Restaurant Consulting Projects
Selected engagements from a career spent building, running, and improving restaurants. Different concepts, different cities, one common thread: practical systems that produce consistent, measurable and repeatable results.
Kramers
Led the operational transition of Kramers, an iconic $10 million restaurant, bar, and independent bookstore, from its founders to new ownership. Developed and implemented systems, management accountability, and collaboration across the business. Operational improvements, menu engineering, technology upgrades, and vendor negotiations helped drive a 15% increase in revenue and an 18% increase in EBITDA.
Savory
Co-founded Savory, an innovative upscale, delivery-focused restaurant platform operating three concepts and a catering business from a shared production facility. Helped build the business model, systems, and infrastructure that supported 36 consecutive months of sales and production growth and annualized revenue approaching $8 million — launched with less than $100,000 in start-up capital.
Brought operating discipline, systems, and organizational structure to a fast-casual concept created by a James Beard Award-winning chef. Partnered with ownership and culinary leadership to strengthen execution, accountability, and financial controls while translating a highly creative concept into a more scalable operating model.
Uncle Sam’s
Livefire
Conceptualized and co-created this globally inspired, regionally sourced communal culinary and cocktail bar, restaurant, and prepared food market.
Federalist Pig
One of approximately a dozen early investors who backed Federalist Pig before it opened, funding pitmaster Rob Sonderman’s Texas-style barbecue concept in Washington D.C.’s Adams Morgan neighborhood. Consulted and advised on concept and menu development during the pre-launch build-out. The restaurant has since earned national recognition as one of the best barbecue joints in the country.
Every one of these engagements ran on the same principles now at the core of The Practical Creative: understand the business, the people, leverage the data, build practical systems, and measure the outcomes.