A vibrant mix of New Orleans restaurateurs and food industry professionals gathered on Thursday, October 9th, for an Accelerate event hosted by What Now Media Group at Pizza Bella. Held from 3–5 p.m., the event created a lively space for conversation, collaboration, and connections among the city’s growing restaurant community.
Pizza Bella, a casual Italian eatery known for its Neapolitan-style pies and cozy neighborhood vibe, hosted the free event at 8115 Oak St. The gathering brought together dozens of entrepreneurs featured on What Now New Orleans, along with industry-leading experts from What Now Media Group’s nationwide network of Preferred Partners. Attendees enjoyed meaningful networking and discussions, followed by an in-depth presentation centered on strategies for growth in a challenging and evolving market.
The event was led by CJ Compton, What Now Media Group’s newest event manager, and drew a variety of notable restaurant owners, operators, and business representatives from across the Crescent City. Among the many local restaurateurs in attendance was Beaux Church, owner of Frissons, a vibrant fast-casual spot serving Cajun-inspired eats. Terrez Collins, owner of Trap Haus, also joined the discussion, sharing insight on expanding wellness-focused food concepts in Louisiana.
Representing the Mid-City mainstay, Mid-City Pizza, was co-owner Anthony Cortello, who spoke about the brand’s return and expansion plans. Melissa Araujo, chef and owner of Alma Cafe, a contemporary Latin American restaurant, was also in attendance and shared thoughts on building meaningful customer connections through storytelling and culture.
Other attendees included Camille Whitworth, co-owner of Baroness on Bayou Rd., who is helping bring new life to the historic Caribbean Club location. Also present were co-owners Kevin Barduca and Melissa McCoy of Bruiser’s, a Chicago-style hot dog concept with big comeback plans.
Avni Ozborcek, manager of host restaurant Pizza Bella, participated in the event, sharing insight into their Oak Street debut. The Kajunlicious Food Therapy team, including Ken Mathieu, Kenrenteiel Mathieu, and Teon Gordon, also brought their voices to the table, representing their home-style, comfort-food concept with passion and purpose.
The event was also attended by Chelsea Shannon, a food and dining reporter at The Times-Picayune, who offered a media perspective on the local culinary scene.
Representatives from What Now Media Group’s network of Preferred Partners were on hand at the event, offering expert resources to help restaurateurs enhance their operations and drive growth.
Ed LeBlanc of Global Payments – Genius Point of Sale discussed modern POS and merchant service solutions tailored for restaurants of all sizes. As a Software Relationship Manager, LeBlanc provided hands-on advice to attendees seeking to streamline payment processes and improve overall efficiency.
Also in attendance was Antoine Courtney of SpotOn, who shared how the platform’s all-in-one hospitality tools, including POS, payments, and marketing features, can help operators simplify workflows and improve the guest experience.
While only two Preferred Partners participated in this event, their presence sparked valuable one-on-one conversations with local restaurant owners about overcoming operational challenges and identifying new opportunities for growth. 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 CJ Compton 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 CJ 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 New Orleans 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.
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Photo: Official
