Episodes

  • Against the Tide: Starfish Turns Struggle into Culinary Glory

    Against the Tide: Starfish Turns Struggle into Culinary Glory
    May 7 2025
    It was a particularly meaningful radio show day on Monday at KXFM 104.7 when I greeted my guests and good friends, Archie and Gretchen McConnell, with local (and visitor) favorite, Starfish Asian.

    When Starfish Laguna first opened its doors, it had the name, the vibe and the ambition but what it didn’t have was much of a safety net. The odds were brutal, the bank accounts were near empty, and the early days felt like a losing battle against the tide. But (then) Gretchen Andrews and Archie McConnell – now the husband-and-wife team behind this now-iconic restaurant – didn’t just hold on. They climbed, scraped and reimagined their way into one of Laguna’s most beloved dining experiences.

    This is the story of how they turned near-destitution into dazzling success … and why the name Starfish means more than you think.Here’s a quick recap (below) of the above audio replay:
    • How Gretchen first came to managing Starfish and how Archie arrived in those very early days to “help right the listing boat” - docked in “the far outpost” of South Laguna Beach during major strip mall construction and after the mortgage fallout. (Great timing!)
    • Archie’s memories of leaving his 10,000-square-foot restaurant at the Spectrum and arriving to the new Starfish … “with no humans.”
    • Starfish’s first big decisions and wins that started shifting the winds in its favor and how the dining patron has changed in Starfish’s favor.
    • The Starfish famed Opium Happy Hour and its enormous menu (30 food items + specialty cocktails) - why they went in this direction. (Occurring 7 days a week.)Share
    • The even larger Starfish lunch and dinner menu and what’s changed in the last couple years since bringing on their corporate chef. Because the menu is so stuffed, they’ve resorted to cool seasonal specials that have knocked it out of the park. Gretchen and Archie list a few to ask for. Listen in to the litany of highest selling food items at Starfish ☝️
    • Details on their first expansion, Starfish Newport at 19 Riverside Ave., Newport Beach, and the enormous kitchen that handles most of their off-site catering
    • How their already-healthy take out program became the “800-pound gorilla” during COVID. And how people took to the Starfish cocktails once allowed as to-go items during COVID. 😳
    • Starfish California expansion hopes and plans AND Starfish Outside-of-California expansion plans for this town … soon!
    • Archie and Gretchen talk about life as a married restaurateur couple, their favorite foods in the area and around the world, dinners with their kids, and their first-ever 16-day trip to Thailand.
    • The famed “Lagniappe” - what it means, what it contains and why it placed (once again) as one of the two most popular margaritas in the entire town of Laguna Beach yesterday. If you missed that article, it’s here:
    YOUR Vote: Top 5 Laguna Margaritas
    • They talk about their popular off-site catering and group dining as well as their super popular “Starfish On the Water” program for people cruising on a Duffy in Newport waters (great idea!). They even set up the Duffy rides on their website.
    Starfish Laguna, 30832 S. Coast Highway, Laguna Beach • 949-715-9200
    Starfish Newport, 91 Riverside Dr, Newport Beach •. 949-570-3990
    Both locations:
    Lunch 11 am- 3 pm – Opium Hour daily 3 pm - 6 pm – Dinner 3 pm to close
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    54 mins
  • Hottest Bites, New Restaurants & Events This Weekend in Laguna Beach

