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716: Danielle Rosse on Live and Die by Your Budget

Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore

Release Date: 05/21/2020

1264: David T. Denney and Chelsea Masters, Partners and Denney Law Firm show art 1264: David T. Denney and Chelsea Masters, Partners and Denney Law Firm

Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore

Today's guests join the Restaurant Unstoppable Network for a live Q+A on April 27th, 2026 at 11AM EST. To join us and engage with all our guests and events, go to restaurantunstoppable.com/live -OR- to just catch today's guest, head over to restaurantunstoppable.com/cwe and we will get you a link to join that specific event for FREE! David T. Denney is the founder of Denney Law Group, a Dallas-based firm that counsels startups and growing companies on corporate transactions, business litigation, real estate, franchising, and beverage alcohol licensing, with a particular focus on the food,...

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1263: Eric Reed, Chief Development Officer at Layne’s Chicken Fingers show art 1263: Eric Reed, Chief Development Officer at Layne’s Chicken Fingers

Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore

Eric Reed and Natalie Hurley (also of Layne's) join the Restaurant Unstoppable Network for a live Q+A on April 20th, 2026 at 11AM EST. To join us and engage with all our guests and events, go to restaurantunstoppable.com/live -OR- to just catch today's guest, head over to restaurantunstoppable.com/cwe and we will get you a link to join that specific event for FREE! Eric Reed is the Chief Development Officer at Layne’s Chicken Fingers, where he leads the brand’s aggressive growth and real estate strategy as the company scales its footprint across existing and new markets. With more than two...

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1262: Natalie Hurley, VP of Marketing at Layne’s Chicken Fingers show art 1262: Natalie Hurley, VP of Marketing at Layne’s Chicken Fingers

Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore

Natalie Hurley and Eric Reed (also of Layne's) join the Restaurant Unstoppable Network for a live Q+A on April 20th, 2026 at 11AM EST. To join us and engage with all our guests and events, go to restaurantunstoppable.com/live -OR- to just catch today's guest, head over to restaurantunstoppable.com/cwe and we will get you a link to join that specific event for FREE! Natalie Hurley is the Vice President of Marketing at Layne’s Chicken Fingers, where she leads brand strategy and growth for the “Soon to be Famous” chicken finger franchise as it expands nationwide. With nearly 20 years of...

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1261: Alex Camp & Cuyler Esposito, VP of Operations Services, VP of Culture Operations at Layne's Chicken Fingers show art 1261: Alex Camp & Cuyler Esposito, VP of Operations Services, VP of Culture Operations at Layne's Chicken Fingers

Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore

Alex Camp and Cuyler Esposito join the Restaurant Unstoppable Network for a live Q+A on April 13th, 2026 at 11AM EST. To join us and engage with all our guests and events, go to restaurantunstoppable.com/live -OR- to just catch today's guest, head over to restaurantunstoppable.com/cwe and we will get you a link to join that specific event for FREE! Alex Camp is the vice president of operations services at Layne’s Chicken Fingers, where he serves as the “central nervous system” of the brand’s rapidly growing franchise system. After joining Layne’s in 2024 as senior director of...

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1260: Albert Sanchez, Co-Founder of Beto’s Mexican Restaurant show art 1260: Albert Sanchez, Co-Founder of Beto’s Mexican Restaurant

Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore

Albert Sanchez and Chris Schultz join the Restaurant Unstoppable Network for a live Q+A on April 6th, 2026 at 11AM EST. To join us and engage with all our guests and events, go to restaurantunstoppable.com/live -OR- to just catch today's guest, head over to restaurantunstoppable.com/cwe and we will get you a link to join that specific event for FREE! Albert Sanchez is the co‑founder and owner of Beto’s Mexican Restaurant, a family‑owned Mexican restaurant based in Grand Prairie, Texas, that has been serving the community since 1993. A lifelong Grand Prairie resident and graduate of South...

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1259: Chris Schultz, CEO of Velvet Taco show art 1259: Chris Schultz, CEO of Velvet Taco

Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore

Chris Schultz joins the Restaurant Unstoppable Network for a live Q+A on April 6th, 2026 at 11AM EST. To join us and engage with all our guests and events, go to restaurantunstoppable.com/live -OR- to just catch today's guest, head over to restaurantunstoppable.com/cwe and we will get you a link to join that specific event for FREE! Chris Schultz is the CEO of , a fast-casual taco brand known for its globally inspired, chef-driven tacos and cult-favorite Weekly Taco Feature program. He brings more than 30 years of restaurant leadership experience to the role and is focused on leading Velvet...

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1258: Jo Irizarry, Serial Entrepreneur and Investor at Barbs-B-Q and Thorn & Bred show art 1258: Jo Irizarry, Serial Entrepreneur and Investor at Barbs-B-Q and Thorn & Bred

Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore

Jo Irizarry and Skeeter Miller join the Restaurant Unstoppable Network for a live Q+A on March 23rd, 2026 at 11AM EST. To join us and engage with all our guests and events, go to restaurantunstoppable.com/live -OR- to just catch today's guest, head over to restaurantunstoppable.com/cwe and we will get you a link to join that specific event for FREE! Jo Irizarry is an investor and mentor in the modern Texas barbecue scene, best known for backing nationally acclaimed concepts like Barbs-B-Q and butcher shop and restaurant Thorn & Bred. As an early believer in Barbs-B-Q, Jo helped support...

