A diverse group of Orange County restaurateurs and industry professionals came together for a recent “Accelerate” event hosted by What Now Media Group at SOCIAL Costa Mesa. The event served as a collaborative hub for Orange County’s thriving restaurant scene, allowing business owners and experts to connect, share insights, and explore strategies to stay ahead in today’s fast-evolving market.
SOCIAL Costa Mesa, a stylish and contemporary restaurant known for its elevated American cuisine and craft cocktails, hosted the complimentary event at 512 W 19th Street, welcoming a wide range of operators and representatives from businesses featured on What Now Orange County. Attendees networked while enjoying a relaxed atmosphere before sitting in for a presentation on driving business growth and innovation.
The event was led by Mariah Medley, director of events and partner engagement at What Now Media Group, and featured conversations with several notable restaurateurs and business owners. Among the attendees was Dean Stehlik, franchisee of Slice House, a fast-casual pizza concept known for its creative New York-style pies. Also present was Vijayakumar Alagiriswamy, co-franchisee of Eight Turn Crepe, which specializes in handcrafted Japanese-style crepes and has recently expanded into Seal Beach.
Representing the thriving healthy food scene in Orange County, Cole Carson, owner of Thrive Juice Lab, joined the event to connect with other entrepreneurs in the wellness and cafe space. Meanwhile, Imran’ Ali’ Mookhi, owner of Shor Bazaar / Khan Saab Desi Craft Kitchen / Kabana, attended alongside his business partners Iqbal Hosseini and Laura Estrada. Their group of elevated South Asian restaurants has drawn praise for its fusion flavors and upscale dining experience.
Also in attendance were Dessi Sarabosing and Boris Mitrev, co-founders of Zesty Olives / PastaViva, a growing Mediterranean-inspired fast-casual concept, and Vitaliy Yakovlev, co-owner of Redshift Coffee Roasters, which brings a science-forward approach to specialty coffee in Orange County.
The guests also included Jason Yamaguchi, owner of Konpa, a soon-to-open concept combining Japanese and Peruvian flavors in an elevated coastal setting, and Jasmin Gonzalez, owner of Breezy, a laid-back dining experience currently undergoing an exciting expansion, who attended the event with managers Anthony Gonzalez and Brandon Oudomsouk.
Several members of What Now Media Group’s network of Preferred Partners also participated, bringing their expertise to help restaurateurs thrive. Representatives from over 10 preferred partner companies attended, including Nicole Khodabandeh and Emily Gardea of E HPS Heartland, who provided guidance on streamlining payroll and back-office operations.
From Our Town America, Joe Nunziata was on hand to share how their direct mail programs can attract new residents to local restaurants. The team from Prudential Overall Supply—Tony Santoyo, Jimmie Cobb, and Martin Kleckner—offered insight into uniform and linen solutions designed to elevate brand image and efficiency.
Michael Viola of PURE Restaurant Solutions discussed how his firm helps restaurants simplify bookkeeping and manage finances more accurately. From the marketing side, Thomas Pham and Ali Sepehri of SLIQUE Media showcased their creative strategies for helping restaurants stand out in a crowded digital landscape. Gene Rotondo and Brian Kozlowski of Tagrisk LLC also spoke with operators about customized insurance policies that protect businesses against 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 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 Orange County 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.