    Hottest Bites, New Restaurants & Events This Weekend in Laguna Beach
    May 7 2025
    This week’s Best of Laguna Beach radio show covered the gamut! So much to cover! The full audio replay is above ☝️ with a more detailed descriptive of these quick notes I’ve posted below.Tickets are moving fassst!Newport Beach Wooden Boat Festival - June 13-14I mentioned this one first because tickets are moving really, really fast. It’s a very cool immersive for everyone in your family.Balboa Yacht Club annually hosts this event and it is always open to the public. This year, it’s a Hollywood theme – Stories of the Sea: Wooden Boats in Film & Fiction – with classic wooden yachts and boats arriving from all points of the country that have been owned by Hollywood celebrities or have starred in movies, books and more. This “fest” is mammoth!Close to selling out 👇Friday Night, June 13th’s - VIP Premier party with limited tickets available, $95/person. Red carpet walk and VIP previews of the visiting boats with champagne pouring, high-end food stations, 3 wineries pouring their best, live music, dancing, live auctions and more.Saturday, June 14th All Day Pass, $15/person. Kids under 12 are free.Multiple sea and land events for kids and adults, alike. Check out plein air painters from Laguna Beach. Cruise on John Wayne’s boat. Hang out on Judy Garland’s famous boat. Check out the marine biology research lab on the famous Western Flyer from John Steinbeck’s famous novel (and movie). Plus . . . 30+ other Hollywood storied yachts and classic crafts, live bands, a big ol BBQ, movies and more. Free parking. Discounted lodging at Hyatt Regency. It’s all here:Grab Fri & Sat Tix Before They're GoneFri, May 2nd - Laguna Beach’s history in the moviesRivian South Coast Theater May 2nd, Doors open at 6:30 pmThe Heritage Committee is celebrating Laguna’s cinematic history with an original 1925 film from the city’s founding, along with archival clips and photographs showcasing Laguna Beach’s early – and ongoing – role in film history. Fri, May 2nd - The great Francois Dean & Celebrity Musician BandIvan’z House at Mozambique. Solid advice: Buy tickets in advance at Mozambique website. This will be a sold-out show.Sat, May 3rd - Laguna Beach Annual Gate & Garden TourMeet at downtown Water District building for VIP busses, 10 am - 4 pm.Buy Gate & Garden TixLaguna Beach Garden Club’s longtime major fundraiser for educational school gardens, local scholarships and community projects, this is an annual peek into magnificent private gardens and backyards that you can’t even believe exist in this town. Sun, May 4th - Tomato Plant FestAt the South Laguna Community Garden, pick up fantastic, homegrown tomato starter plants between 10 a.m and noon. (If I were you, I’d arrive early.) $5 per plant or 5 for $20.Big Restaurant Catch Up …The Drake’s Tasting Menu at the Chef’s Bar (this is a coming soon separate article)The Lumberyard’s always'-evolving menu of fresh tastes + tinned fish! I can’t stop ordering the Green Goddess Shrimp Bowl with grilled shrimp and farro or the yummy grilled mushroom yakitori.Wild Strawberry’s super-fresh sandwich and salad comboRecent fabulous tries from Evan’s Gourmet spring menus (OMG, Steak Frites to die for)GG’s Bistro’s as-always incomparable SangriaCoyote Grill’s new battered shrimp street tacos (served on happy hour, too!)And, again as always, 2 stellar experiences at Sapphire with lunch + evening pop-in drinks-and-appsUpdates on the Coming Soons in this town of ours :Piatti (222 Ocean ave. next to Marine Room) - They’ve had to push back their opening to mid June. Bummer.Board and Brew - (former Wild Taco on Ocean and Coast Highway) - Still working on opening day hopes with Mike DeSantis, the new owner.Truly Pizza – They’ve submitted plans for review for the old “3” space (former former Madison Square) … so that’s definitely in the works. And their commissary kitchen/bakery in South Laguna’s former Ti Amo location is also trundling right along. Plans are still for mid- to late June for Solag.Q Terrace - (former Red Dragon) – They’ve also submitted plans and tell me they’re opening in May . . . uhmmm, it may not be May, folks. They’re still in the plan review cycle with the City.Evidence of new sushi place going into former Laguna Sushi - I’ll get scoop on that for you shortly.And last but certainly not least . . . our infamous Seahorse TavernI popped in to talk with father and son of Seahorse - Garry Ledesma and Garry Jr. Garry, Sr. brought in two other investors to help with bringing the dream alive again - they call themselves “The Seahorse Crew.” In my radio show replay, above, I go into a great amount of detail about the delays they’ve been experiencing and what their hopes are for a faster opening process moving forward. As of now, they’ve just opened the Pearl Street General Store section with hopes to revive the Coffee Shop and THEN the Tavern. They’re also ...
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    44 mins
  • From Silver Screen to Shoreline: Newport’s Wooden Boat Fest Is Here!

