On this episode of Room For Seconds, Gregg Majewski sits down with industry icon Paul Mangiamele, the visionary behind the revival of Bennigan’s and Steak & Ale. Paul shares his journey of breathing new life into these beloved brands, emphasizing the importance of culture, passion, and staying true to the DNA that made these restaurants iconic.

Discover how Paul navigates the challenges of modern casual dining, from managing rising costs to creating memorable guest experiences with innovative strategies. Whether it's introducing tableside service or leveraging emotional connections with loyal guests, Paul’s story is a masterclass in resilience and leadership.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Power of Emotional Connection and Legendary Service - In reflecting on the revival of Bennigan’s and Steak & Ale, Paul highlights the power of emotional connection and a commitment to excellence. By focusing on the foundational principles that made these brands iconic—like exceptional service, menu re-engineering, and respecting the guest experience—he demonstrates that even the most challenging restorations are possible with passion, attention to detail, and a return to basics. 
2. Passion and Purpose - Paul underscores the critical role of passion in the restaurant industry, lamenting its decline in modern operations. Drawing inspiration from the legacy of Norman Brinker, he emphasizes that passion, combined with a strong culture and a commitment to excellence, is the cornerstone of success. By shifting from a transactional mindset to creating meaningful guest experiences, restaurants can build lasting relationships and lifetime customer loyalty, turning every interaction into an opportunity to leave a memorable impression.
3. Focus on Top Performers - Paul advocates for prioritizing the top-performing 20% of a franchise system to maximize success and growth. He explains that while some operators excel and others have potential but resist the effort required, the bottom third often lacks the drive or conditions for improvement. By channeling time, energy, and resources into top performers who are eager to innovate and grow, businesses can achieve greater results—turning $3 million opportunities into $5 million realities—rather than exhausting resources on those unlikely to improve.

Episode Links:

• Visit Legendary Restaurant Brands Online
• Visit Bennigans Online
• Visit Steak & Ale Online
• Connect with Bennigans on LinkedIn
• Follow Bennigans on Facebook
• Follow Bennigans on X
• Follow Bennigans on Instagram
• Connect with Paul Mangiamele on LinkedIn

ABOUT PAUL MANGIAMELE

Since taking the helm at Bennigan’s in 2011, Paul Mangiamele has championed several game-changing initiatives aimed at revolutionizing the casual dining category and bringing his iconic brands back to their Legendary status. As chronicled in his 2013 book, “Bennigan’s Return to Relevance: Bleeding Green 25/8,”

Paul has helped transform Legendary Restaurant Brands through a deep focus on culture, inclusive training, chef-driven food, innovative beverage programs and a passionate commitment to delivering memorable dining experiences for every guest, every meal, every day. Now with more than 100 restaurants open or under contract, Bennigan’s, Bennigan’s On The Fly and Steak and Ale are experiencing robust growth globally, while simultaneously redefining the casual dining paradigm and designing a compelling franchise model.

Paul’s background includes strategy planning, operations, marketing, franchise development and broker and distributor networks, as well as building and leading teams in start-up, growth and Fortune 500 environments. During his 30+ year career, Mangiamele has served as President & CEO of Salsarita’s Fresh Cantina; President & CEO of Dalts Classic American Grill; Vice President of Business Development for Carlson Companies (franchisor of Radisson Hotels, Country Inn and Suites, and T.G.I. Friday’s); and Executive Vice President and COO at Sport Clips, where he led several growth initiatives that expanded the store count from 100-plus to more than 600 locations nationwide. His experience on the franchisee side includes building multiple units of Uno Chicago Grills in the Midwest. Mangiamele is a frequent guest on local and national television programs and is in high demand as a business.

ABOUT GREGG MAJEWSKI:

Gregg Majewski has a vast amount of experience as a corporate executive in the restaurant industry. As the former CEO of Jimmy John’s, he played a major role in expanding the franchise from 33 to 300+ stores in just 5 years by surrounding the company’s marketing strategy around the innovative approach of delivering sandwiches and being “freaky fast”. Majewski has worked to develop restaurant concepts over the last two plus decades, before starting Craveworthy Brands in 2023, which currently includes a growing portfolio of restaurant brands.

Connect with Craveworthy

• Follow Gregg Majewski on Instagram
• Follow Craveworthy Brands on Instagram
• Visit Craveworthy Online
• Connect with Gregg Majewski on LinkedIn
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