A diverse group of Philadelphia restaurateurs and industry professionals gathered for an Accelerate event hosted by What Now Media Group at Secondhand Ranch on Tuesday, June 23, 2026. The event provided an opportunity for members of Philadelphia’s restaurant community to connect, exchange ideas, and discuss strategies for navigating today’s competitive hospitality industry.
Located at 1148 Frankford Avenue in Philadelphia’s Fishtown neighborhood, Secondhand Ranch served as the venue for the free event, bringing together representatives from businesses recently featured on What Now Philadelphia. The western-inspired restaurant and cocktail destination welcomed dozens of local restaurant operators and industry-leading experts from What Now Media Group’s network of Preferred Partners. Guests enjoyed networking throughout the evening before participating in a presentation focused on business growth, operational efficiency, and long-term success.
The event was hosted by Mariah Medley, director of events and partner engagement at What Now Media Group, and welcomed a variety of restaurateurs and hospitality professionals actively expanding throughout the Greater Philadelphia area. Among those in attendance were Jen Leary, co-owner of The Stoop Pigeon, a new women’s sports-focused gathering space in Center City. The company’s Sales & Brand Ambassador, Megan Armor, also joined in on the event: Jim Roberts, co-owner of Potheads Coffee, an eclectic two-story neighborhood café coming to Roxborough. Roberts was accompanied by associate Mike Beck. Also in attendance was Jerry Maurice, owner of Home Kitchen, which will introduce Haitian-inspired comfort food to West Philadelphia, and Matt Maltepes, owner of Thalassa, an upcoming Mediterranean restaurant in Fairmount.
Additional attendees included Charles Garrity, president and CEO of High Grounds Lounge / Death of the Fox Brewing Company, Brian Harrington, founder and partner of Seeded Capital, representing PopUp Bagels, Jake Minkoff, marketing director for Cecilia Restaurant, an upcoming American dining concept in Bridgeport, and Anyae Wilson, co-owner of In Crust We Trust, which is bringing Southern-inspired pizza to Fishtown.
Representatives from more than ten of What Now Media Group’s Preferred Partners attended the evening to provide guidance and resources for restaurant owners. Dylan Smith and London Duran from Global Payments discussed payment processing and restaurant technology solutions designed to streamline day-to-day operations. Edward Binnie of OpenTable shared insights on reservation management and guest engagement, while Jim Thomas of Restaurant Technologies highlighted automated cooking oil management systems that improve kitchen efficiency and safety.
Additional Preferred Partners included Taylor-Rae Cammisa and Tory Feigenbaum from SpotOn, who spoke with operators about point-of-sale technology and business management tools; Kyle Faulkner and Valerie Smilansky of Virnika.ai, who showcased AI-powered phone solutions for restaurants; Dontae Lewis from Auto-Chlor System, who discussed commercial cleaning and warewashing solutions; Joseph Solomon from Auris, who shared payroll and workforce management resources; and Papa Otchere-Addo from ADT, who discussed security solutions designed specifically for hospitality businesses.
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 throughout the evening, creating an engaging and informative event that encouraged meaningful conversations and new business relationships.
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, attendees eagerly continued conversations about their businesses and explored opportunities to support one another.
This event served as a valuable platform for both restaurant owners and industry partners to collaborate, brainstorm, and form new connections. It’s clear that the Philadelphia restaurant community is eager to continue innovating and evolving, and What Now Media Group’s Accelerate events provide the perfect space for these conversations.
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 2026. 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.
