Work With Mark
Services
With over 150 restaurant openings and development of well over 2 dozen restaurant concepts as either owner or co-founder, there are a variety of services that I offer. My range of consulting includes all levels of restaurants from QSR to fast casual to full service and my consulting clients have included a broad spectrum from the largest restau-rant company in the world, YUM! Brands, to individual restaurateurs just starting out with their first business. My specialty is in conceptual development and being the ‘point person’ on teams that are organized to start or reorganize existing restaurant concepts and my ability to facilitate and expedite the processes is truly my niche.
Within this realm, here are more specifics:
- From the initial brainstorming process through the actual opening process, new concepts are my specialty; my work here includes Pei Wei Asian Diner, Velvet Taco, and multiple other national brands
- Game planning logos, taglines, general ‘vibe’, and space planning
- Orchestrating the entire process from menu development to kitchen layout to direct liaison with designers, architects, and graphic artists
- Determining menu parameters to include size of menu, main menu offerings focus, range of specific variety of proteins and ethnic targets, price ranges and beverage pairings
- Experience in this area includes a wide range of ethnic offerings: pizza, burgers, chicken, Mexican, Indian, Italian, Mediterranean, seafood, regional American, all Asian but specifically Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese
- Contacts with a variety of chef partners and culinary sources for all menu development work that might include menu tastings, product sourcing and all recipes and procedures
- Have designed smaller spaces depending on concept but prefer to work as owner advocate/representation in all design development work
- Particular attention spent on how design interacts with operational efficiencies without diluting the overall design team vision
- Same collaboration offered with architects to insure the best guest experience
- Point person on all pre-opening planning using proven checklists and organizational tools
- Reviewing all budgets and assisting ownership on the management of budgets
- Assistance with hiring/recruiting of key management team members
- Training program assistance to match particular concept needs
- Educational training for teams in key operational areas, classroom style as available
- Concept-specific competitive analysis as needed
- Opening support, primarily as applies to management focus and participation
- Contacts provided for alcoholic beverage consulting, graphic artist work,
and recruiting
Get in Touch
Concept Advisory / Conferences / Events / Hospitality Guidance
If you’d like to work with Mark on your next restaurant venture or schedule him for a speaking engagement, reach out! He will be in touch with you shortly.