HangoutON THE ROAD RFDC | Season 8, Vol. 10In the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout podcast, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “ The Finance Guy” were on the road at the Restaurant, Finance and Development Conference in Las Vegas with guests Andrew Smith, Managing Director of Savory Fund, Andy Wiederhorn, Chief Executive Officer of Fat Brands and Tim McLaughlin, Chief Executive Officer of GoTab. Smith is Managing Partner of Savory Management, a Mercato Partners value-add management company, that focuses on delivering outsized returns through strategic growth and replication strategies. They partner with high-potential restaurant concepts to deliver necessary capital, industry knowledge, and operational prowess...2022-11-2245 min
Hospitality HangoutFrom Egg McMuffins To Plant Based Bites, An Industry Leaders Fast Lane To Success | Season 8, Vol. 9In the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “The Finance Guy” chat with Carin Stutz, president and chief executive officer at Native Foods. Stutz has been in the industry for five decades and worked with brands such as Red Robin, Wendy’s, Cosi, Applebee’s and more. Stutz said looking back at her career and her early start at McDonald’s, she loved being in the restaurant business. Native Foods, the plant-based fast-casual brand launched back in 1994 before the plant-based restaurants were popular. They have twelve restaurants in three states, Colorado, Cali...2022-11-1546 min
Hospitality HangoutWhat Do Hot Dogs, Michael Jackson and Ghost Kitchens Have In Common? | Season 8, Vol. 8In the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “The Finance Guy”chat with André Vener, partner and co-founder of Dog Haus. Dog Haus is known for its signature all beef Haus Dogs and handcrafted proprietary Haus Sausages, as well as its 100% genetically tested, humanely raised, hormone- and antibiotic-free Black Angus beef from Creekstone Farms. The founding partners are three friends who share a passion for creativity, quality and commitment to community. They are Hagop Giragossian, Quasim Riaz and Andre Vener and they opened their first Dog Haus in Pasadena, California in 2010...2022-11-0834 min
Hospitality HangoutThe Easy Button For Alleviating Supply Chain Woes | Season 8, Vol. 7In the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “The Finance Guy” chat with Mani Kulasooriya, Co-Founder & CEO of Cut+Dry plus the guys introduce a new segment, Trivia Tuesday and share a fun trivia question about their guest at the end of the show. Cut+Dry is an all-in-one commerce enablement platform for foodservice distributors. It was created to provide distributors, their customers, and their suppliers with a single digital platform to make food commerce a more enjoyable, more profitable, and less wasteful experience. Kulasooriya has been working in tech...2022-11-0134 min
Hospitality HangoutEnhance Your Restaurant’s Guest Experience | Season 8, Vol. 6In the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “The Finance Guy” chat with Rajat Bhakhri CEO and Co-Founder of Boston-based Incentivio, Inc.Incentivio is a fully automated intelligence-driven guest engagement platform for restaurants and virtual kitchens that increases retention, maximizes revenue and enhances the guest experience for both first-time visitors & loyalists.Bhakhri is a graduate of Purdue University with a degree in electrical engineering. He delivered pizza for a short period of time until his first job as a software engineer. Bhakhri moved to Boston and worked for a startu...2022-10-2538 min
Hospitality HangoutHopdoddy Aspires To Be The Best Burger Place You’ve Been To | Season 8, Vol. 4In the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael0Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “ The Finance Guy” chat with Jeff Handler, chief executive officer and President at Hopdoddy Burger Bar & HiBar Hospitality Group.Handler grew up in the business, he has been in the industry for more than thirty years. He shared, “My dad was a tavern owner and growing up, if I wanted to spend time with my dad that meant kind of sometimes early mornings and weekends hanging out at the tavern picking quarters out of booth seats and cleaning the grill and cleaning beer lines...2022-10-1141 min
Hospitality HangoutCargill Digital Business Studios | Season 8, Vol. 3In the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “ The Finance Guy” bring you this episode from FSTEC. They chat with Daran Han, Cargill Digital Business Studio Lead, Stacey Hey, Digital Product Owner of Kitchen Blueprint, Jessica Stanchfield, Digital Product Owner of Hot Take and Nate Shrader, Digital Product Owner of Chekt. Cargill Digital Business Studios is a startup studio backed by Cargill investment and expertise, designed to incubate and scale digital businesses within Cargill that address the most urgent problems facing our global food and agriculture system, now and into the futu...2022-10-0433 min