    From Silver Screen to Shoreline: Newport’s Wooden Boat Fest Is Here!
    May 7 2025
    Step Into Nautical Nostalgia (and a Bit of Old Hollywood Glitz)

    Yesterday, Monday, April 21st at the “Best of Laguna Beach” radio show, I had an especially fun discussion with Balboa Yacht Club’s Steve Paljieg, who’s Co-Chair for the club’s upcoming, always-amazing Newport Beach Wooden Boat Festival on June 13th & 14th.

    Balboa Yacht Club annually hosts this event and it is always open to the public. This year, it’s a Hollywood theme – Stories of the Sea: Wooden Boats in Film & Fiction – with classic wooden boats arriving from all points of the country that have been owned by Hollywood celebrities or have starred in movies, books and more. This “fest” is taking on mammoth proportions and it’s time you scheduled some out-of-Laguna time for this fun.Before I get into all the details of our talk (below) here are the facts you need:

    All online tickets and live and silent auctions: https://NewportBeachWoodenBoatFestival.com


    👉 Where: Balboa Yacht Club, 1801 Bayside Drive, Newport Beach
    👉 Date: Friday & Saturday, June 13th & 14th
    👉 Free Parking: Park at Newport Beach Country Club for free shuttles to and from the event.
    👉 Lodging: The Hyatt Regency Newport Beach is offering special Festival rates with Balboa Yacht Club shuttles taking you to and from the festival. Check out their lodging page at the Wooden Boat Festival website to make reservations.Friday & Saturday in detail:

    💎 Friday Night, June 13th - The Friday Night Premier with limited tickets available at just $95/person. As Steve describes it, this is a “Hollywood-Glam-Meets-Maritime-History Opening Night Event” with red carpet walk, plenty of champagne, high-end food stations, 3 wineries featuring their vintages wines, live music and dancing, live auctions and - most importantly - special previews of the visiting boats with plenty of time to chat with their captains. (Just 300 tickets available and they’re already selling fast.)

    ⛵ Saturday Festival, June 14th 10 am-6 pm - just $15/person (kids under 12 are free). This is a full day pass to multiple sea and land events for kids and adults, alike. Buy tickets online (a better bet) or at the door.

    Classic Boats. Hollywood Legends. One Dazzling Evening & Day in Newport …
    $95/person for the Friday night “Hollywood” premiere evening.
    $15/person for an all-day Saturday pass (kids under 12 are free.)
    Count me in! Let me know you’ll be there, too!

    https://NewportBeachWoodenBoatFestival.com
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    56 mins
  • Permits, Penalties & Pop-Ups: Restaurant Buildouts Uncorked 🍷🛠️

    Permits, Penalties & Pop-Ups: Restaurant Buildouts Uncorked 🍷🛠️
    Apr 17 2025
    On my Best of Laguna Beach radio show at KXFM 104.7, my renowned, very wry regular guest - Bruce Russo - joins me as we pull back the curtain on what it really takes to go from “cool retail space” or “that great 2nd-gen restaurant space that’s going to be so easy to move into” to “fully operational, legally permitted, health-inspected, liquor-serving dining experience.”Bruce Russo’s seen it all – and built it all. And in this episode, he’s spilling hard-won lessons from his legendary 222 Ocean Avenue project (plus the innumerable times he’s built an entire nightclub in 5 days—but we’ll get to that 🪩).


    Show Notes/Summary:

    ✅ 📞 The Power of a ‘Hey, Just Wanted to Loop You In’ Meeting
    We use the example of Bruce’s work on his retail-to-restaurant buildout at 222 Ocean Avenue here in Laguna Beach. Initially, here are the first 4-5 steps that take place even before formally meeting with the City’s Building Department.

    ✅ What NOT to Do When Your Plans Are ‘Sealed’ (Trust Us, Don’t 🙅‍♂️)
    What it means when “plans are sealed” after being submitted to the City. And what it REALLY means when the client changes his/her mind about the plans in the process (bad idea).

