A group of Columbus restaurateurs, operators, and hospitality professionals gathered for What Now Media Group’s latest “Accelerate” event on Wednesday, October 8th, at The Speakeasy, located at 520 S Front Street in Downtown Columbus. The vibrant cocktail lounge hosted a dynamic afternoon of networking, collaboration, and industry insight, where local food and beverage entrepreneurs gathered to share ideas on growing and scaling their businesses.
The Speakeasy hosted the complimentary event, welcoming dozens of representatives from restaurants featured on What Now Columbus. Local operators connected with industry-leading experts from What Now Media Group’s Preferred Partners network. Attendees engaged in productive conversations over drinks and small bites before tuning into a focused presentation about long-term success in the evolving restaurant landscape.
The Columbus gathering was hosted by CJ Compton, What Now Media Group’s newest event manager, and featured a wide array of local foodservice innovators. Restaurateurs like Almu Vallejo, owner of Tertulia Café, were in attendance to explore partnerships and operational strategies. Tertulia is a Spanish-inspired cafe aiming to foster community and culture in the Short North Arts District.
Also present were Katie Hildebrand and Kristi Hatfield, representing Stadz Pizzeria – Gahanna, a beloved local pizzeria known for its handcrafted pies and family-friendly atmosphere. The duo is currently working on expanding the pizzeria’s footprint in the Greater Columbus area.
Guillermo and Jaime Perez of Si Señor, a fast-casual Latin eatery, were also in the room, sharing updates about the restaurant’s latest milestones. Meanwhile, Jady Diaz, owner of Sabor Latino Grocery & Bakery, discussed her growing fanbase in the city thanks to her fusion of baked goods, savory Latin dishes, and imported grocery items.
Other notable attendees included Justin Wotring of Caroline’s Sandwiches, known for his culinary flair and rotating sandwich menu; Lisa Gutierrez, co-founder of Dos Hermanos, who shared updates about the brand’s latest downtown brick-and-mortar location; and Anthony Sitek and Haley Nutter-Sitek of Losanti, a contemporary steakhouse that merges fine dining with a modern edge in the heart of Cincinnati.
Columbus’ rapidly growing restaurant community was well represented at the event, with additional attendees like Danny Phillips, chef and owner of Bobby Jo’s Pizza, and Misty Linn, owner of Black Sheep Kitchen & Cocktails, adding to the rich tapestry of culinary voices in the room.
The event also welcomed professionals from five of What Now Media Group’s Preferred Partners, each providing valuable tools to support restaurant growth. Representing Heartland was Derek Pentenburg, who discussed how their payroll and workforce management services help streamline restaurant operations, especially as businesses scale.
Randy Wiley from Global Payments shared how their restaurant-specific payment solutions improve transaction efficiency and customer satisfaction. Meanwhile, the team from SpotOn, including Austin Ellington and Mitchell Crank, was on-site to speak about POS innovations and loyalty programs tailored for independent operators.
Additional Preferred Partners present included Christopher Grinstead and Michael Schofield from Unifirst Corp, who highlighted uniform rental and cleaning services designed for foodservice teams.
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 CJ Compton 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 CJ 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 served as a valuable platform for both restaurant owners and industry partners to collaborate, brainstorm, and form new connections. It’s clear that the Columbus 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.