Hospitality HangoutON THE ROAD LIVE from FSTECIn the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout podcast, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “ The Finance Guy” were on the road and with a special edition live from FSTEC in Dallas. Andy Freivogel is the co-founder and chief executive officer of Science On Call. He has over twenty-five years experience in both technology and retail. He also spent years creating specialized data networks and systems for end-user support in the residential digital services arena. Freivogel stops by to talk to the guys about the show, Innovation Alley and Science On Call, a tech support platform for rest...2022-09-2740 min
Hospitality HangoutFood Service Facility Solutions To Enhance Operational Efficiencies | Season 8, Vol. 2In the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “ The Finance Guy” chat with Jay Fiske, President of Powerhouse Dynamics, a Middleby Company while in Dallas at the FSTEC Conference. As president Fiske is responsible for leading all strategic and day-to-day company operations. He is a technology executive and investor with over twenty years of experience building businesses and innovative technology products to market. Fiske says, “Powerhouse Dynamics, we are a Boston based technology firm and we are the folks behind the open kitchen internet of things platform. We help large...2022-09-2035 min
Hospitality HangoutA World-Class Chef And Philanthropist Robert Irvine Gives Back | Season 8, Vol. 1In the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “ The Finance Guy” chat with Robert Irvine, world-class chef, fitness authority, philanthropist and restaurateur. Irvine has appeared or hosted in several shows on television, including Food Network’s Worst Cooks in America, Next Iron Chef, Restaurant Express, Chopped: Impossible, Guy’s Grocery Games: Impossible, A Hero’s Welcome, Food Network Star, ABC’s Body of Proof, ABC Family’s Melissa and Joey plus more. Irvine is known for his support for our nation’s military and believes that his success would not be possible without the men and...2022-09-1343 min
Hospitality HangoutBest of Who Would You BeatThis month on Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “The Finance Guy” are taking a break from their usual interview episodes and bringing you a Best Of season of all your favorite segments. They bring back “Best Of” old favorites such as “Which Came First” and “The Crystal Ball Moment.”In this episode they feature a Best Of Who Would You Beat Quickfire question with special guest and Co Founder & CEO at Chowly, Inc., Sterling Douglass. Schatzberg and Frischling would ask each guest who they would choose to have better odds of beating in a selected game...2022-09-0632 min
Hospitality HangoutBest of Top of the Tech StackThis month on Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “The Finance Guy” are taking a break from their usual interview episodes and bringing you a Best Of season of all your favorite segments. They bring back “Best Of” old favorites such as “Top of the Tech Stack” and “Which Came First.”In this episode they feature a Best Of Top Of The Tech Stack with special guest, Sterling Douglass, Co Founder & CEO at Chowly, Inc. Top of the Tech Stack first made an appearance in season 2 and held up strong through season 6. Branded is all about the tec...2022-08-2923 min
Hospitality HangoutBest of Which Came FirstThis month on Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “The Finance Guy” are taking a break from their usual interview episodes and bringing you a Best Of season of all your favorite segments. They bring back “Best Of” old favorites such as “Best of On The Road” and “Top of the Tech Stack.”In this episode they feature a Best Of Which Came First with special guest and Co Founder & CEO at Chowly, Inc., Sterling Douglass. Frischling says, “the idea for this segment came about over a common joke that the only other industry slower to emb...2022-08-2226 min
Hospitality HangoutBest of On the RoadThis month on Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “The Finance Guy” are taking a break from their usual interview episodes and bringing you a Best Of season of all your favorite segments. They bring back “Best Of” old favorites such as “The Crystal Ball Moment” and “Top Of Tech Stack.”In this episode they feature a Best Of On The Road with special guest and Co Founder & CEO at Chowly, Inc., Sterling Douglass. The guys said they have been fortunate to have been able to record the show on site at industry trade shows like Win...2022-08-1636 min
Hospitality HangoutBest of Talking BackThis month on Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “The Finance Guy” are taking a break from their usual interview episodes and bringing you a Best Of season of all your favorite segments. They bring back “Best Of” old favorites such as “Top of the Tech Stack” and “The Branded Quickfire.”In this episode they feature a Best Of Talking Back with special guest and Co Founder & CEO at Chowly, Inc., Sterling Douglass. When Schatzberg and Frischling started Hospitality Hangout podcast to talk to people in the industry, they quickly learned that their guests had questions...2022-08-1242 min
