What Now Media Group brought its acclaimed Accelerate event to life inside Mona, a Mediterranean-inspired lounge filled with low lighting, lush greenery, and a buzzing crowd.
Mona, known for its elevated dining and cocktails, is located at 1308 Chestnut St. The restaurant draws inspiration from founder Teddy Sourias’ Greek heritage and was brought to life by designer Oscar Soto.
Restaurateurs and industry professionals from Philadelphia and New Jersey filled the room for the free event, held Jan. 29 in the heart of the city.
The industry-leading experts in What Now Media Group’s network of Preferred Partners help new businesses open and existing businesses grow.
Guests connected and exchanged ideas while sampling dishes such as hummus with tahini and roasted garlic, baba ganoush, tzatziki, and tirokafteri, along with a selection of beverages.
The event was hosted by Mariah Medley, director of events and partner engagement at What Now Media Group. She led the evening’s discussion, highlighting the achievements and goals of the restaurant operators in attendance and giving each the chance to share their concept, current progress, and future plans.
Regional reporter Courtney McGinley, Philadelphia’s primary contributor, joined Medley after previously connecting with the operators to share their stories. She also engaged with restaurant operators and preferred partners throughout the event.
Attendees
OPEN CONCEPTS
Savu: 208 S 13th St., Philadelphia, PA 19107, Owner: Kevin Dolce
Savu, Kevin Dolce’s new fine-casual spot in Philadelphia, offers New American cuisine, a curated cocktail program, and a two-story open layout with a retractable roof.
Sweet Nina’s: 51 N 12th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107, Owner: Nina Bryan
Sweet Nina’s is a female-and Black-owned shop at Philadelphia’s Reading Terminal Market specializing in banana pudding.
Blue South: 28 N Lansdowne Ave., Lansdowne, PA 19050, Owner: Jacob Blue
Blue South is a daytime deli and nighttime restaurant serving Southern-inspired dishes with a modern bistro vibe and a BYOB option.
Rhythm & Spirits: 1617 John F Kennedy Blvd #1190 One Penn Center, Philadelphia, PA 19103, Owner: Lee Sanchez and Mark Callazzo
Rhythm and Spirits is a restaurant and cocktail club serving Italian-inspired fare, weekend brunch with DJs, and live evening performances, including a Frank Sinatra throwback night.
Luna Italian Cuisine: 2615 Linglestown Rd, Harrisburg, PA 17110, Owner: Scotto Family
Family-owned Luna Italian Cuisine in Harrisburg serves classic Italian dishes, including pasta, pizza, seafood, and hearty entrees.
Cerveau: 990 Spring Garden St., Philadelphia, PA 19123, Owner: Joe Hunter
Cerveau, led by chef Joe Hunter, offers pizza, pasta, and inventive small plates, including sliders and kebabs, in a playful, colorful space with psychedelic decor and artwork.
UPCOMING CONCEPTS
Johnny Scoops: 3020 Pacific Ave. Wildwood, NJ 08260, Owner: Michael Terzaghi
Johnny Scoops, a beloved ice cream shop, is expanding to offer dine-in, takeout, new menu items, and a dual concept serving breakfast and ice cream.
Love Child: 990 Spring Garden St., Philadelphia, PA 19123, Owner: Elijah Milligan
Love Child will blend global flavors, wood-fired meats, and locally sourced cocktails to create an inviting, personal dining experience.
Brunch Bulls: 1638 W Passyunk Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19145, Owner: Derrick “Dee” and Jarrick “Jakk” Long
Brunch Bulls will serve brunch, lunch, and dinner with housemade cocktails, classic dishes with unique twists, and themed events in a lively, community-focused space.
Tailgate Sports Bar: 1033 N 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19123, Owner: Garis Pierre Eddington
Tailgate Sports Bar in Northern Liberties will offer an upscale sports-bar experience with more than 30 TVs, a large patio, games, and a menu featuring ribs and wings.
The Peabody: 1431 Cecil B. Moore Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19121, Owner: Garis Pierre Eddington
The Peabody at Temple University is being reimagined as a community-focused spot with Temple-themed design, two bars, booth seating, jumbotrons, a private event space, and a menu of freshly made items.
Shibam Coffee: 3748 Lancaster Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19104, Co-owner: Waqas Ghayas
Shibam Coffee is opening in University City, serving traditional Yemeni and Turkish coffee, teas, refreshers, and pastries in a family-friendly environment.
Eclipse Brewing: 25 E Park Ave, Merchantville, NJ, Owner: Megan Hilbert
Megan Hilbert is taking over a Merchantville microbrewery, refreshing the space with a darker interior, expanded event area, community touches, and a menu including create-your-own seltzers and nonalcoholic options.
Palm Vintage: 1414 S Penn Square, Philadelphia, PA 19102, Owner: Mihail “Mike” Beja and Houston Yang
Palm Vintage at the Ritz-Carlton in Philadelphia will operate as a café by day, serving coffee and sandwiches, and transform into a high-end sushi restaurant and bar by night.
DuoTaco: 1102 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19107, Owner: Roland Taylor
Duo Taco, celebrated for its birria chicken tacos, blackened salmon tacos, and Mexican street corn, brings its Chester flavors to a second Philadelphia location.
PARTNERS
Partners from a range of industries attended What Now Media Group’s Accelerate event.
Alexandra Malone of Global Payments works in POS software solutions, while Joseph Platyan is a principal agent at Main Line Risk Management.
Edward Binnie, an account executive at OpenTable, handles reservations, while Jim Thomas, a sales executive at Restaurant Technologies, Inc., specializes in automated cooking-oil solutions.
Carlie Lapote and Taylor-Rae Cammisa are hospitality specialists at SpotOn, with a focus on POS solutions.
Stay tuned for What Now Media Group’s future Accelerate events in 2026. For updates, visit the Accelerate page.
See a full list of our partners: here. To learn how to become a preferred partner, visit our website.
