On April 9, restaurant owners from across the Los Angeles area gathered at downtown speakeasy Florentín Rooftop Bar in Southwest Atlanta at 617 S. Spring St., for What Now Media Group’s Accelerate Event.
The event is part of What Now’s Accelerate Program, a series of networking events that brings local Los Angeles restaurant operators under one roof alongside other industry professionals.
What Now Event Host Marian Ebhamen hosted the event as guests enjoyed refreshments and networked with fellow restaurant operators and industry professionals.
Restaurants
The Accelerate event brought together plenty of restaurant operators from across the area, ranging from franchise operators to wine bar owners.
South Los Angeles Beverage Company: 4400 Gage Ave, Bell, CA 90201
Co-owner Craig Bowers represented South Los Angeles Beverage Company, which is heading to the former Border X Brewery space in Bell. The spot is expected to open this year.
Malibu Cookies: Malibu, CA
Owner Michelle Malie represented Malibu Cookies at the event. Malibu Cookies offers unique sugar cookies ideal for customization, available for delivery locally and nationwide.
Izakaya Toki: 815 S. Hill St., Los Angeles, CA 90014
Brothers Leonard and Anthony Hayashi attended the event to represent their hospitality group Casper Hospitality Group. They plan to open a new concept called Izakaya Toki this year. They also operate Mo-Mo-Paradise locations throughout the Los Angeles area.
Sana’a Cafe: 939 Broxton Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90024
Operations manager Sadeq Alaqel represented Yemeni coffee shop Sana’a Cafe. Based in San Francisco, the chain will be opening a spot in Westwood Village.
California Wine Exchange: 1050 Flower St, Los Angeles, CA 90015
Owner Mark Proir represented California Wine Exchange at the event. The wine shop and tasting room, heading to Downtown Los Angeles this year, will focus on California-produced wines.
Burger She Wrote: 14245 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
Director of operations Vi Nguyen and co-owner Jennifer Searle represented Los Angeles smashburger joint Burger She Wrote. It is expanding to a second location in Sherman Oaks this spring.
Made by Meg Catering: 309 Esplanade, Redondo Beach, CA 90277
Meg Walker, owner of MBM Hospitality, and head of marketing Meagan McCall represented Made by Meg Catering. The hospitality brand is taking over the Redondo Beach Historic Library and adding a cafe to the space in spring 2027.
Onigilly: 3525 W Carson St, Torrance, CA 90503
First-time Onigilly franchisees Rav Randhawa and Dana Romano represented the Bay Area-based franchise at the event. The couple plan to open a location of the brand at Del Amo Fashion Center this summer.
Shams Cafe: Tarzana, CA
Jenny Bowler represented Sweeny Tamraz, the owner of Shams Cafe, at the event. The Los Angeles-based specialty coffee shop, which serves handcrafted drinks with a Middle Eastern twist, is relocating from Northridge to Tarzana. It should reopen soon.
Partners
In total, 13 guests attended to represent What Now’s partners. Senior payroll advisor Vanessa Gaytan represented payroll company Auris. Software relationship manager Nico Rincon and Ryan Easter represented point-of-sale company Global Payments.
Consultants Stensland Smith and Wil Rodrigues represented consulting group Playbook Advisors. Sales manager Ali Sepehri represented restaurant marketing company SLIQUE Media, and hospitality specialists Larry Carillo and Tony Sher represented point-of-sale company Spot On. Hospitality risk specialists Cameron Koch and Gene Rotondo represented insurance company Tagrisk LLC.
Sales consultant Alessandro Nicolaci represented coffee machine and supplies company Nespresso Professional. Uniforms and linens company Prudential Overall Supply was represented by senior corporate sales representative Paul Reese. Sales executive Henry Forman represented automated cooking oil solutions company Restaurant Technologies, Inc.
