A diverse mix of Los Angeles restaurateurs and industry professionals came together for an Accelerate event hosted by What Now Media Group on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at Florentin Rooftop Bar, a Mediterranean-inspired bar in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles. The rooftop venue served as an elevated backdrop for local hospitality leaders to connect, share insights, and strategize on thriving in today’s ever-changing restaurant landscape.
Florentin Rooftop Bar, located at 617 S Spring Street in the heart of Downtown LA and known for its speakeasy vibes and panoramic city views, hosted the free event, welcoming dozens of representatives from businesses featured on What Now Los Angeles. Guests from across the metro area mingled over curated bites and beverages before joining an in-depth discussion on building, growing, and sustaining success in a highly competitive market.
Mariah Medley, director of events and partner engagement at What Now Media Group, hosted the event, which brought together a dynamic lineup of local restaurateurs, franchisees, and operators, each with unique stories and visions for growth.
Among the attendees was Prince Riley, co-owner of Joyce Soul & Sea, a modern soul food concept coming to South Grand Avenue, who is preparing to launch the brand’s first brick-and-mortar. Tima Bell, co-owner of Washington Square Pizza, a new Venice-based pizzeria concept combining artistic design with a fast-casual menu, was also in attendance.
Jon Rogan, co-owner of Beasties, shared plans for the brand’s Long Beach debut. The concept offers a Mexican-inspired twist on the Smashburger trend and has quickly gained traction with its playful approach to fast-casual dining. Marsha Tekeste, owner of Harmony by Lavender Blue, attended alongside her general manager, Tebereh Tekeste, to discuss the upcoming Inglewood restaurant and lounge that fuses elevated cuisine with live music and nightlife.
Also present were Michael Grajewski and Travis Waiting of Lobster Guys, who are preparing to open the brand’s fourth Southern California location. Known for their coastal eats and casual seafood fare, the team emphasized their focus on customer experience and community partnerships.
Representing Toastique’s growing LA footprint, Mounir Ouaddi, Ali Ouaddi, and Charles Steynberg connected with other restaurateurs to discuss franchise opportunities for the popular gourmet toast and juice bar concept. Mayra Salman, a Nekter Juice Bar franchisee leading the brand’s return to the Los Angeles market, also joined the conversation.
Other notable attendees included Laura Estrada, general manager of Shor Bazaar, a contemporary Indian restaurant launched by the team behind Khan Saab Desi Craft Kitchen, and Carina Quintero, director of marketing at Cork and Batter, which is expanding its sports bar and elevated dining concept into new markets.
Several What Now Media Group’s Preferred Partners also attended, offering hands-on advice and resources for attendees navigating growth and operational challenges. In total, over a dozen Preferred Partners were present, including point-of-sale specialists, insurance providers, HR consultants, and more.
Representing SpotOn, Jemimah Buerano and Brittani Baker were on hand to share how their all-in-one POS and restaurant management system can streamline front and back-of-house operations. Gene Rotondo, Larry Anaya, and Brian Kozlowski of Tagrisk provided insights on how tailored insurance coverage protects restaurants from the industry’s most common liabilities.
From E HPS Heartland, Nicole Khodabandeh and Vanessa Gaytan spoke with attendees about solutions for simplifying payroll, HR, and compliance. Joe Nunziata of Our Town America introduced direct-mail programs that help restaurants target and welcome new movers to their neighborhoods. Meanwhile, Randy Winans and Steve Soto from Prudential Overall Supply discussed uniform and linen rental services designed specifically for high-volume foodservice 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, creating an engaging and informative evening that was both enriching and beneficial for all attendees.
This led Caleb Spivak, CEO and Founder of What Now Media Group, to discuss 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 interested in learning more about their businesses and how they could help one another.
This event served as a valuable platform for restaurant owners and industry partners to collaborate, brainstorm, and form new connections. The Los Angeles 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 2025. For more details, see the Accelerate page here.
