Hi, I’m Matthew Mabel (learn more about me here). Welcome to our Restaurant Success Newsletter in written and podcast forms.
Every edition of my newsletter—in both written and podcast form—shares some of the same valuable insights I share with my clients, teaching ways to improve your business while also building a flexible life for you and increasing your net worth.
While every restaurateur is unique, they all face similar challenges with these core issues: Building brand and culture; Improving management; Increasing profits; Creating a consistent experience; Optimizing operations; Staying up to date on changes in the industry; Developing a growth strategy; Maintaining work-life balance.
As a business owner, you should be in control of your own destiny and work-life balance. You own your business; it doesn’t own you. What good is expanding your restaurant business in any way that doesn’t work best for you? I’m truly excited you’ve made the conscious decision to follow my thoughts about growing your business while improving your personal life. When you grow your business intentionally, you can have both. That’s why I encourage you to “be as good to yourself as you are to your guests.”
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If you have any questions please shoot me a message, or schedule a free 15-minute conversation here.
How to Overcome the Dark News About Our Industry
This week I look at the damaging negative press plaguing the restaurant industry and provide a strategic roadmap for restaurateurs to thrive despite the doom-and-gloom narrative. The recent “empty and struggling" narrative discourages guests from dining out and creates unnecessary panic among owners. Instead of focusing solely on cost management, I present a compelling case for why guest count is now the most critical metric for success, and deliver five strategies to implement to attract lapsed guests, increase dining frequency among current customers, and capture greater market share.
How to Clarify the Best Way Forward for Your Restaurants
In this episode, learn how successful restauranteurs are adapting their approach in today's challenging market based on their current performance level, and why following standard industry-wide practices won't cut it anymore. Discover where you fall among three distinct categories of performance and get a crystal-clear roadmap to elevate your restaurant company to the next level of business success.
To Win the 2026 Marathon, Plan Your Rest Now!
This week I explore the critical decision restaurateurs face in today's competitive landscape: choosing between small, incremental changes and bold, transformative moves. Operators often default to safer, smaller adjustments when bigger strategic decisions could dramatically improve their profitability. I share how successful restaurateurs are repositioning their brands, restructuring management teams, and implementing bold menu strategies.
Know Yourself and Create Restaurant Success In Any Market
I address the unprecedented flat market challenging restaurant owners today. Operators face a critical decision point: identify which operational group they’re in and take decisive action. I break down the characteristics of Winners, Stable Companies, and Floundering Companies. This episode delivers actionable strategy to stand out, innovate, and achieve exceptional success regardless of market conditions.
Avoid Pitfalls of Restaurant Expansion by Planning in Advance
Explore essential entrepreneurship principles for restaurant owners looking to scale their business successfully. Learn proven strategies for multi-unit restaurant expansion. Proper planning protects profit margins, optimizes operational efficiency, and ensures sustainable growth. Whether you're considering your first expansion or adding to an existing portfolio, listen to avoid the costly mistakes that often accompany rapid restaurant growth.
How To Learn from the Massive Cracker Barrel Debacle
This episode examines Cracker Barrel's recent brand modernization struggles and what independent restaurant owners can learn from their missteps. Discover why their attempted menu updates, dining room renovations, and logo changes backfired, and explore the key differences between reactive corporate decisions and proactive entrepreneurship strategies that actually drive restaurant business growth.
It's A Surprisingly Easy Choice: Be Activated Or Average?
This week I discuss a critical choice every restauranteur faces: embracing an activated approach to business success or settling for average results. Learn strategies for owners looking to elevate their operations and boost profitability. I share insights on what separates successful independent restaurant operators from the competition, covering essential entrepreneurship principles that drive real growth in today's competitive environment.
How To Avoid the Deceiving “Superhero Trap”
I explore the dangerous "Superhero Trap" that many restaurateurs fall into when building their businesses. This pitfall occurs when owners believe they must personally handle every aspect of their operation. This mindset can severely limit business growth, reduce profitability, and prevent successful restaurant expansion. Learn to create systems that allow your restaurant business to thrive without your constant supervision.
With Limited POV, How Can You See Your Potential?
This week I explore how restaurateurs often find themselves trapped by their own limited view, making it difficult to identify growth opportunities and unlock their true potential. I share practical entrepreneurship strategies for breaking through mental barriers, expanding business vision, and discovering untapped possibilities within your restaurant enterprise. This episode is essential to overcome operational blindness.
Want To Stay Strong? You Need To Know Your Peers
In this episode I share an unlikely story about how working concert security for the Rolling Stones taught me a fundamental lesson about strength through collaboration. I explore why knowing your restaurant industry peers isn't just helpful—it's absolutely essential for business success and entrepreneurship in today's competitive market. This principle led me to create the Restaurant Owners Success Club, and it illustrates how many restaurateurs are missing critical business intelligence that their competitors have already discovered through peer connections.