Hospitality HangoutBest of the Crystal Ball MomentIn the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “ The Finance Guy” are bringing their listeners a “Best Of” season series with all of your favorite segments. Frischling says, “ We are bringing back Best OF old favorites such as Top of the Tech Stack and Which Came First as well as tried and true favorites Talking back and The Crystal Ball Moment. And of course – we can’t leave out the most popular segment (at least according to Schatzy…) The Branded Quickfire.” This episode features the Best of The Crystal Ball moments, with special guest, the Ama...2022-08-0235 min
Hospitality HangoutStreamlining Lease and Location Management Operations | Season 7, Vol. 12: LeasecakeIn the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “ The Finance Guy” chat with Taj Adhav, chief executive officer at Leasecake, a platform that lets tenants, brokers and landlords manage location-related services, ranging from lease management to lease accounting to insurance agreements. Adhav shares his background and says, “So you know, first generation kid, youngest son of an immigrant family. My parents said hey you better get into business so I was a CPA for fifteen years, big four, spent a decade at Disney as an imagineer being involved in lots of large s...2022-07-2640 min
Hospitality HangoutBE A DISRUPTOR | Season 7, Vol. 11: Stratis MorfogenIn the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy'' and Jimmy Frischling “The Finance Guy'' chat with Stratis Morfogen, Book Author and Co-Founder of Brooklyn Dumpling Shop, to discuss Dons, dumplings, and disruption.Frischling asks Morfogen about his background in the industry. Morfogen shares that although he has owned Chinese restaurants for the last 17 years he actually grew up in a typical Greek family. He talks about his family of restauranteurs running 14 different restaurants when he was a child, including the Chelsea Chop House which his father owned. The guys talk about Morfogen’s concep...2022-07-1941 min
Hospitality HangoutRising and Raising Robotics | Season 7, Vol. 10: Wavemaker LabsIn the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy'' and Jimmy Frischling “The Finance Guy'' chat with Buck Jordan, Founder and CEO of Wavemaker Labs, to discuss his early fascination with automation, scaling brands through robotics, and why he thinks franchising is dead.Frischling asks Jordan to share a little about his background and Wavemaker Labs. Jordan talks about first being exposed to automation 20 years ago, when he was an armor officer going through tank training in Fort Knox, Kentucky. He vividly recalls seeing four, unmanned, armored, personnel carriers whizzing by at 40 miles per hour...2022-07-1237 min
Hospitality HangoutData, Insights and Technology | Season 7, Vol. 9: The Buyers Edge PlatformIn the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy'' and Jimmy Frischling “The Finance Guy'' chat with John Davie, CEO and Owner of The Buyers Edge Platform, to discuss his mission to help local restaurants, the importance of clean data, and how he is leveraging tech to help the environment. Frischling asks Davie about his background. Davie shares that he has spent his entire career helping small, independent, local, mom-and-pop restaurants, get some of the same advantages as the larger chains. He talks about recognizing a need in the industry because smaller restaurants simply could...2022-07-0546 min
Hospitality HangoutTechnology Is the Key to Survival | Season 7, Vol. 8: Slim Chickens RestaurantsIn the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy'' and Jimmy Frischling “The Finance Guy'' chat with Tom Gordon, President and CEO of Slim Chickens Restaurants, to discuss, launching a fast-casual chicken concept, robotics, and why technology is key to survival.Gordon talks about the early days of his career. He shares that after college, armed with a finance and real estate degree, he was on the stockbroker track, but he quickly learned that he loathed the path. He decided to leave the world of Wallstreet for the restaurant industry, where he started waiting on t...2022-06-2842 min
Hospitality HangoutFocusing on the Happiness of the Guest | Season 7, Vol. 7: YumpingoIn the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy'' and Jimmy Frischling “The Finance Guy'' chat with Gary Goodman, CEO and Founder of Yumpingo, to discuss his early fascination with the industry, the necessity for customer feedback and the importance of creating a healthy company culture.Goodman and the guys chat about Goodman’s background. Goodman shares that he was born in Manchester, England, where he would go to restaurants with his family as a child. He talks about how, even as a toddler, he had an absolute fascination with the industry and he recall...2022-06-2143 min
