Breaking free from being the "superhero" operator can transform your restaurant's future. In this episode of The Pre-Shift Podcast, we talk with Avery Ward, third-generation CEO of Little Italy Ristorante in Groveport, Ohio, about how he turned around his family's struggling business. Avery shares how his tech background helped him implement smart systems that let him step back from daily operations. He breaks down exactly how he delegates tasks, documents processes, and builds accountability at every level - allowing him to expand from a single location to a growing restaurant group. Both struggling operators managing everything themselves and successful owners looking to scale will find valuable takeaways in Ward's practical approach to working on your business instead of just in it.

Resources

• Connect with Avery Ward on LinkedIn 🔗
• Watch: Slice of Life on YouTube 📺
• Visit: Little Italy Ristorante 🍕
• 7shifts Restaurant Management Blog 📝

Chapters

• 00:00 - Introduction to Avery Ward (CEO of Little Italy restaurant)
• 01:19 - The 60-year history of Little Italy Restaurant
• 07:00 - How technology transformed restaurant operations
• 09:32 - Finding time to work ON your business, not just IN it
• 12:17 - Building accountability through clear expectations
• 20:05 - The "lightbulb theory" of delegation
• 23:57 - Creating company structure and role clarity
• 27:56 - The path to opening Main Ground Coffee
• 33:30 - Building an ESOP (employee stock ownership plan)
• 40:10 - Why documenting your restaurant's story matters
• 44:48 - Conclusion and Main Ground Coffee opening details

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About Us
7shifts is a restaurant platform that helps operators and managers hire, train, schedule, pay and retain their restaurant teams. With an easy-to-use platform and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for over 55,000 restaurants.