    ✅ Building Permit Applications require the first set of comments from the City, and then you’re dealing with Zoning and Planning Commission - all part of a multi-month process. If you pass the questions process from the Planning Commissioners, you’re in the clear! If you don’t … it’s back to the drawing board with rework, possible variances you have to get in play, and more.

    ✅ The trials and tribulations of acquiring an expensive liquor license and what is still up to the City as to what you’re then allowed to serve.

    ✅ The demolition THEN begins … and now all the multiple building inspections begin as you walk through every stage of construction from engineering trades (first!) and framing aspects before your flooring and sheetrock goes in.

    ✅ You Can’t Serve Dinner If Your Kitchen’s Still on Backorder, Babe. 🍽️
    💡 (Bruce’s lessons learned) Why it’s smarter to get the kitchen package install done first before tackling the front-of-house completion.

    ✅ When front-of-house finish and chairs, tables, marble slabs, custom fabrics, etc., actually begins.

    ✅ 🏛️ Building in a Historical District? Buckle Up.
    The interesting complications with building to “historical” demands in a city and the only time a “historical district” is vetoed.

    ✅ Bruce’s estimate on the TOTAL number of inspections that occur between start and the final Head Building Inspector’s inspection.

    ✅ The Health Inspector Walked In While They Were Serving Tacos. Oops. 🌮🚫
    Where the Health Inspection comes in and how it becomes an issue when cities are relying on county health inspectors to do final approvals. This is where restaurant operators will get the most frustrated and make the mistake of bringing food into the space. And here’s what happens WHEN the health inspector shows up in your food-laden restaurant! 👀

    ✅ 💡 (Bruce’s lessons learned) What to do and - more importantly - what to say when you feel you’re eternally waiting for that LAST inspection.

    ✅ 🪩 From Permit Purgatory to Nightclub in 5 Days:
    Bruce tells his hilarious story of how he and his team have become renowned for their ability to build out entire nightclubs in a week (and while facing a giant penalty fee if they don’t meet the Friday re-open deadline). He talks through the stressed schedule that begins at 2:30 AM on a Sunday night and reopens five days later on Friday afternoons at 4:00 p.m.
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    54 mins
  • From Farro Bowls to Margarita Trucks – Laguna’s Got Layers

    From Farro Bowls to Margarita Trucks – Laguna’s Got Layers
    Apr 9 2025
    On this week’s episode of Best of Laguna Beach on KXFM 104.7, I sat down with Laguna Nursery and Visionscape Design owner Ruben Flores to chat about the amazing events, spaces, and stories that make Laguna special – and why strong, authentic, in-the-trenches marketing matters more than ever.I'm publishing this replay early to encourage you to attend tonight's meeting and add your voice.As someone who's been celebrating and championing “Laguna’s best” for nearly two decades from radio to podcast and blog to books — I believe we owe it to this incredible town to ensure that our many unique stories and personalities are told with heart, soul and substance.Here’s everything we covered in this Monday’s “Best of Laguna Beach” show:What I really do for a living (heh) and my two new podcasts - one launched 3 weeks ago - Mastering Restaurant Revenue with me and Bruce Russo (the G.O.A.T. of restaurant design and build for profit making ease). Then, this Friday, April 11th, The Catalyst Code launches! It’s my behind-the-scenes recipe for real momentum and mindset shifts, served up for anyone hungry for more out of life and business. Please go check both out here (this might ask you for another email subscription but it’s free):Mastering Restaurant RevenueThe Catalyst Code PreviewThen, Ruben & I discussed creative moments in Laguna Beach that you just can’t find anywhere else:Why the Laguna Achievement Festival two weeks ago was such a stellar representation of our townRuben’s famed (and kinda hilarious) Garden WalksRestaurateur Mario Melendez (Rasta Taco) and lightbulb moment several years ago that created the first “margarita truck” in the country. Now his “Rasta Rita” margarita trucks have bloomed to a whole fleet. We talk about the crazy events and receptions he does (and not a bad idea for Father’s Day, either!)Restaurateur Cary Redfearn’s insatiable love for creative food and the new dishes he and Chef Armando Ortega keep coming up with at Lumberyard, including my new favorite, a grilled shrimp and perfectly-done farro bowl. This photo does it NO justice - super tasty and amazing.Ruben talks more about the current Main Beach renovation and our city’s “Great Art vs. Blah Plants.”The renowned Laguna Beach Garden Club’s Gate & Garden Tour is coming up May 3rd and 4th - it seriously sells out in advance every year, so be sure to grab your tickets:Gate & Garden Tour TixOn the subject of Laguna Beach Garden Club, we talk about the monthly guests they bring in and the “jaw dropping” presentation Hollywood Production Designer Nelson Coates delivered a couple weeks ago … and of course we then have to talk about our favorite movies where Nelson has created entire forests, gardens and even a garden scene in the “Crazy Rich Asians” wedding that is now a frontrunner of “best cinematic weddings of all time.”HERE is where we talk about the City Council meeting tonight with our initial thoughts on the visitor' bureau.The recent Rivian event that reminded Laguna Beach that the ENTIRE CITY was deemed a “national historic treasure” in 1984.I mentioned that the Drake Laguna Beach is now setting up a second location - The Drake on Sunset - on Sunset Blvd. right at the junction between WeHo and Beverly Hills. And no - we’re not losing our beloved chefs, Chef Paul and Chef Nick to L.A. They’ve both elected to stay here in Laguna Beach. (That larger story is forthcoming.)A quick chat about incoming fast food “counter” service incomings - Board & Brew soon to be in the Wild Taco location on Ocean Avenue and Coast Highway, and Chela’s now in the former North Laguna Lost Bean/Zeytoon location.
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    52 mins
  • Incoming Piatti restaurant: Why they chose Laguna Beach

