Chip Wade joined Union Square Hospitality Group as president just over two years ago. Nine months into his time with the Danny Meyer-led multi-concept operator, the pandemic hit. USHG shut down all of its restaurants and laid off some 2,300 employees.

Now, as Wade says, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel and it’s not a train. The company’s restaurants are reopening, though a handful remain closed, and USHG is easing out of pandemic mode.

Listen to this Buzzworthy Brands conversation with Wade to hear how the New York City-based company is navigating the other side of the crisis.