When The Easy Way Is the Colossally Wrong Way
In today's challenging restaurant business climate, many successful operators find themselves stuck despite mastering two or three key areas of their business. This episode explores why consumer sentiment is impacting restaurant spending, how restaurant entrepreneurs can break through growth barriers by tackling areas that don't come naturally to them, and the critical importance of developing comprehensive business skills to achieve true scalability.
How To Increase Profit with No Excuses During This Flat Market
This week l reveal my proven six-step process for dramatically increasing restaurant profit during challenging flat market conditions. I demonstrate how to turn market stagnation into competitive advantage through strategic operational improvements. Learn why flat revenue often disguises serious profit erosion problems in restaurant businesses, and discover the exact methodology that helped one multi-unit restaurant client more than double their profit while improving guest experience.
Owning Your Restaurant. How Does Massive Success Happen Now?
This episode examines the critical challenge facing restaurateurs today: achieving great success in an increasingly flat market. With industry forecasts being downgraded for the second consecutive year, I explore how restaurant owners must adapt to thrive when traditional market growth is no longer the norm. Learn insights from successful chains that are achieving high same-store sales growth, and I also provide strategies focusing on guest count and brand positioning for sustainable business growth.
When Your Growth Plan Is Way Ahead of Your Restaurant’s Operating Capability
This week I tackle a critical entrepreneurship challenge that many multi-unit restaurant owners face: having expansion dreams that outpace operational reality. I explore why aggressive growth plans can actually damage restaurant businesses and share my Big Five Growth Concerns that every restaurant entrepreneur must address before considering expansion.
How to Retain Managers Who Love Working in Your Restaurant Company
This episode addresses a critical challenge facing restaurateurs today: retaining quality managers in an increasingly competitive market. I share my proven and comprehensive ten-point retention checklist for multi-unit independent restaurant clients. Learn how to create an environment where managers feel valued, trusted, and motivated to stay long-term, while building the internal harmony and operational excellence that will drive your restaurant business success.
Restaurateurs: Why Your First Day Back From Vacation is the Most Important Day of the Year
Restaurant owners often fall victim to "habits" - the ownership equivalent of store blindness that prevents managers from seeing operational details. This episode explores how time away creates a unique window to break free from automatic behaviors, implement new strategies, and drive meaningful restaurant business growth. I share actionable steps to harness your fresh perspective for profit optimization, sales enhancement, and entrepreneurship breakthroughs.
Lessons Taught at the Big Texas Restaurant Show
In this episode I discuss my speaking engagement at the Big Texas Restaurant Show. I cover essential business strategies, including team development, financial literacy for restaurateurs, menu optimization, and the critical importance of guest count metrics. I also outline the three phases of restaurant growth and provide actionable advice for scaling your business operations while maintaining profitability and operational excellence.
The Proven Way To Recharge And Succeed? Unplug!
This episode challenges the conventional wisdom that working longer hours leads to greater success in our business. Drawing from my recent meditation retreat experience, I reveal why the most successful clients I work with aren't the ones putting in sixty-plus hour weeks. I explore how unplugging, taking care of yourself, and maintaining balance is actually the proven path to sustainable business success and growth. This is essential listening for restaurateurs to achieve profit growth while maintaining their sanity and enjoying the freedom their business should provide.
Texas Restaurant Show 2025: Networking, Growth Strategies, and Performance Optimization
This week I preview my appearance at the Texas Restaurant Show which will have over 500 booths and 5,500 attendees. I’ll have two different speaking sessions on restaurant performance optimization, and business growth strategies for 2025 covering people management, financial metrics, menu engineering, and expansion tactics. There is also a link in the show notes if you’d like to talk in person at the show.
Matthew Mabel 101: How to Make Your Restaurants Unstoppable
This episode highlights my appearance on Eric Cacciatore's "Restaurant Unstoppable" podcast. That deep-dive conversation covers my proven three-phase restaurant growth model, the critical business metrics that don't appear on your P&L, and why vulnerability is essential for both personal and restaurant company improvement. Also discussed is the impact of the "No Tax on Tips" policy, and why the debunked 10,000-hour rule doesn't apply to restaurant business mastery – along with much more!
Get Your Growth Plans Down, Then Make Them Real
Do you dream of expanding your business but struggle to transform your growth plans into actionable strategies? This episode addresses the challenges that prevent profitable restaurateurs from taking the next step in their business growth. Drawing from recent client experiences, I outline four essential areas you must focus on when planning expansion: defining scope and timeline, building leadership teams, evaluating current staff, and securing financing.
It’s Been So Long - Let’s Go to the Restaurant Show!