    Incoming Piatti restaurant: Why they chose Laguna Beach
    Apr 5 2025
    On my Best of Laguna Beach show this week, a very special guest joined me – Matt Stuhl – to talk about all the plans for his company’s incoming restaurant, Piatti on 222 Ocean Avenue (previously Taverna/Ocean at Main/Suenos/Cabana). Listen in as he talks about what they have in play and what’s in the plan. What a great introduction between a locally-centric restaurant company and the residents and visitors of Laguna Beach!

    Go to: BestofLagunaBeach.com for ongoing news on events, restaurants, chefs, artists and more, more more! Follow in social media @BestofLagunaBeach

    Show Notes


    ✅ Why did the Founder Tim Harmon have an eye on Laguna Beach, this “very special new spot” per Matt?

    ✅ Why Palisades Hospitality Group grows from the concept of “intentional growth” and what that means to Laguna Beach residents.

    ✅ The hyper-local customization Piatti does in each of its communities.

    ✅ Admittedly, I have a love for this restaurant because my now-business partner, Bruce Russo, initially developed this property from a 1950s floor plan for a bank (which eventually becoming a Big Dog store and then a rug store before Taverna was constructed). Matt talks about the unique differences in this building and build-out that proved the winning decision. We talk about Bruce’s love for this patio and what he did to restore the one-of-a-kind fountain there. This leads to our discussion on one of Matt’s favorite storied concepts he developed, and why these occasional stories stick with you as you create the concept.

    ✅ Piatti’s intention to not just “fill a hole” but complement the restaurants around them while zeroing in on what might be missing in the town’s current food offerings. (They have some ideas.)

    ✅ Matt talks about his favorite food items on the Piatti menu but his anticipation of what their Laguna guests will demarcate as their favorites moving forward.

    ✅ Matt addresses their grandfathered night club permit at the 222 Ocean Avenue location … and what they’re going to do with it.

    ✅ We talk about their Piatti specially labeled wines and Matt’s initial skeptic’s alarm when he first came on board after enduring other restaurants’ private brand jugs of wine. He talks about the differences in their Piatti private label wine and the pride he takes in the special vintages they create.

