Eat & Stay Podcast
By Eat & Stay Podcast
Eat & Stay PodcastJun 19, 2019
#012: Huxley Wallace Collective with Founder Josh Henderson (SEA)
We sat down with Josh Henderson, Seattle-based Founder of Huxley Wallace Collective (Quality Athletics, Quality Ramen, Skillet Street Food, etc.) about his journey as a restauranteur and what he's up to now!
#011: Escape Hotel with Co-Founder Ion Beroiz (LA)
In today's episode, we sit down with Ion Beroiz, one of the co-founders of Escape Hotel. Escape Hotel, located in Hollywood, is the world's largest escape room experience. Check out this week's episode to learn a little bit more about the inspiration behind Escape Hotel, how exactly Ion and his team managed to get Escape Hotel started in permit-heavy Los Angeles, and how they're doing today!
#010: Voodoo Doughnut - Cat Daddy and Tres (PDX)
We sat down with Cat Daddy and Tres, the founders of Voodoo Doughnut, to get their story about how they came up with the idea for Voodoo, how they got started, and how they expanded to multiple locations including both Universal Studios lots!
For more information about Voodoo Doughnut, please visit their website: https://www.voodoodoughnut.com/
For any feedback, comments, questions, or suggestions - please e-mail eatandstaypodcast@gmail.com!
#009: Beetle House, Stay Classy, Darkside Bar and MORE - Zach Neil (NYC)
Today, we sat down with serial entrepreneur/restauranteur Zach Neil, who is the founder of New Gold Empire, which is the company behind successful pop culture concepts including:
- Beetle House (NYC/LA)
- Cakeshake (NYC)
- Darkside Bar (DC, LA, NYC)
- Electric Pussycat (LA)
- Happy Holidays Hollywood (LA)
- Merica (NYC)
- Stay Classy (DC, LA, NYC, BOS)
Zach has an extremely riveting story that spans all different types of careers/odd jobs including building houses on the weekend, starting his own ad agency, producing concerts and festivals for bands, opening his own restaurant in his early twenties. Zach talks about how he lost all of his money, only to build it all back again into his thriving New Gold Empire. Most importantly, Zach gives the 6 reasons why ALL restaurants fail - and what we can learn from these failures.
Enjoy today's episode!
If you have any comments, questions, or feedback - please e-mail eatandstaypodcast@gmail.com
#008: Miracle Pop-Up Bar - Joann Spiegel (NYC)
This week we sat down with Joann Spiegel - the Head of Education for Cocktail Kingdom and the General Manager of Miracle Pop-Up Bar. Miracle is a Christmas-themed pop-up cocktail bar that serves holiday cocktails in a festive setting. With kitschy holiday décor, professionally-developed cocktails and the nostalgic energy of the best office party you’ve ever been to, Miracle is sure to get even the grouchiest grinch in the holiday spirit.
Check out this week's conversation for more intel on how the idea for Miracle came about, how Miracle operates in almost 100 locations nationwide, and what's next for Miracle.
Please remember to rate, review, and subscribe to EAT & STAY Podcast. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions - send them to eatandstaypodcast@gmail.com
#007: Pietro NoLita - Pietro Quaglia (NYC)
This week, we speak with Pietro Quaglia, who is the founder and owner of Pietro NoLita in New York City. You've probably seen Pietro NoLita all over Instagram - Pietro NoLita is NYC's FIRST all-pink restaurant that focuses on serving healthy Italian food. Please enjoy this story about Pietro's journey and remember to rate, review, and subscribe to EAT & STAY PODCAST!
#006: Library Hotel Collection - Adele Gutman (NYC)
Today, we sit down with Adele Gutman - the VP of Sales, Marketing, and Revenue for the entire Library Hotel Collection. The Library Hotel Collection is made up of NYC’s Library Hotel, Hotel Elysee, Casablanca Hotel, and Hotel Giraffe; the Aria Hotel Prague, Aria Hotel Budapest, and Hotel X Toronto. In this week's episode, we cover:
(3:26) Some distinguishing features of the Library Hotel Collection
(5:21) How Adele turned being a dancer into a successful foray into hospitality
(11:20) The importance of having a foundation in Southern hospitality and how to add "sweetness" into business
(19:40) The importance of TripAdvisor as a marketing tool
(21:00) Why you should give your guests free amenities
(38:42) Why themes are good in the hospitality industry
(49:00) Adele's advice for a budding hospitality owner
Please send any feedback/comments/questions/interview requests to eatandstaypodcast@gmail.com and remember to rate, review, and subscribe to our podcast!
