A vibrant mix of Miami restaurateurs and food industry professionals came together for What Now Media Group’s latest “Accelerate” event, hosted at the upscale cocktail lounge Red Phone Booth at 1010 Brickell Ave. The evening offered a prime opportunity for local restaurant operators to network, share growth strategies, and gain expert insights tailored to Miami’s dynamic hospitality scene.
Red Phone Booth, an exclusive Prohibition-style speakeasy tucked away in the heart of Brickell, set the tone for an engaging evening as it welcomed dozens of attendees from across the What Now Miami community. This included restaurateurs featured on What Now Miami and key representatives from What Now Media Group’s network of Preferred Partners. Guests enjoyed a lively networking atmosphere before diving into a presentation centered on scaling, streamlining, and sustaining success in today’s competitive market.
The event was led by Gisela Gonzalez, events manager at What Now Media Group, and included a diverse roster of Miami restaurant owners, operators, and emerging entrepreneurs. Among those in attendance was Shai Ivgi, franchisee of Pokemoto, a growing fast-casual chain known for its customizable Hawaiian poke bowls. Representing the fast-expanding Kochalos Hospitality Group, Alejandro Bakir, director of operations, and John Gonzalez, general manager for Bonchon, were also present as the team grows its Korean fried chicken footprint in the region.
Kana Nur-tegin, co-owner of Macaron Maestro, also participated, offering uniquely filled French-style macarons in various unexpected flavors. Maria Banjac, co-owner of Cave305, attended alongside Reinaldo Leonel, manager, as they prepare to launch their modern Mediterranean-inspired concept in Miami Beach.
Representing Playa Bowls, Alexandra Arguello and Selena Arguello discussed their upcoming locations offering acai bowls and specialty coffee. Also in attendance were Alex Macias, owner of Miami Bowls, a brand launched by a University of Miami student, and Teodoro Armas and Stephanie Armas, co-owners of Ted’s Burgers, transitioning from pop-up to permanent burger destination.
Other restaurant owners and operators included Jonathan Chen of Dumpling Panda / The Fatty Crab and Melanie Bell, franchisee of The Baked Bear, a brand known for its custom ice cream sandwiches and recent expansion to Wynwood. Marc Sznapstajler of La Vela Coffee showcased artisan coffee sourcing options that enhance in-house cafe offerings.
Several members of What Now Media Group’s Preferred Partners network also attended, with over eight business support providers offering actionable advice and resources to help restaurants optimize and grow. Ozzie Zamora of A Head for Profits shared draft system maintenance strategies that help bar-centric concepts like Red Phone Booth keep their beverage programs running smoothly. Alexander Sanchez of Heartland spoke with attendees about integrated payroll solutions designed specifically for restaurant operations.
Cat Hopkins and Horazceo Crawford from SpotOn provided insight into POS and tech tools that streamline front- and back-of-house operations. Natalia Karidis and Javier Kitaigorodsky of SwipeBy were also present, highlighting their geo-fenced mobile ordering platform that boosts visibility and pickup efficiency for fast-casual brands.
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 enriching and beneficial for all attendees.
This led Gisela Gonzalez 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 Gisela 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 was a valuable platform for restaurant owners and industry partners to collaborate, brainstorm, and form new connections. The Miami 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.