    ✅ What’s their plan for Opening Day in May? They’re hiring now! They’re also honing in on their chef, and Matt talks about the process they go through with prospective chefs. Here’s where to go for applications:Apply to Work at Piatti: Careers

    ✅ Matt started in restaurants because he was an actor … and he did the stereotypical thing of “acting like a restaurant server” while working to be an actor. The decision to move into hospitality involved his physical move from Minneapolis to California … and here’s why.“I want to know the nooks and crannies of every operation. I want to be able to have a boutique experience where we get to know every guest and every guest is welcomed back often, and we build our experiences around what they want and invite them to be part of the hospitality experience.” - Matt Stuhl

    ✅ Before joining Palisades Hospitality, Matt worked with two boutique hotel groups in the Oceanside area in that redevelopment process. Here’s how he compares it to Laguna Beach. “You’ve got to be part of a community. You can’t just walk in and think you can take over a community no matter how much money you have.”

    ✅ Matt leaves us with his favorite Piatti dish … and why it’s his favorite.
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    51 mins
  • Tearing Down Fences & Talking Restaurants with Ruben Flores

    Tearing Down Fences & Talking Restaurants with Ruben Flores
    Mar 28 2025
    On Monday, at “Best of Laguna Beach’s” radio show at KXFM 104.7, Laguna Nursery and Visionscape Design Owner Ruben Flores joins me for ALL sorts of discussion, from new restaurants to sorry construction fencing at Main Beach … to our dining in 12 restaurants last week and positive moves we’re seeing from the new City Manager and Planning Commission.

    Here’s a quick summary of this week’s newsy show:


    ✅ Last week’s launch of “Mastering Restaurant Revenue,” the podcast between me and restaurant industry GOAT Bruce Russo, was a happy and successful launch. Ruben says that he can’t go into any restaurant without now surveying “revenue pods.” We’ve done our job!

    ✅ All about Chef Maro Molteni - his departure years ago from Maro Wood Grill and his subsequent, multi-restaurant chef’s journey in Laguna Beach UNTIL he decided to leave us to build his own restaurant in Laguna Niguel. 😩 On Sunday, Ruben, Nelson and I got to check out Chef Maro’s almost-open digs as he rounds the final turn to his opening day. (More on that later.)
    Big brother Martin Molteni (left) flew up from Argentina to help Maro (right) finalize the kitchen prep and menu before Chef Maro’s grand opening of his own restaurant in April - in Laguna Niguel.

    ✅ Ruben asks me to put my restaurant consulting hat on to share my thoughts about Maro’s kitchen as well as the smart “revenue pods” Maro has in place as soon as the doors open.

    ✅ The huge marketing benefit of putting signage in place for your restaurant even BEFORE renovation begins. Ruben uses a similar example in his own landscaping world - what he puts in first.

    ✅ ALL the Laguna restaurants we dined in last week - TWELVE restaurants! I published that article review on Tuesday this week:Read: Last Week's Eats✅ Laguna Beach restaurants capitalizing on “take out” (yet another revenue pod that Bruce and I talk about).

    ✅ The more expensive dishes in town. Who eats these? (Because people ARE eating them.)

    ✅ Ruben mentions the “embarrassing” and “horrendous” construction fencing efforts at Main Beach. We offer several options for a better branding and luxurious feel for our town.Right now we have the shabbiest curtains on our Window to the Sea.” - Ruben Flores

    ✅ The new City Manager (Dave Kiff), who’s sending out “forward-thinking emails” about upcoming City Council agendas. This is an awesome move, particularly for residents who feel that the last few years have left them shut out of major city decisions. We bring up the positive changes we’ve also seen in the Planning Commission, and talk briefly about last week’s meeting where the commissioners and City Manager handled the rather woeful architectural design of the South Laguna new fire station.

    ✅ Ruben begs the City to trim a decades-old Carob tree before it fails completely. He then moves into talking about our parks as “jewels” instead of “just plots of land that sit there,” and what can be done there, too.

    ✅ We close with an invite to Ruben’s popular “Garden Walk,” occurring again this Saturday, March 29th.And that’s a wrap!


    “See” you next week at KXFM Radio 104.7, Laguna’s only radio station! Thanks for being my listeners!
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    50 mins
  • Laguna’s F&B Scene + New Podcast Alert!

