A variety of Las Vegas restaurateurs and industry professionals gathered for an “Accelerate” event hosted by What Now Media Group at KYU Las Vegas. The event provided a valuable opportunity for Las Vegas’ restaurant community to connect and share ideas on navigating the competitive market.
KYU Las Vegas, a wood-fired, Asian-inspired restaurant located on the Las Vegas Strip at 2777 S. Las Vegas Boulevard, hosted the free event, bringing together dozens of representatives from businesses featured on What Now Las Vegas. This included local restaurants and industry-leading experts from What Now Media Group’s network of Preferred Partners. Attendees networked while enjoying delicious bites and beverages before participating in a presentation focused on strategies for growing and succeeding in today’s competitive market.
The event was hosted by Caleb Spivak, Founder and CEO of What Now Media Group, and featured a range of notable restaurateurs and business owners. Attendees included a variety of local restaurant owners, such as Eric Sorenson, General Manager of KYU Las Vegas, and Zak Jordan, Owner of Electric Mushroom, who are both actively working to expand their businesses in the area. Patrick Frank, franchise owner and operator of Handels Homemade Ice Cream, was also present, looking forward to the brand’s debut in Henderson.
Other participants included Hector Garcia, Co-Owner of Joy Burgers, which recently reopened at a new location in Meadows Mall, and Ethan Spiezer, Owner of Solamente Pizza, who has secured a permanent location for their critically acclaimed pizzeria.
Additional restaurant owners included Jason Ilagan, Franchisee of Miami Grill, who is bringing the popular Miami-based franchise to Las Vegas, and Monsicha Veeratornchuchit, Manager of Lullabar Thai Fusion & Izakaya, a unique dining concept blending Thai fusion and izakaya-style dishes, set to open in Chinatown.
Paula Escudero, Owner of Smokin Good Bistro and Deli, is preparing to open a brick-and-mortar location for her popular bistro and deli. Another notable attendee was Luis Alvarez, Owner of Louie Louie Fried Chicken, which is bringing a fresh take on fried chicken to the Las Vegas dining scene, taking over a former Chicken Shack location.
Representatives from several of What Now Media Group’s Preferred Partners attended to offer expert guidance and support. Fernando Martinez-Reding of Cushman & Wakefield provided real estate strategies to help operators find ideal spaces for new locations. Dan Goodwin of Green CO2 shared insights into eco-friendly CO2 solutions that help restaurants reduce operational costs while promoting sustainability.
From E HPS Heartland, Vincent Llauger, Samuel Sapien, and Nicole Khodabandeh were on hand to speak with operators about streamlining back-office operations. Susan Nagi from Our Town America presented strategies to help restaurants grow their customer base by marketing directly to new movers. Meanwhile, Gene Rotondo of TagRisk discussed the importance of tailored insurance packages that protect hospitality businesses from common industry risks.
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 Caleb Spivak 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 Caleb 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 Las Vegas 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.
For a complete list of our partners and to learn more about how to become a preferred partner, click here.
