A collection of San Diego’s rising restaurateurs and hospitality professionals gathered on Tuesday, September 23, for What Now Media Group’s latest “Accelerate” event at Frenchy’s Hideout. The evening provided a valuable opportunity for local restaurant operators to connect, share insights, and strategize together amid the fast-evolving food and beverage landscape.
Frenchy’s Hideout, a vibrant new venue from Michael Simpson, located at 142 W University Avenue, Ste C in Hillcrest, hosted a free event that brought together over two dozen representatives from businesses featured on What Now San Diego. Guests mingled over light bites, including braised beef with mashed potatoes and a savory panini, before gathering for a presentation focused on sustainable growth and operational strategy.
The event was hosted by Mariah Medley, Director of Events and Partner Engagement at What Now Media Group, who led the evening’s discussion and highlighted the achievements and goals of the restaurant operators in attendance. She was joined by CJ Compton, the group’s newest event manager, who observed in preparation for hosting the What Now Los Angeles Accelerate event later in the week. Joey Reams, What Now San Diego’s primary contributor, was also on hand to connect with both restaurant owners and preferred partners.
Attendees included Danny and Robert Kronfli of Bacari, a cozy, small-plates concept rooted in Mediterranean cuisine, known for its warm, rustic ambiance. MJ Ko and Candy Salazar represented Noir Sushi and Sake Fusion Lounge, a soon-to-open concept merging modern Japanese cuisine with sleek, nightlife-inspired design.
Nattapon “Nat” Thitathan of The Pad Thai Stand and Sam Sawiris of The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill were also in attendance. The Pad Thai Stand brings traditional Thai street food to the forefront, while The Great Greek continues to expand its fresh, fast-casual Mediterranean offerings throughout Southern California.
Other local operators included Gilbert Zacarias and Jair Santos of Giovannetti’s Italian Cuisine, who are bringing old-school Italian comfort food to Vista. Max Abbo and Alexis Abbo from Crack Taco Shop, Traci Harris and business partner Terry Roberts from Bruster’s Real Ice Cream, and Luis Madrid from Coronado Coffee also attended.
Laura Cunningham and Craig Kilby, co-franchisees of The Fresh Monkee, joined the event as they prepare to bring their protein-packed smoothie concept to Carlsbad, announcing they are looking for additional San Diego franchisees to expand the concept even further.
Several of What Now Media Group’s Preferred Partners were in attendance, offering insights and guidance to help local operators streamline and scale their businesses. More than a dozen partners participated in the event.
Andre McGarry from Global Payments discussed modern POS solutions that improve service speed and accuracy. Jessica Nies-Burridge of Heartland shared how their tailored payroll systems help restaurants simplify staffing operations as they grow.
Joy Zane of Liquid Environmental Solutions explained how grease trap management can ensure regulatory compliance and avoid costly maintenance issues. David Cox of Our Town America presented direct mail marketing strategies that reach new residents and help restaurants build strong local customer bases. From the marketing space, Ali Sepehri and Thomas Pham of SLIQUE Media offered digital branding and growth solutions tailored for food and beverage businesses.
The insurance needs of hospitality operators were addressed by Gene Rotondo, Larry Anaya, and Joshua Rubin from Tagrisk, who emphasized the importance of customized coverage as operators open new locations or expand their service models.
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 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 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.
Click here for a complete list of our partners. To learn more about becoming a preferred partner, click here.