Hospitality HangoutLeading the Adoption of Tech | Season 7, Vol. 5: Capriotti’s and Wing ZoneIn the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy'' and Jimmy Frischling “The Finance Guy'' chat with David Bloom, Chief Development and Operating Officer at Capriotti’s and Wing Zone, to discuss his passion for the industry, strategies for scaling brands and the adoption of technology.Bloom and the guys chat about Bloom’s background in the industry. He talks about his humble beginnings growing up in New York and how restaurant life is a family affair. Bloom shares that he worked in the back of the house growing up, and that he has a brothe...2022-06-0746 min
Hospitality HangoutData Management and Analytic Solutions | Season 7, Vol. 4: IngestIn the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout podcast, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “ The Finance Guy” chat with Daniel Meth, chief executive officer at Ingest and take a deep dive into restaurant data. Meth talks about his education saying, “I wanted to be a doctor and so I went to college a little bit later in life double majored in molecular biology biochemistry and cell biology neuroscience. Not because I was so smart but I found out that if you double major in science. It's typically a conversation stopper.” Meth shares that he started tutoring and...2022-05-3142 min
Hospitality HangoutGetting Involved With Early Stage Emerging Brands | Season 7, Vol. 3: FransmartIn the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “ The Finance Guy” were on the road and live at the National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago, where they chat with Dan Rowe, CEO of Fransmart, about the show, the benefits of multi-unit franchises, and the importance of landscape when considering new brands. Fransmart CEO, Dan Rowe and the guys chat about how Rowe got started in the industry. He talks about deciding as a teenager that he wasn’t going to go the traditional route and attend college to find his career pat...2022-05-2436 min
Hospitality HangoutPoint-Of-Sale Becoming the Brain of the Restaurant | Season 7, Vol. 2: SquareIn the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy'' and Jimmy Frischling “The Finance Guy'' chat with Bryan Solar, Restaurants GM at Square, to discuss his unique journey into the industry, the rebranding of Square, and the importance of POS innovations.When asked about his start in the industry, Solar talks about his background and coming from a family of restaurateurs. He tells the guys about his journey to working at a strategy consulting firm that helped really big companies turn around in the recession. He shares that during that time frame, he learned that...2022-05-1745 min
Hospitality HangoutLIVE FROM FOOD ON DEMAND IN LAS VEGASIn the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “The Finance Guy” were on the road and live at Food On Demand in Las Vegas, where they chat with Laura Michaels, Editor in Chief at Franchise Times, Alyssa Abraham, Digital Innovation Manager at Cargill, April Rogers, Director of Off-Premise and Guest Relations at Ruby Tuesday, and Maia Tekle, Co-Founder of Dispatch Goods about the conference, strategies for increasing off-premises efficiency and the tremendous growth within the virtual brand space.Franchise Times Editor in Chief, Laura Michaels stops by to discuss being a modera...2022-05-1056 min
Hospitality HangoutTechnology Improving Functionality | Season 7, Vol. 1: Restaurant365In the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy'' and Jimmy Frischling “The Finance Guy'' chat with Tony Smith, CEO and Co-Founder of Restaurant365, to discuss rising food costs, labor shortages and how his company is using technology to combat both of those challenges within the industry.Smith co-founded Restaurant365 over ten years ago and works with over thirty thousand businesses. The restaurant management software developed by Restaurant365 allows operators to experience the only cloud-based, all-in-one restaurant accounting, payroll and HR, inventory, scheduling and reporting software that can also seamlessly integrate to their POS, vend...2022-05-0338 min
Hospitality HangoutVirtual Brands Are the New Normal | Season 6, Vol. 13: Earl EnterprisesIn the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy'' and Jimmy Frischling “The Finance Guy'' chat with Robert Earl, Co-Founder of Virtual Dining Concepts and Chairman of Earl Enterprises, to discuss virtual brands, how influencers bring value to operators, and the company’s latest concept.Earl talks about growing up in the United Kingdom and how being the son of a very famous singer exposed him early on to show business, talent and brands. Earl jokes that he was reluctant to go into show business or to work at all, but he soon realized that h...2022-04-2651 min
Hospitality HangoutFood-Waste Solving Food-Insecurity | Season 6, Vol. 12: CopiaIn the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy'' and Jimmy Frischling “The Finance Guy'' chat with Kimberly Smith, Chief Executive Officer at Copia, to discuss food insecurity, how restaurants can track food waste and what Copia is doing to help the industry reduce carbon emissions. Smith talks about her background in the advertising tech industry and having nearly 20 years of experience in data and analytics. She shares that becoming a parent gave her a new perspective on the world regarding how we would be leaving it for future generations and why that led her...2022-04-2035 min
