Fully Occupied

Pepper Lunch is a fast-casual Japanese hot plate concept that originated in Tokyo, Japan, and is poised for explosive growth in North America over the coming years. Troy Hooper, CEO, and Dana Hathaitham, Director of Real Estate & Development, share their rapid expansion strategy involving both corporate and multi-unit franchise deals in the United States market. They discuss all the considerations to make when planning restaurant real estate growth from 5 to 500 locations. Tune in for their franchise, real estate, and hospitality expertise!

Shawn Walchef is the owner of Cali BBQ and Cali BBQ Media. He discusses the early challenges he faced as a restaurant owner, how he learned to use the internet and social media to his advantage, and shares his insights on building a successful restaurant brand in the digital age. Shawn emphasizes the importance of leveraging technology and storytelling to market a business effectively and the need for entrepreneurs to build their digital brand from the start.

Solomon Choi is a seasoned F&B entrepreneur, investor, and advisor with over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry. He is the founder of 16 Handles and Greeno Products and is currently the CEO of Jabba Brands. Solomon joins Matt to discuss the importance of product-market fit and understanding consumer preferences, the challenges and opportunities in the restaurant space, and the significance of conducting thorough due diligence. Tune in for his experiences in helping emerging brands navigate the complexities of scaling and franchising.

Stephanie Cegielski, Vice President of Research and Public Relations at ICSC, joins Matt to discuss the trends defining the future of retail and retail real estate. She highlights the importance of brick-and-mortar stores and the synergy between online and physical retail. ICSC declares 2024 as the Year of the Store, as consumers continue to value the in-store experience.

Make sure to register for ICSC LAS VEGAS happening May 19-21, 2024 at the Las Vegas Convention Center!

Paul Tran is a seasoned entrepreneur with a history of founding, scaling, and selling successful restaurants and franchisees, including the largest franchisee of The Halal Guys. He shares his experiences with growing a portfolio of franchise sites and advice on what aspiring franchisees should look for. Tune in for Paul's insights on how to build a successful franchise empire and restaurant brand.

Ben Berman, President of BermanCRE, joins Matt to talk about the current state of the leasing market. He discusses opportunities in the retail and industrial markets, the impact of COVID-19 on the industry, and the disconnect between capital markets and the leasing market. Tune in for his advice on how landlords bolster their portfolios to withstand unstable economic conditions.

Robert Cartwright, Head of Global Hospitality at Fidelity Investments, discusses the implementation of hospitality in the workplace. He joins Matt to share his background in the hotel industry and how he brought his expertise to Fidelity. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, Rob and his team leveraged the situation to redefine the employee experience. Tune in as he shares effective strategies for creating a workplace culture that prioritizes employee well-being, leading to increased productivity and satisfaction.

Gary Kao is the SVP of Business Development and Operations and on the founding team at Dealpath, a platform with a mission to smooth out the workflows for transactions for institutional owners. He joins Matt Giffune to share Dealpath's story, platform capabilities, its evolution over the last 9 years, and what they have in store for the future. Tune in for Gary's predictions on what the future of real estate tech looks like for the rest of 2023 and beyond!

Meredith Danberg-Ficarelli is the Co-Founder and CEO of WATS (Waste Administration and Tracking Software). She joins Matt to talk about how commercial buildings can improve the way they handle all the waste produced on a daily basis. Meredith shares how she built WATS to help owners and tenants track all of the waste that gets generated through their commercial spaces.

Pickleball has become America's fastest-growing sport, and Ace Pickleball Club is the leader in developing premium indoor pickleball facilities. Chief Growth Officer, Diego Pacheco, joins Matt to talk about their real estate strategy, what they look for in deals, and how they're developing over 50 franchises across the United States. Tune in to learn more about the trending sport and how Ace Pickleball Club is keeping up with the demand.