A variety of Boston restaurateurs and hospitality professionals came together for an “Accelerate” event hosted by What Now Media Group at Cloud & Spirits on Tuesday, October 28, 2025. The evening offered an engaging opportunity for members of Boston’s restaurant community to connect, share ideas, and learn from one another about navigating today’s competitive food and beverage landscape.
Cloud & Spirits, a modern bar and dining concept located at 795 Main Street in Cambridge, hosted the free event, bringing together over two dozen representatives from businesses featured on What Now Boston. This included local restaurants and industry-leading experts from What Now Media Group’s network of Preferred Partners. Guests networked while enjoying handcrafted cocktails and light bites before participating in an interactive discussion centered around strategies for growth, expansion, and success in Boston’s vibrant dining scene.
The event was hosted by Mariah Medley, Director of Events and Partner Engagement at What Now Media Group, and featured a wide range of local restaurant owners and culinary entrepreneurs. Attendees included owner Ron Liu and operating partner Michael Gander of Cloud & Spirits, who helped host the event and continue to expand their Love Art Group portfolio across Greater Boston.
Among the many restaurateurs in attendance was Harrison Liao, co-founder and head chef of Flavor Boom!, a fast-casual concept known for its bold, globally inspired flavors, set to open in Cambridge’s Kendall Square, alongside co-owner Jim Tao.
Also attending were Jason Doo, Grace Arnett, and Matthew Tetrault of Gato Exotico, a tiki-inspired restaurant expanding with a new tropical dining concept at CambridgeSide. Jayashree Venkataraman, owner of The Buzzin’ Bean, also joined the evening, representing her Somerville café known for its vegetarian-friendly coffee creations and a welcoming, community-driven atmosphere.
Other attendees included Valeria Restrepo and Jenny Betancur of Luna’s Cakes & Coffee, who are preparing to open their first storefront in Newton Centre, and Victor Gonzalez, general manager of Jersey Mike’s Subs, representing the popular sandwich chain’s local expansion efforts.
Representing Boston’s growing craft beverage scene were Josh Moss and Will Blessing of NAMU Distilling Co., who are bringing their innovative soju distillery to the city, and Raquel Semedo, owner of Lisboa Café & Mini-Market, a Portuguese café and market set to open in Dorchester this fall.
Several representatives from What Now Media Group’s network of Preferred Partners also attended to offer expert guidance and industry support. From Astound Broadband, Gary Trouville and Russell Zwicker discussed high-speed connectivity solutions designed to help restaurants streamline their operations. Stephen Whittier of Global Payments shared insights on payment and POS systems tailored for the hospitality sector, while Tim Hayes from Heartland spoke about simplifying payroll and HR solutions for restaurant operators.
Jason Longo and Barrett Goldsmith of OpenTable were also in attendance, offering advice on maximizing reservations and guest management, while Kenneth Sultar from Our Town America provided direct mail marketing strategies that help restaurants grow their customer base by reaching new movers in their area. Additionally, Maximino Reyes and Michael Becksvoort of Prudential Overall Supply were on hand to discuss linen and uniform programs that keep restaurant teams looking professional while maintaining top-tier cleanliness standards.
The restaurant owners and industry-leading experts from What Now Media Group’s network of Preferred Partners shared valuable insights, operational highlights, and expert advice, creating an engaging and informative evening that was both enriching and beneficial for all attendees.
This led Mariah Medley to carry the conversation even deeper by discussing critical business points, such as having an exit plan and efficiently managing operations after expanding to multiple locations. After Mariah and the guests shared their tips, knowledge, and concerns, everyone became quickly interested in learning more about their businesses and how they could help one another.
This event provided a valuable platform for restaurant owners and industry partners to collaborate, brainstorm, and establish new connections. It’s clear that the Boston restaurant community is eager to continue innovating and evolving, and What Now Media Group’s Accelerate events provide the perfect space for these conversations to take place.
What Now Media Group shares restaurant opening news in 33 cities across North America, breaking news, and provides timely insight into yet-to-open brick-and-mortar businesses. The platform shares news of thousands of openings across all 33 cities annually.
The industry-leading experts in What Now Media Group’s network of Preferred Partners help new businesses open and existing businesses grow.
Stay tuned for future Accelerate events from What Now Media Group in 2025. For more details, see the Accelerate page here.
Click here for a complete list of our partners. To learn more about becoming a preferred partner, click here.