Hospitality HangoutLIVE FROM RFISIn the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “ The Finance Guy” were on the road at the Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit in Nashville. Schatzberg and Frischling chat with Laura Rea Dickey, CEO of Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants, Inc., Josh Goodman, Founder & CEO, of PourMyBeer, Cherryh Cansler, Editor of FastCasual.com and VP of Events at Networld Media Group, and Josh Halpern, CEO at Big Chicken, about the summit and latest innovations in technology being highlighted at RFIS. Dickey, stops by and talks about being back in person at the Restaurant Franchisin...2022-04-121h 04
Hospitality HangoutDesigning to the Customer Journey | Season 6, Vol. 11: Dine BrandsIn the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy'' and Jimmy Frischling “The Finance Guy'' chat with Scott Gladstone, SVP of Strategy and Innovation at Dine Brands, to discuss the state of the industry, virtual brands, and how new technologies and innovations are going to drive sales moving forward.Gladstone talks about the state of the industry and shares that consumers are returning to Dine Brands restaurants in record numbers. In addition to consumers dining in again, Gladstone shares that the company’s restaurants IHOP and Applebee’s have seen considerable growth in off-premise sales wh...2022-04-0540 min
Hospitality HangoutA Birdseye View of the Restaurant Industry | Season 6, Vol. 10: Food News MediaIn the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “The Finance Guy” chat with Danny Klein, Editorial Director at Food News Media, about his unique leap into the industry and the debate regarding pizza and tech.Klein shares why Food News Media offers free magazine subscriptions to industry professionals. He talks about the outlet covering both QSR and FSR segments. Klein says the company’s day one goal was to help operators run their restaurants. In addition to not charging for the magazine content, Klein shares that the outlet also offers a free e-n...2022-03-2943 min
Hospitality HangoutHelping Organizations Thrive | Season 6, Vol. 9: BlanketIn the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, Jimmy Frischling “The Finance Guy” and Sterling Douglass “The Technology Guy”, were on the road and live at MURTEC Las Vegas, where they chat with Michael "MJ" Jacober, Founder / CEO at Blanket, about the show, participating in Start-Up Alley and restaurant-technology being highlighted at MURTEC.Blanket Founder and CEO, Michael “MJ” Jacober stops by for his second time on the podcast to discuss Blanket’s mission to help multi-unit operations and frontline teams to thrive, and bring joy to their everyday work. Jacober says, “By thrive, you know, it's about communicating ta...2022-03-2119 min
Hospitality HangoutLIVE FROM MURTEC IN LAS VEGASIn the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, Jimmy Frischling “ The Finance Guy” and Sterling Douglass “The Technology Guy”, were on the road and live at MURTEC Las Vegas, where they chat with Phil Crawford, Chief Technology Officer at CKE Restaurants, Inc., Tom Seeker, Chief Information Officer at Earl Enterprises and Astrid Isaacs, Chief Technology Officer at Bloomin’ Brands Inc., about the show and restaurant-technology being highlighted at MURTEC. Crawford stops by for his second time on the podcast to discuss CKE Restaurants [https://www.ckr.com/] getting involved in MURTEC with the focus of restaurant technology. They talk about t...2022-03-1530 min
Hospitality HangoutThe Digital Consumer Experience | Season 6, Vol. 8: FlipdishIn the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy'' and Jimmy Frischling “The Finance Guy'' chat with John DiLoreto, president and general manager North America at Flipdish about digitally connecting restaurants to their customers. DiLoreto leads the business for North America at Flipdish. It is a digital technology company focused on the hospitality industry. DiLoreto says, “Specifically what we focus on at Flipdish is what we call the digital consumer experience and what that means is we focus on everything between the brand meaning the restaurant and their customers and helping restaurants better engage direct...2022-03-0844 min
Hospitality HangoutThe Best Damn Chicken Finger | Season 6, Vol. 7: Sticky'sIn the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy'' and Jimmy Frischling “The Finance Guy'' chats with Jon Sherman, chief executive officer and co-founder at Sticky's Finger Joint about becoming an entrepreneur, developing a new brand, and the lessons learned. Sticky’s Finger Joint was founded in New York City ten years ago in 2012. Sherman says Sticky's makes boneless, fried and grilled chicken and it is paired with eighteen different dipping sauces with different flavor profiles. Sherman was in finance for years before founding Sticky’s. He says, “but I always had a bit of a...2022-03-0141 min