#005: Doghouse Hotel & Brewery - Jon Quick (CMH)
In today's episode, we sit down with Jon Quick - the GM of Doghouse Hotel & Brewery. Doghouse is the world's FIRST craft beer hotel, and it's located in Columbus, Ohio! In today's conversation, we cover:
- (12:03) Doghouse's business model of using crowdfunding to raise money and prove concept
- (12:49) The story of BrewDog, the parent company of the Doghouse Hotel & Brewery - and their "Richard Branson" effect
- (15:40) The origin of Equity For Punks - BrewDog's direct crowdfunding campaign
- (17:40) How the "equity" with a direct crowdfunding campaign works and what perks Equity Punks get
- (20:45) AGM - Brewdog's annual music and beer conference for Equity Punks
- (24:40) The Doghouse experience from check-in to check-out
- (32:50) How Doghouse has revitalized Columbus
- (36:00) How to hire the best employees for your business and why you should prioritize personality over skills
- (38:00) How to prioritize your employees and why it's important to offer a "shift beer" for every employee
- (43:41) The best meal Jon has ever eaten is at Dishoom in London
- (45:49) Jon's favorite restaurant in the world is Halls Chophouse in Charleston, South Carolina
#004 - Rosé Mansion - Tyler Balliet (NYC)
We sat down with Tyler Balliet, the co-founder of Rosé Wine Mansion. Rosé Mansion is a two-story, immersive experience with 14 different rooms that are each dedicated to the different aspects of rose. Attendees were able to sample eight different rosés — about two glasses total -- and could pose with the different photo opps like swinging from a gold chandelier, lounging in a bathtub full of roses, posing at a bar filled with hot pink sand, and blending a custom rosé. Highlights from this week's episode include:
- (2:30) Why Tyler never saw himself working a "traditional job" and how he navigated starting his own company
- (12:30) The costs associated with throwing Wine Riot, Tyler's first large-scale festival that he produced for the general public
- (17:00) Buying patterns Tyler has seen with different markets across the nation in regards to hosting events and festivals
- (26:00) How Tyler felt after selling Wine Riot after running it nationally for ten years
- (28:30) How exactly Tyler and his co-founder conceptualized, built, and executed Rose Mansion in 12 weeks
- (30:45) Why Tyler likes to stay on top of industry trends; how he utilized museums like Museum of Ice Cream and Happy Place as inspiration for Wine Riot
- (32:30) How to explain pop-up museums to traditional landlords who are used to leasing long-term leases
- (40:00) The process of building Rose Mansion - and how it still wasn't finished 48 hours before opening
- (47:00) What your experience is like when you walk through Rose Mansion
Please e-mail any questions/comments/interview requests to eatandstaypodcast@gmail.com
#003: Great White - Sam Trude (LA)
We sat down with Sam Trude, one of the co-founders/owners of Great White in Venice Beach, CA. In our conversation, we chatted about:
- (7:55) How Sam's love of travel shaped his opening of Great White
- (18:10) How Sam used bootstrapping to open Great White - and why he preferred it that way
- (35:00) How to build a strong culture for patrons
- (40:13) Having a logo that people get tattooed on themselves - and why Sam will give them free coffee for life
- (47:35) Why food is as much theater as it is sustenance
- (49:40) The best meal Sam has eaten in Los Angeles - Osteria Mozza
- (50:06) Sam's favorite restaurants - Hillstone and The Cheesecake Factory
Please e-mail any comments, suggestions, or interview requests to eatandstaypodcast@gmail.com!
#002: S'Mac - Sarita Ekya (NYC)
Please e-mail any questions/comments/interview requests to eatandstaypodcast@gmail.com
Show Notes From This Week's Episode
- S'Mac - 197 1st Avenue, New York, NY 10003
- The best meal Sarita has ever eaten: Eleven Madison Park
- Sarita's favorite restaurant in NYC: Cafe Mogador
- Sarita swears by the boiled pierogis at Veselka in the East Village
#001: Caravan Tiny Home Hotel - Kol Peterson (PDX)
Please e-mail any questions/comments/interview requests to eatandstaypodcast@gmail.com
Show Notes From This Week's Episode