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1257: John Russ, Chef/Owner of Clementine show art 1257: John Russ, Chef/Owner of Clementine

Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore

John Russ and Kim Beechner join the Restaurant Unstoppable Network for a live Q+A on March 30th, 2026 at 11AM EST.  To join us and engage with all our guests and events, go to restaurantunstoppable.com/live -OR- to just catch today's guest, head over to restaurantunstoppable.com/cwe and we will get you a link to join that specific event for FREE! Chef John Russ is the chef-owner of , a celebrated neighborhood restaurant in San Antonio known for its seasonally driven menus and warm, family-centered hospitality. A New Orleans native and 2023 James Beard Award finalist for Best Chef: Texas,...

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1256: Kim Beechner, CEO of Embark Marketing show art 1256: Kim Beechner, CEO of Embark Marketing

Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore

Kim Beechner joins the Restaurant Unstoppable Network for a live Q+A on March 30th, 2026 at 11AM EST.  To join us and engage with all our guests and events, go to restaurantunstoppable.com/live -OR- to just catch today's guest, head over to restaurantunstoppable.com/cwe and we will get you a link to join that specific event for FREE! Kim Beechner is the CEO and founder of Embark Marketing, a boutique digital agency specializing in the food and beverage and hospitality industries. Drawing on more than a decade in marketing and many years in the restaurant and bar world, she helps...

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1255: Skeeter Miller, Owner and President of The County Line Bar-B-Q Restaurant Group show art 1255: Skeeter Miller, Owner and President of The County Line Bar-B-Q Restaurant Group

Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore

Skeeter Miller joins the Restaurant Unstoppable Network for a live Q+A on March 23rd, 2026 at 11AM EST. To join us and engage with all our guests and events, go to restaurantunstoppable.com/live -OR- to just catch today's guest, head over to restaurantunstoppable.com/cwe and we will get you a link to join that specific event for FREE! Don “Skeeter” Miller is the longtime owner and president of The County Line, the iconic Texas barbecue institution he helped launch in Austin in 1975. Starting as the restaurant’s first dishwasher, he worked every job in the house before being invited into...

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More Episodes

Danielle Rosse was just 22 and recently widowed when she first opened Oceans 234 in 2001. In 2013 She purchased the restaurant to become the sole owner of the establishment and in 2015 she underwent a massive $1.8-million-dollar renovation on the property elevating the guest experience.

In addition to Oceans 234 in 2007, Rosse launch The Whale Raw Bar, A neighborhood New England Raw bar in Parkland. After six years of successful business ownership she sold in 2013.

Grounds Zero Bootcamp a guided online Bootcamp dedicated to helping restaurants rebuilding their  business.

Check out episode 437 with David Scott Peters about menu engineering as mentioned in today's episode.

Check out Tripleseat Sales and Event Manaent Software as mentioned in today's episode!

We interviewed the Founder of Tripleseat. Check out that episode here.

Show notes…

Calls to ACTION!!!

Favorite success quote or mantra:

"A goal without a plan is just a wish."

In today's episode with Danielle Rosse we will discuss:

  • Mentors
  • Budgeting
  • Labor costs
  • Recipe costs
  • Relinquishing control of aspects of your business
  • The 2008 recession
  • Preparing to sell your business
  • Inventory best practices
  • Toast POS and why she uses it
  • Hand-held tablet ordering and how to integrate it into you restaurant
  • COVID-19 reactions and plans; transitioned into a grocery store
  • We must stay relevant, especially during COVID-19
  • Ground Zero Bootcamp; what is it?

Today's sponsor:

Restaurant365 is a cloud-based, all-in-one, restaurant-specific accounting and back-office platform that seamlessly integrates with POS systems, payroll providers, food and beverage vendors. It generates accurate real-time reporting and analysis in user-friendly dashboards, facilitating immediate, data-driven decision making. Restaurant365 eliminates manual, error-prone processes and is designed to help restaurant businesses grow with functionality that helps optimize labor costs, reduce food costs and increase revenue.

Toast - A POS built for restaurants by restaurant people Adapt fast with Toast's cloud-based restaurant POS system that updates to evolve your POS along with changing industry trends and guest expectations. Toast is built exclusively for restaurants of all shapes and sizes, with over 2/3 of our employees having restaurant experience to serve you better. Online Ordering - Let guests easily order directly from your restaurant for pickup or contactless delivery to keep revenue flowing during these uncertain times. Toast Delivery Services Dispatch local drivers through an on-demand network to keep your community fed and revenue coming in.

 

Knowledge bombs

  1. Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success?
    • "Sense of responsibility"
  2. What is your biggest weakness?
    • "My people skills"
  3. What's one question you ask or thing you look for during an interview?
    • "Sense of responsibility"
  4. What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it?
    • "Being open with down revenue"
  5. Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team.
    • "Everything matters"
  6. What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff?
    • Empathy
  7. What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner?
    1. The Culture Solution by Matthew Kelly
    2. Restaurant Prosperity Formula by David Scott Peters
    3. GET THIS BOOK FOR FREE AT AUDIBLE.COM 
  8. What's one thing you feel restaurateurs don't know well enough or do often enough?
    • Budgeting
  9. Name one service you've hired.
  10. What's one piece of technology you've adopted within your restaurant walls and how has it influenced operations?
  11. If you got the news that you'd be leaving this world tomorrow and all memories of you, your work, and your restaurants would be lost with your departure with the exception of 3 pieces of wisdom you could leave behind for the good of humanity, what would they be?
    • Use time, talent, and resources to give back to your community
    • Care about your team
    • Create the life you want for yourself

Contact info:

Email: danielle@oceans234.com

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for joining today! Have some feedback you’d like to share? Leave a note in the comment section below!

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Huge thanks to Danielle Rosse for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time!

 

Restaurant Unstoppable is a free podcast. One of the ways I'm able to make it free is by earning a commission when sharing certain products with you. I've made it a core value to only share tools, resources, and services my guest mentors have recommend, first. If you're finding value in my podcast, please use my links!