Hospitality HangoutGrowing Emerging Concepts | Season 6, Vol. 6: SavoryIn the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy'' and Jimmy Frischling “The Finance Guy'' chats with Alonso Castañeda, vice president of brand development and strategy at Savory Restaurant Fund about finding emerging concepts and helping to develop the brand for fast growth. Castañeda says “the Savory Restaurant Fund is a fund that works and identifies brands in their infancy stage and when I say infancy I don't mean that the brand is brand new. They could be in business for ten years but as an emerging concept. They are starting to think abo...2022-02-2241 min
Hospitality HangoutOptimizing the Customer Experience | Season 6, Vol. 5: GoTabIn the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy'' and Jimmy Frischling “The Finance Guy'' chat with Tim McLaughlin, co-founder chief executive officer of GoTab, Inc., about technology that can optimize daily operations, while improving communication between restaurant operators and their guests. McLaughlin talks about his background, he says he has been developing software since he was young and then he went to school for mechanical engineering. McLaughlin says, “I co-founded GoTab in 2016. We've taken many turns and twists as hospitality has in the last five years for those who know, started in payments orderi...2022-02-1539 min
Hospitality HangoutThe Current State of the Delivery Market | Season 6, Vol. 4: LunchboxIn the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy'' and Jimmy Frischling “The Finance Guy'' chat with Nabeel Alamgir, chief executive officer and co-founder of Lunchbox about the current state of delivery and what the future will look like for restaurants. Alamgir who is on the 2021 Forbes list 30 under 30, is the co-founder of the digital ordering and marketing platform Lunchbox. The operating system for managing a restaurant's entire digital experience. Alamgir talks about starting as a busboy at Bareburger when he came to the United States and how he loved the industry, working his way...2022-02-0841 min
Hospitality HangoutThe Convenience of Curbside | Season 6, Vol. 3: CurbitIn the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy'' and Jimmy Frischling “The Finance Guy'' chat with Scott Siegel, co-founder and chief executive officer at Curbit, about the continued critical component of pickup and takeaway in the restaurant business. Siegel talks about his background in commercial real estate, representing restaurant owners and how finding locations for their business inspired the development of Curbit. He realized that drive-thrus were a difficult asset to come by and he wanted a solution that would allow his clients to compete and level the playing field. Siegel says, “You know t...2022-02-0139 min
Hospitality HangoutReducing Waste With Reusable Packaging | Season 6, Vol. 2 : Dispatch GoodsIn the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy'' and Jimmy Frischling “The Finance Guy'' chat with Lindsey Hoell, founder and chief executive officer of Dispatch Goods about how restaurants can help reduce waste with reusable packaging. Hoell had a career in cardiac surgery first on the clinical side and then started selling the equipment in Hawaii. She is a surfer and was confronted by plastic pollution in her favorite surf breaks. Hoell got involved with Surfrider Foundation’s program called Ocean Friendly Restaurants where they helped restaurants transition to more sustainable practices. She says Di...2022-01-2538 min
Hospitality HangoutUsing AI to Achieve Consistent Service | Season 6, Vol. 1: Agot.AIIn the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy'' and Jimmy Frischling “The Finance Guy'' kick off season six and chat with Evan DeSantola, Co-Founder & CEO at Agot AI about using AI to achieve consistent service.DeSantola and his co-founder Alex Litzenberger met at Carnegie Mellon University when they had come up with the idea for Agot AI. They had noticed the advances in computer vision perception technologies were not being commercialized. DeSantola says, “so when we left CMU we figured hey we know that this is a really ripe area for innovation in the co...2022-01-1832 min
Hospitality HangoutLIVE FROM CES IN LAS VEGASIn the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout podcast, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “ The Finance Guy” were on the road and live at CES Las Vegas, where they chat with Michael Wolf, founder, chief executive officer, and editor in chief at The Spoon, Picnic’s founder and chief executive officer, Clayton Wood, Steven Sperry, co-founder and chief executive officer at Minnow and Ritukar Vijay, founder and chief executive officer at Ottonomy, Inc., about the show and food-technology being highlighted at CES. Wolf stops by to discuss The Spoon getting involved in CES with the focus of fo...2022-01-1239 min