This edition discusses the upcoming Texas Restaurant Show and the fastest ways to increase performance, grow in a flat market, and develop strategies to build net-worth. I share insights on rediscovering fundamental business practices that drive restaurant success and also preview my speaking sessions at the restaurant show. They'll cover performance optimization, and growth strategies for owners looking to scale their operations and profits in today's uncertain economy.
On New Year’s Eve, How To Brag About 2025 Success
This episode features insights on how to close out this challenging year strong. Learn how to position your business for measurable success the rest of the year through proven entrepreneurship strategies, operational excellence, and data-driven decision making. I provide actionable insights to optimize your business performance and create lasting competitive advantages in the ever-evolving food service landscape.
Swipe Right to Unlock Your Business’s True Potential
Explore how to identify and hire "the one” – that person who could transform your business from reliable to exceptional. I cover the most common missing pieces in restaurant operations, from operations directors to culinary experts to business managers, and explain how the right hire can increase profits by 2-3 points while providing owners with newfound freedom and flexibility.
Afraid You Don’t Know Enough? Hey, Join the Club!
This episode addresses a common challenge facing restaurateurs: the isolating nature of entrepreneurship and the feeling that you don't know enough to take your business to the next level. Learn how joining peer groups and connecting with fellow restaurant entrepreneurs can serve as powerful accelerators for restaurant success and business growth.
How Top Operators Follow Through to Increase Results
This week I explore the critical importance of restaurant management follow-through by examining why many operators struggle to complete important initiatives and how this affects profitability. I share three recent case studies that demonstrate how proper implementation of strategic plans directly impacts guest count, year-over-year sales, and bottom-line profits.
How to See What is Holding Your Company Back
This episode explores the profound connection between restaurant owners and their businesses. Every entrepreneurial restaurant reflects its owner's strengths, values, and challenges. Whether you're a hospitality-focused restaurateur, or a numbers-driven business mind, understanding how your personal approach shapes your restaurant is crucial. I share strategies to balance your natural strengths with the complementary skills your organization needs to unlock new levels of success.
Are You Ready For the Summer Break You Have Earned?
We discuss the essential strategy of summer breaks for restaurateurs. I explore the importance of work-life balance in the restaurant industry and share practical advice on how to structure your business to thrive during your absence. We examine generational approaches to vacation planning – from industry veterans who understand the value of stepping away, to younger restaurateurs prioritizing quality time with their families.
Breaking Out of Your Restaurant Bubble: The Power of Fresh Perspectives
Learn how gaining fresh perspectives can transform your business – external viewpoints are important for continued growth and success. I share case studies demonstrating how restaurateurs can avoid isolation and complacency through honest assessment. Learn practical strategies for improving restaurant profitability, operational efficiency, and achieving sustainable growth by stepping outside your comfort zone.
Avoid Pitfalls of Expansion by Planning in Advance
I share essential strategies for restaurateurs planning to expand their business in this edition. Despite economic uncertainties, many restaurant businesses continue to thrive and grow. We discuss challenges when transitioning from single to multi-unit operations, expanding into new cities, or launching additional concepts. Proper planning, organization, and importing knowledge from successful restaurant companies is crucial before expansion, not after.
How Multi-Unit Supervisors Can Create Better Results
This episode dives deep into how multi-unit supervisors can transform your restaurant business for greater success. We explore the critical distinction between operators who simply run shifts, versus true leaders who continuously improve restaurant processes and systems. I demonstrate how effective restaurant supervisors focus on building a better business machine, rather than merely maintaining the current one.
How to Take Action and Power to Boost Guest Count
Let's talk about how to take action to boost guest count – arguably the most important metric for your restaurant's success. We'll explore why guest count matters more than almost anything on your P&L and examine what successful restaurants are doing differently. I also share four key questions that can help you increase your guest count starting today.
How to Discover the Missing Pieces to Increase Your Restaurant’s Success
This episode is all about finding what might be holding your business back and having the courage to address it head-on. Discover critical missing pieces that could dramatically boost your restaurant's success. When market conditions are challenging restaurant owners need to look inward to find opportunities. We'll explore key questions that can unlock hidden potential for increased sales and profit.
Increase Revenue By Learning from Southwest Airlines’ Really Big Mistakes
In this insightful episode I examine critical lessons restaurateurs can learn from Southwest Airlines' recent strategic missteps. Discover how abandoning brand differentiation for competitor mimicry damages business value, particularly in the restaurant industry. Also, we discuss the importance of monitoring guest count over simply tracking revenue in today's economic climate.
How to Make Productive Partnerships Work
Productive partnerships in the restaurant business: How to make them work, what to watch for, and why having the right approach to partnerships can make, or break, your business. I share my own experiences with partnerships, outline four keys for successful partnerships, and offer some real-world examples of how I've helped restaurant owners navigate partnership challenges.
