A variety of Nashville restaurateurs and industry professionals gathered for an “Accelerate” event hosted by What Now Media Group at Love’s Alibi on Tuesday, June 9, 2026. The event provided a valuable opportunity for Nashville’s restaurant community to connect, exchange ideas, and discuss strategies for navigating today’s competitive hospitality landscape.
Love’s Alibi, a newly announced cocktail concept from LeBlanc + Smith Hospitality located at 901 Gleaves St. in Nashville’s Gulch neighborhood, hosted the free event, bringing together dozens of representatives from businesses featured on What Now Nashville. This included local restaurant owners and operators, as well as industry-leading experts from What Now Media Group’s network of Preferred Partners. Attendees networked throughout the evening before participating in a presentation focused on growth strategies, operational efficiency, and long-term business success.
The event was hosted by Mariah Medley, Director of Events and Partner Engagement at What Now Media Group, and featured a diverse group of restaurateurs and business owners actively expanding throughout Middle Tennessee. Attendees included Jason Sorbet, managing partner of Love’s Alibi, and Emily Akers, co-owner of Cherokee Steakhouse, which is preparing to reopen under new ownership in Gallatin.
Other participants included Luis Barragan, co-owner of Loving Oven Bakery, a popular farmers market bakery expanding its operations in the Nashville area, and Sarah Gallego, owner of Alma Viva Cafe, a specialty coffee concept preparing to open this summer.
Additional restaurant owners included Skip Engelbrecht, co-owner of Fishmonger, the Michelin-recognized seafood concept making its way to Nashville, as well as Jason and Brooklyn Jewell, co-owners of Whiskey Bravo Southern Kitchen & Smokehouse, an upcoming restaurant bringing Southern hospitality and smoked specialties to Clarksville.
Attendees also included Joe Harvey, co-owner of Harvey’s New York Style Bagels, which continues to pursue aggressive growth plans throughout the region, along with Jeff Crabiel and Jake Strang, co-owners of Ugly Bagel, a locally loved bagel concept in downtown Nashville.
Additional participants included Adam Bowlds, co-owner of Doublz, a California-based fast-casual brand making its Tennessee debut; Shivani Darsinos, co-owner of Bar Ena; and Sarah Pomella, chief of staff for 7 Brew, which continues expanding its drive-thru coffee footprint. Justin Ely, owner of Swerv, was also in attendance, sharing plans for his innovative entertainment-driven concept designed to bring communities together through sim racing.
Representatives from several of What Now Media Group’s Preferred Partners attended to offer guidance and support to local operators. More than a dozen Preferred Partner representatives participated in the event, providing expertise across technology, security, construction, beverage systems, public relations, and operational services.
From A Head For Profits, Kat Davis, director of customer relations; Shane Dye, sales manager; and Rick Autery, partner, shared insights into draft beverage installation and maintenance solutions to help restaurants maximize beverage quality and operational efficiency. Representatives from ADT, including Ken Lewis, general sales manager, and Stephanie Rauck, discussed security technologies designed to protect hospitality businesses and their assets.
Attendees also connected with Connor Holland and Ricky Garcia from Ecolab, who highlighted sanitation, food safety, and pest-management solutions that help restaurants maintain compliance and operational excellence. Blake Lansing, a hospitality specialist with SpotOn, spoke with operators about modern point-of-sale and merchant services technologies designed specifically for restaurants.
Public relations expertise was represented by Macey Cleary-Binner, vice president of business development, and Brook Farrell, senior account manager at REED Public Relations, who discussed strategies for helping restaurant brands build awareness and connect with their communities. Meanwhile, Rick Deitrick and Steven Castleberry of Trinity Constructors provided guidance on construction and development considerations for expanding operators.
Additional support was provided by Matthew Gabell, district manager at Global Payments, who shared insights into payment processing and restaurant technology solutions designed to streamline operations and improve guest experiences.
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 Mariah Medley 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 Mariah 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 Nashville 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 2026. 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.
