A close-knit group of Jacksonville restaurateurs and food industry professionals gathered on Thursday, May 22, for What Now Media Group’s latest “Accelerate” event, hosted at Grace Note Brewing in Jacksonville. The gathering brought together established and emerging operators from the local dining scene, as well as Preferred Partners from What Now’s network, for a night of connection, collaboration, and forward-thinking business strategy.
Grace Note Brewing, a small craft brewery located at 4591 Lakeside Drive, Site 108, served as the host venue for the free event, welcoming attendees featured on What Now Jacksonville. In a unique twist from other Accelerate events, The Loop, an American restaurant located next door, provided the food for the evening as guests networked and later joined the main presentation focused on smart growth and operational strategy in today’s competitive hospitality market.
The event was led by Gisela Gonzalez, Events Manager at What Now Media Group, with Mariah Medley, director of events and partner engagement, also in attendance. While more intimate than larger-market Accelerate events, the Jacksonville edition proved especially impactful. “The private venue was thoughtfully laid out, and once the presentation kicked off, the room came to life,” said Gisela. “The smaller size worked to our advantage, allowing partners to connect more deeply with concept owners and decision-makers.”
Jacksonville’s roster of attendees included several standout operators. Barry Honan, co-owner of Lotus Noodle Bar, is preparing to launch a new location in St. Augustine offering Asian comfort food with a modern twist. Representing Caribbean cuisine, Hasheah Moody of Island Flava Caribbean Grocery & Meat connected with fellow attendees about expanding her grocery and meat market concept rooted in authentic island flavors.
Food truck operator Clifton Martin of You Go Boy Hibachi & More was also in attendance, bringing updates on his brand’s transition to a brick-and-mortar location. Representing the local brewing community, Patrick Mulloy, owner of The Lazy Manatee, discussed the development of a new Arlington-based taproom.
Bagel fans were excited to hear from Lazlo Kofler, owner of Bagel Base, who is gearing up to open a fast-casual bagel shop in St. Augustine. Representing an eclectic sit-down concept, Scott and Robyn Moore, best known as the co-founders of Maple Street Biscuit Company, shared news of Calico Cactus, their upcoming restaurant that blends regional flavors with a vibrant atmosphere. The Moores also introduced an additional venture launching soon in St. Augustine, with plans for a future location in Jacksonville.
Several members of What Now Media Group’s network of Preferred Partners were also on hand to provide guidance and support. Tyler Hayes of Heartland spoke with guests about how their payroll services streamline administrative operations for busy restaurant owners. James Rocabado from SpotOn discussed how their POS solutions can improve customer transactions and back-end operations, while Sam Holmes of Easy Ice highlighted their commercial ice machine rental and maintenance services.
From real-time analytics to behind-the-scenes efficiencies, partners like Easy Ice and SpotOn are instrumental in helping new and existing concepts scale without sacrificing quality. Other expert representatives helped operators assess costs, streamline staffing, and improve guest experience—all critical topics in today’s ever-evolving restaurant industry.
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 Gisela to delve even deeper into the conversation by discussing critical business points, such as having an exit plan and efficiently managing operations after expanding to multiple locations. After Gisela 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 Jacksonville 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.