    Laguna’s F&B Scene + New Podcast Alert!
    Mar 28 2025
    In Monday, March 17th’s “Best of Laguna Beach” radio show (audio replay above) at Laguna’s only KXFM Radio 104.7, I brought in my two favorite regulars – together – for THREE big discussions:🔥 New behind-the-scenes restaurant podcast!🍽️ My latest updates on the entire restaurant scene in Laguna🚧 Big renovation beginning at Main BeachJoining me was Ruben Flores, owner of Laguna Nursery and Visionscape, Inc. and a significant voice in Laguna Beach.Then, I brought Bruce Russo back into Monday’s mix, because this national G.O.A.T of restaurant industry design and build had a lot to say about all three discussion points.1st discussion - our new podcast launching, Mastering Restaurant Revenue!On Tuesday, Bruce and I launched our podcast after realizing that his chats with me on the “Best of Laguna Beach” radio show about creating smarter design and profitable restaurants were some of my most popular shows. This subject matter clearly attracts chefs, restaurateurs, investors and a surprising audience of people who just like to eat out. Now, our weekly podcast (separate of my weekly radio show, mind you) strictly focuses on this mad, mysterious science of restaurant success.Our first 3 podcast episodes dropped TuesdayAll of our episodes are available on your favorite podcast platform and the video episodes are here at our YouTube station where we’d love 💓 new subscribers:Watch Episodes: YouTubeThe three of us quickly reviewed:Ep #1 - The Profit First Restaurant Playbook - This introductory episode talks about Bruce’s realization two decades ago that restaurants are really manufacturing plants. From there, it changed everything in how he designed restaurants.Ep #2 - Secret Revenue Pods for Every Restaurant - most restaurants don’t take advantage of the many revenue “pods” that can be implemented in any restaurant concept.Ep #3 - Renovation, Rats and Money Traps - We discuss whacky, sometimes ghastly MacGyver hacks that we’ve seen during restaurant inspections in behalf of our interested restaurant operators looking at the space. Here’s what you need to look out for before you sign a lease.We’ve also set up a Mastering Restaurant Revenue website with perks and bonuses:Podcast replays the moment they drop out there in the world (you won’t see them here at the Best of Laguna Beach website)Secret Subscriber podcast bonusesQ-and-A live sessions with usCommunity quizzes and polls (because we use your answers to dive into what you really want to hear)Free Subscription: Restaurant Revenue2nd discussion - Laguna’s current map of Food & Beverage ConceptsThen, we turned to my recently updated spreadsheets on Laguna’s Food & Beverage concepts. My first spreadsheet is about every restaurant in this town from the 1980s forward, when they’ve opened and when they’ve closed. This helps me watch trends over time. Also noted:I give the lowdown on when culinary really started in this town “The Grand Trifecta.”While “casual dining” (counter service) is occurring more in Laguna Beach, our Laguna residents counter service-oriented?The second spreadsheet is about where each F&B concept is located in Laguna Beach (coffee shops to fine dining and everything in between). This allows Bruce and I to look at the entire map of the city and how we’re accommodating our residents and visitors in the various sections of our town.Bruce talks about the real problem behind so many cars coming into town.Our opinions on day trippers and their coolers, and Ruben asks, “How do we get to the point where we look at ‘day trippers’ as a positive thing for all us who live here in Laguna Beach?”With the decline in our Chef driven “destination restaurants,” are we losing our culinary scene caché?We talk about the high number of restaurants in the Downtown Corridor that are not benefitting from the marketing attention invested on the Promenade on Forest Avenue.Bruce shares the solutions he’s put in place for other cities to expedite vacancy issues and permitting processes with every party involved.3rd discussion - Ruben then points to the renovation of Main BeachWe discuss the lost opportunity in branding Laguna Beach in a more attractive way, and Bruce weighs in with options he does at his sites around the country.Ruben also notes that two Main Beach long-time palm trees that were gifted to the City were slated to be chopped down before “vigorous intervention” kept that from happening.Thanks, again, for listening in on my “Best of Laguna Beach” show. I’m live on Mondays each week at 2 p.m. PT/5 pm ET. Tune in at KXFM 104.7 or, if you’re not in Laguna proper, just live stream at KXFMRadio.org or download the KXFM Radio app!
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    46 mins
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