Hospitality HangoutAI in Your Restaurant | Season 5, Vol. 12: Valyant AIIn the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout podcast, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “ The Finance Guy” chat with Rob Carpenter, founder and chief executive officer at Valyant AI about automated order taking for quick service restaurants. Carpenter says, “There's a little bit of a labor crunch out there, one point seven million unfilled positions across the hospitality industry right now. So what we do is stick revolutionary cutting edge technology into your restaurant, greets customers, answers questions, takes the customer's order and then submits it directly into the point-of-sale system. Making the operators and the employ...2021-12-2840 min
Hospitality HangoutBRANDED FROM THE ROAD AT RLCIn the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout podcast, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “ The Finance Guy” were on the road at the Restaurant Leadership Conference in Arizona. Schatzberg and Frischling chat with Steve Heeley, chief executive officer at Pokéworks, Dirk Izzo, president and general manager at NCR Hospitality, Sterling Douglass, co-founder and chief executive officer at Chowly,Inc., and Alan Hickey, co-founder of VROMO. Heeley from Pokéworks stops by and talks about being back in person at the Restaurant Leadership Conference. He talks about technology innovation and technology consolidation. Pokéworks started in 2015 in...2021-12-1455 min
Hospitality HangoutThe Current State of the Restaurant Industry | Season 5, Vol. 10: Informa’s Restaurant & Food GroupIn the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout podcast, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy'' and Jimmy Frischling “The Finance Guy'' chat with Sam Oches, Editorial Director at Informa's Restaurant & Food Group.Oches, who started out as a reporter but had never worked in the restaurant space, this past May became the Editorial Director at Informa where they cover restaurants, supermarkets, food management, hospitality news, and recently added podcasts. Oches talks about how he ended up in the restaurant space saying, “I'm a drummer, I've been drumming since I was twelve, I was a musician and you know look when I...2021-12-0738 min
Hospitality HangoutThe Customer Management Solution | Season 5, Vol. 9: SEVENROOMSIn the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout podcast, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “ The Finance Guy” chat with Joel Montaniel, chief executive officer and co-founder of SEVENROOMS about helping operators build their direct and personalized relationship with guests. SEVENROOMS is a guest experience and retention platform that works on helping operators utilize guest data to provide experiences that boost business. Montaniel says, “So many many years ago we tried to figure out why hospitality technology systems didn't have any guest data in them and we really were surprised by that because we were like this is th...2021-11-3039 min
Hospitality HangoutLIVE FROM FOOD ON DEMAND IN LAS VEGASIn the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout podcast, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “ The Finance Guy” take the show to Food On Demand in Las Vegas. Schatzberg and Frischling chat with Michael Beacham, president of Reef, Zack Oates, chief executive officer at Ovation, Tom Kaiser, senior editor at Franchise Times Magazine, and Trish Giordano, chief sales and marketing officer at Earl Enterprises. Beacham talks about how ghost kitchens have grown as a category over the last year and the best ways for operators to get involved. He says that now he is seeing local chefs an...2021-11-1758 min
Hospitality HangoutLIVE FROM FSTECIn the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout podcast, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “ The Finance Guy” take the show to the first in-person trade show, FSTEC 2021 where restaurants and technology connect. Schatzberg and Frischling chat with Wade Allen, senior vice president, head of innovation at Brinker International, Inc., Derek E. Canton, chief executive officer and founder at Paerpay, Sterling Douglass, co founder and chief executive officer at Chowly, Inc., and Marcus Viscidi, VP, Enterprise Sales - National Restaurant Association Show & Foodservice Conferences at Winsight, LLC.Allen talks about what he is looking to learn from the...2021-09-2751 min
Investor Connect PodcastInvestor Connect - Episode 237 - Jimmy Frischling of Branded Strategic HospitalityOn this episode, Hall welcomes Jimmy Frischling of Branded Strategic Hospitality. Before investing in early-stage companies, Jimmy has a career spanning just under 30 years in financial and capital markets. He started his career in investment banking with a firm called Kidder Peabody - which no longer exists - and was always on the sell-side working for firms such as Bear Stearns and Paine Webber. Jimmy then moved on to work with institutional and large banks with Florida Securities where he ran the US-structured credit team. There was a focus on debt and fixed income as well as illiquid, opaque and...2019-09-1715 min