A diverse group of San Diego restaurateurs and hospitality professionals came together on Thursday, May 15, for an intimate and lively “Accelerate” event hosted by What Now Media Group at Alchemy – Choose Thy Poison. The cocktail-focused, experiential bar at 1932 Kearney Ave #100 in San Diego offered a stylish setting for industry insiders to connect and collaborate on navigating the ever-evolving food and beverage landscape.
Alchemy – Choose Thy Poison hosted the free event, welcoming nearly 36 guests representing more than 18 unique hospitality concepts featured on What Now San Diego. Attendees mingled over sangria, craft cocktails, and light bites, including ceviche, Caesar salad, and savory handhelds, all provided by Eddy Cortes, the bar’s generous and gracious owner. Unlike past events, this evening was uniquely curated without a formal presentation—Mariah Medley, director of events and partner engagement at What Now Media Group, instead focused on introductions and strengthening ties between the restaurant community and What Now’s network of Preferred Partners.
Among the notable attendees was Michael Simpson, co-owner of Frenchy’s Hideout, a Hillcrest-based fast-casual concept preparing to debut next month with a bold take on American street food. Also present were Gary Jacobson, Carmen Colon, and Joe Colon, co-owners of Cocina Del Carmen, known for their authentic Puerto Rican cuisine and gearing up for a second location in Temecula.
The evening also brought together Fredrick “Freddy” Holloman, franchisee of Dirty Birds, which is opening its first franchised site in Oceanside, and David Rudolph, owner of the upcoming La Jolla Food Hall. Rudolph’s project aims to transform a former bank into a bustling culinary hub.
Other standout attendees included Tramy Tran and Chris Viray of Salty Lemonade, a unique pop-up concept now opening its first brick-and-mortar space, and Ker Zhu, the visionary behind Luscious Dumplings, a Michelin Bib Gourmand-awarded restaurant set to make its San Diego debut.
San Diego’s event also welcomed Suzanne Nguyen, owner of Dija Mara, a critically acclaimed Southeast Asian bistro in Oceanside that has earned Michelin recognition, and Collin Corrigan, operator of Una Mas on Adams, a modern Latin dining concept reshaping an old beer hall space.
The Accelerate event also featured strong participation from What Now Media Group’s network of Preferred Partners. Representatives from six partner companies were on-site, providing expert insight and support to help restaurants grow and thrive.
Jessica Nies-Burridge of E HPS Heartland shared strategies for simplifying payroll and back-office operations, making it easier for restaurateurs to scale efficiently. From Our Town America, David Cox spoke about the company’s direct-mail marketing platform, which targets new movers and offers a powerful customer acquisition strategy.
Uniform and linen specialists Nicole Guarnotta and Johnathan Fornes of Prudential Overall Supply also attended, helping operators explore sustainable and cost-effective uniform solutions. Thomas Pham and Ali Sepehri of SLIQUE Media introduced tailored marketing solutions that elevate local brands through digital storytelling and performance-driven campaigns. From SpotOn, Taylor Stalder and Kevin Whatley discussed point-of-sale innovations that streamline service and payment processing. At the same time, Larry Anaya, Brian Kozlowski, and Gene Rotondo of Tagrisk LLC provided valuable insurance insights to protect hospitality businesses from industry-specific 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 both enriching and beneficial for all attendees.
This led Joey Reams, What Now San Diego’s lead contributor, to close out the evening with heartfelt remarks that left guests feeling appreciated and energized. His words reinforced the importance of shared experience, recognition, and the strength of the local hospitality network.
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 San Diego 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.
