loader from loading.io

1085: Lauren Bailey, Co-Founder/CEO of Upward Projects Restaurant Group

Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore

Release Date: 05/23/2024

1092: Mandy Heflin and Hogan Jamison, Co-Owners of Chula Seafood show art 1092: Mandy Heflin and Hogan Jamison, Co-Owners of Chula Seafood

Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore

Mandy Heflin and Hogan Jamison are Co-Owners of , based in Phoenix, AZ. Mandy moved from Seattle to Phoenix when she was 18 and missed the seafood culture from her hometown. Her husband's (and co-owner of Chula) family operated a sustainable fishing boat out of San Diego, and so they decided to bring an incredible seafood market and restaurant to Phoenix. They sold seafood in Phoenix from 2014 until 2016 when they opened the first Chula Seafood location, and in 2019 they opened a second. Hogan has been in the restaurant industry for over 25 years, 12 of which were with Fox Restaurant Concepts....

info_outline
1091: Tanya Gagnon, Principle and Creative Director of Miss Details show art 1091: Tanya Gagnon, Principle and Creative Director of Miss Details

Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore

Tanya Gagnon is the Principle and Creative Director of , based in Phoenix, AZ. Tanya got her degree in design and got her start in the design industry with big companies like Disney, Starbucks, and California Pizza Company. She created her own branding/design company, Miss Details, 20 years ago after moving from large companies to weddings and events, and now focusing primarily on businesses of varying sizes.  at the Miss Details shop for DIY branding tools. Enter promotional code  to save 20% at checkout! Favorite success quote/mantra: "Details matter, work hard, be kind." In...

info_outline
1090: Ross Simon, Owner of Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour and Little Rituals show art 1090: Ross Simon, Owner of Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour and Little Rituals

Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore

Ross Simon is the Owner of , Little Rituals, and all in Phoenix, AZ. Ross is from Scotland but really found his groove in the bar/cocktail world when he began managing a 3-story bar in London, called The Old Crown. He left that establishment to work and learn at the best bar he could find: LAB BAR in London. He worked there from 199-2005 and then moved to America, establishing himself in Phoenix, and looked to open his own bar. He opened his first location, Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour in 2014 and Little Rituals 5 years later. Favorite success quote/mantra: "Moving in a direction...

info_outline
1089: Jonathan Buford, Co-Founder and CEO of Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. show art 1089: Jonathan Buford, Co-Founder and CEO of Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co.

Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore

Jonathan Buford is the Co-Founder and CEO of  in Phoenix, AZ. Jonathan moved to Phoenix in 2002 at the age of 19. When the brewery industry blew up, he decided to learn how to brew and opened a brewery. Once his brewery opened and was succesful, he realized the food had to be just as good as the beer. He and his team made that happen, and today there are 3 locations with a fourth currently under construction. Favorite success quote/mantra: "Restaurateurs should learn the difference between enthusiasm and passion. Passion will kill, burn, and hurt. Enthusiasm will uplift, embolden, and...

info_outline
1088: Mat Snapp, Executive VP of Operations at Barter & Shake show art 1088: Mat Snapp, Executive VP of Operations at Barter & Shake

Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore

Mat Snapp is the Executive VP of Operations at in Phoenix. Mat began his career in the restaurant industry as a teenager delivering pizzas. Later, Mat went to school for writing and became a professional writer/copywriter. He soon found himself leaving his writing career to work with Sam Fox Restaurant Concepts where, starting in 2004, he helped the organization open 95 restaurants. He left that company in 2021 and began his journey with Barter & Shake. Barter & Shake has over 90 cocktails on its menu. Favorite success quote/mantra: "Amateurs practice until they get it right....

info_outline
1087: David DeLorenzo, CEO and Owner of Bar and Restaurant Insurance show art 1087: David DeLorenzo, CEO and Owner of Bar and Restaurant Insurance

Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore

David DeLorenzo is the CEO and Owner of . David DeLorenzo specializes in bar and restaurant insurance, but he is also a speaker, author, coach, as well as host of a mastermind and more than one charity organization. On top of all this, he has been an owner of 13 restaurants in his career.  Favorite success quote/mantra: "There is no tomorrow." In this episode we will discuss:  Marketing Insurance Tech stack Imposter syndrom AND MORE! Today's sponsors:  the company that helps restaurants, “Control the kitchen chaos.” With RT’s total oil management, you get:...

info_outline
1086: John Banquil, CEO and President of Ling & Louie's Asian Bar and Grill show art 1086: John Banquil, CEO and President of Ling & Louie's Asian Bar and Grill

Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore

John Banquil is the CEO and President of , based in Arizona. John started in the restaurant industry at 16 as a host. At a young age, he found himself as a F.O.H. manager in upscale, fine dining restaurants. In 2018, he bought Ling and Louie's, which today consists of 3 brands and 7 locations in 4 states.  Favorite success quote/mantra: "Leadership is a role you grow into gradually no matter how long you've been in the role. In the short term, you are as good as your intensity, in the long term you are only as good as your consistency, and in between intewnsity and consistency lives...

info_outline
1085: Lauren Bailey, Co-Founder/CEO of Upward Projects Restaurant Group show art 1085: Lauren Bailey, Co-Founder/CEO of Upward Projects Restaurant Group

Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore

Lauren Bailey is the CEO and Co-Founder of , based out of Phoenix, AZ. Lauren knew she wanted to be a restaurateur while mixing a drink at a bar on Martha's Vineyard in her early 20's. She got a job at PF Chang's when that concept had only 2 locations. She then returned to her hometown of Phoenix and began working in fine dining restaurants, and she even worked with Sam Fox Restaurant Concepts. She finally opened her first restaurant, , with her business partner Craig Demarco. Today Upward Projects has 32 restaurants in 10 cities across 5 states with 1,900 employees. The company hit 100...

info_outline
1084: Regan Jasper former Partner at Fox Restaurant Concepts and current Partner at Corbette’s show art 1084: Regan Jasper former Partner at Fox Restaurant Concepts and current Partner at Corbette’s

Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore

Regan Jasper is a former Partner with and he is currently a Partner with , in Tucson, AZ. Jasper saw great success working for and with Sam Fox Restaurant Concepts. Today, he is a Partner at in Tucson, AZ.  Favorite success quote/mantra: "You lead or you follow or you just get out of the way." In this episode we will discuss: Fine dining Poaching Hotel restaurants Culture Operations Opening restaurants AND MORE! Today's sponsor:  the company that helps restaurants, “Control the kitchen chaos.” With RT’s total oil management, you get: Dependable fresh bulk cooking oil...

info_outline
1083: Nathan Ares Owner of Ares Collective Restaurant Group show art 1083: Nathan Ares Owner of Ares Collective Restaurant Group

Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore

Nathan Ares is the Owner of based in Tucson, AZ. Nathan Ares was featured on Restaurant Unstoppable episode 681, mostly for his work with his restaurant, Prep and Pastry, in Tucson, AZ. Today, the Ares Collective is the creator/owner of 7 concepts in and around Tucson. Favorite success quote/mantra: "Hospitality is a big word made up of small, little actions." In this episode we will discuss: Scaling Social media Partners Cost of goods Menu engineering Hiring Unions Drive ups AND MORE! Today's sponsor:  the company that helps restaurants, “Control the kitchen chaos.” With...

info_outline
 
More Episodes

Lauren Bailey is the CEO and Co-Founder of Upward Projects, based out of Phoenix, AZ. Lauren knew she wanted to be a restaurateur while mixing a drink at a bar on Martha's Vineyard in her early 20's. She got a job at PF Chang's when that concept had only 2 locations. She then returned to her hometown of Phoenix and began working in fine dining restaurants, and she even worked with Sam Fox Restaurant Concepts. She finally opened her first restaurant, Postino, with her business partner Craig Demarco. Today Upward Projects has 32 restaurants in 10 cities across 5 states with 1,900 employees. The company hit 100 million dollars in sales last year. 

Favorite success quote/mantra: "The brain works really well at talking you out of things, so you need to talk yourself into things."

In this episode we will discuss: 

  • Entrepreneurialism
  • Opening restaurants
  • Scaling
  • FOH
  • Business coaches
  • Partnerships
  • Raising capital
  • AND MORE!

Today's sponsors:

Restaurant Technologies the company that helps restaurants, “Control the kitchen chaos.” With RT’s total oil management, you get: Dependable fresh bulk cooking oil delivery; Filtration + oil usage monitoring and reporting; Used cooking oil pick-up, and recycling; And say goodbye to messy, dangerous restaurant rendering tanks-yuck. RT’s end-to-end cooking oils solution helps you manage your used cooking oil storage, collection, and recycling- conveniently, safely, and cleanly- with no upfront costs. Head to www.RTI-inc.com, and let them know the Restaurant Unstoppable Podcast sent you their way.

MarginEdge: Boost your efficiency and profitability without adding labor costs. MarginEdge is a complete restaurant management software that allows you to seamlessly manage all aspects of your business from one central location. Track food costs in real time, make inventory faster and less tedious, easily cost out your recipes, and get a daily P&L so you always know where you stand. See how it works at marginedge.com/unstopabble.

National Council for Mental Health and Wellbeing -  Create healthier, more engaged employees with Mental Health First Aid at Work for Restaurants. This training teaches employees how to recognize and respond to signs and symptoms of mental health or substance use challenges. It’s trusted by leading companies, offers flexible training options to adapt to the often- unpredictable restaurant and food services environments, and it’s developed and delivered by experts. Visit MentalHealthFirstAid.org/Restaurants to learn more OR use this link: CLICK HERE

Restaurant Systems Pro - Join the 60-day Restaurant Systems Pro FREE TRAINING. This is something that has never been done before. This 60-day event is at no cost to you, but it is not for everyone. Fred Langley, CEO of Restaurant Systems Pro, will lead a group of restaurateurs through the Restaurant Systems Pro software and set up the systems for your restaurant. During the 60 days, Fred will walk you through the Restaurant Systems Pro Process and help you crush the following goals: Recipe Costing Cards; Guidance in your books for accounting; Cash controls; Sales Forecasting(With Accuracy); Checklists; Budgeting for the entire year; Scheduling for profit; More butts in seats and more… Click Here to learn more.

Contact the guest:

  • Website:https://upwardprojects.com/ 
  • Instagram: @laurenbailylb

Thanks for listening! Rate the podcast, subscribe, and share! 

We are on Youtube: @RestaurantUnstoppable