How to Make Work Not Take Over Your Life
Let’s talk about a critical issue facing most restaurant owners. Working too many hours, and how that impacts quality of life. We explore why so many operators struggle with this, share some real-world examples of owners who've broken free from this trap, and outline steps you can take to create more freedom in your life without sacrificing your business's success.
Now is the Time To Re-Focus On Your Menu
We talk about why now is the time to re-focus on your menu in this episode. I explore how your guests demand more than ever and how their tastes are changing. We also discuss what they really want from your menu, and I share some real examples of menu transformations that completely turned restaurants around.
Using Your Spectacular Victories to Unlock Even More Success
This edition examines how to leverage your victories to create even greater success. We'll look at why many operators focus only on problems rather than celebrating their wins, and why identifying your successes is crucial for future growth. I share how top operators use their victories as learning opportunities and apply those lessons to other areas of their business.
Re-Investing in the “Goldilocks Zone,” Where It’s Just Right
This episode discusses a crucial topic that affects every restaurant owner: finding the right level of re-investment in your business. We explore what happens when owners invest too much, too little, or hit that sweet spot - what I call the "Goldilocks Zone" of restaurant investment. I share real examples of each approach and help you identify where your business stands.
How to Get Unstuck and Dominate in Today’s Market
We dive into a crucial topic in this episode: how to get unstuck and really dominate in today's market. We'll explore why some restaurants remain stuck in their old ways, what's really holding them back, and most importantly, how to break free from these barriers and achieve meaningful growth. I give some examples from my recent client work and provide actionable strategies you can implement in your business.
What Successful Restaurateurs Learn From Chains To Beat Them
This episode will dive into a fascinating topic: what independent restaurants can learn from chains - and how to do it even better. We'll explore how independents can take the best practices from chain restaurants while leveraging their unique advantages of speed and authenticity. And I share specific examples, and actionable strategies you can implement in your own operation.
How Top Restaurateurs Shore Up Sagging Dessert and Alcohol Sales
This episode dives into a timely topic: the changing landscape of alcohol and dessert sales, and how top restaurateurs are adapting. We'll explore the evolving trends in beverage service, discuss strategies for maintaining dessert sales, and look at how to keep your core menu items fresh and relevant. Plus, I'll share some exciting information about an upcoming webinar on restaurant ownership transitions.
When You Lack Experience, Add Someone Who Has It
In this episode, we dive into a crucial topic that many restaurant owners face: managing and supervising high-level positions when you don't have prior experience doing so. We'll explore why "fake it 'til you make it" isn't a viable strategy for building a multi-unit team, and I'll share some practical insights on how to effectively manage your first operations director, marketing director, or CFO.
The Greatest Alternative To Selling Your Restaurants
Today, we're diving into a crucial topic for many restaurant owners: an alternative to selling your restaurants. I'll share why Retiring in Place might be a better option than selling, how to maintain your revenue stream, and success stories from owners who've made this transition work. Plus, I'll tell you about an exciting upcoming webinar where we'll go deeper into this topic!
Your Restaurant Company's Game-Winning Focus for 2025
Matthew Mabel dives into something crucial for 2025: Your restaurant's game-winning focus. He'll explore two key areas that will help you claim more market share, and he'll talk about leadership and coaching capability. Mabel then discuss the critical importance of guest experience. He'll also share some bonus insights about promoting your success.
Making Bold Moves vs. Incremental Changes in Restaurant Operations
Veteran restaurant advisor Matthew Mabel discusses the crucial decision restaurant owners face between making incremental changes and bold, transformative moves in their operations. Drawing from his extensive consulting experience, Mabel explains why many operators default to smaller changes when bigger moves might better serve their growth and profitability goals.
The Biggest Consumer Changes Affecting You Right Now, Part 1
It used to be that a restaurant could be packed all the time even if its food and service were just OK. Not anymore. This example turns out to be a permanent change in our industry, and the sooner you accept that the days of punch-card loyalty programs, dried flower arrangements, and old consumer behaviors …
The Biggest Consumer Changes Affecting Your Restaurant Right Now, Part 2
10 years ago, I worked with a couple of burger clients, one of whom would not do delivery because of “the quality of the burgers by the time they travel” – and another who, for the same reason, did not even offer to-go orders. Flash forward to today and that thinking has vanished, like talking …
The Biggest Consumer Changes Affecting You Right Now, Part 3
At QSRs, they call it a “value meal”: a group of items bundled at a lower price than the price paid for buying each item separately. That whole concept messes with your head—because it defines value as price, and nothing could be further than the truth with the restaurants I work with. With my clients …