A diverse group of Philadelphia restaurateurs and food and beverage professionals gathered for an “Accelerate” event hosted by What Now Media Group at Thanal Indian Tavern, located at 1939 Arch Street in Center City. The July 24, 2025, gathering offered an exclusive opportunity for local operators to connect, collaborate, and explore growth strategies in today’s evolving hospitality landscape.
Thanal Indian Tavern, a modern Indian restaurant offering a refined take on regional cuisine in a stylish setting, welcomed attendees to a free event that brought together dozens of representatives from businesses featured on What Now Philadelphia. Local restaurant owners and What Now Media Group’s Preferred Partners exchanged ideas over small bites and drinks before participating in a presentation centered on operational efficiency, market expansion, and sustainable growth.
The evening was hosted by Mariah Medley, Director of Events and Partner Engagement at What Now Media Group, and featured a diverse group of notable Philadelphia restaurateurs. Connor Sheridan, co-owner of Prime Station Brewing, attended as his team prepares to debut its brewery concept, focused on community-centric craft beer, in Philadelphia.
Also present was Alex Flack, co-owner of Wilt’s Chocolate Smothered Strawberries and Brooklyn Dumpling Shop, both of which bring unique fast-casual models to the local scene—from chocolate-covered treats to cutting-edge dumpling vending technology.
From Philadelphia’s sports bar mainstay, P.J. Whelihan’s, Jessica Breslow, CEO, connected with other operators as the brand continues to expand its presence across the Mid-Atlantic. Keiara Bowen, catering manager at The Slider Co., also attended, discussing the brand’s growth in custom catering and in-house events.
Several Preferred Partners from What Now Media Group’s network also participated in the event, offering expert guidance and business solutions to help restaurants scale efficiently. Five Preferred Partners were in attendance, each offering tailored services designed to streamline operations and reduce overhead for restaurant operators.
Steven Arnold of ADT spoke with guests about how innovative security solutions—like video surveillance and access control—can protect restaurant spaces and customer data. From Global Payments – Genius Point of Sale, Alexandra Malone provided insight into next-gen POS tools that simplify front-of-house management and support multi-location growth.
Rebecca Gerhart, territory manager at Heartland, highlighted the company’s comprehensive payroll solutions, which streamline HR processes and enable restaurants to focus on delivering an exceptional guest experience. Ken Sultar of Our Town America explained how hyper-targeted direct mail campaigns bring in new customers by connecting with local movers.
From SpotOn, hospitality specialists Carlie Lapote and Taylor-Rae Camissa discussed integrated payment, POS, and marketing solutions that help operators better engage with guests and drive revenue.
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 provided a valuable platform for restaurant owners and industry partners to collaborate, brainstorm, and establish new connections. It’s clear that the Philadelphia 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.
Stay tuned for future Accelerate events from What Now Media Group in 2025. 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.
