Laguna’s F&B Scene + New Podcast Alert!

In Monday, March 17th’s “Best of Laguna Beach” radio show (audio replay above) at Laguna’s only KXFM Radio 104.7, I brought in my two favorite regulars – together – for THREE big discussions:

🔥 New behind-the-scenes restaurant podcast!
🍽️ My latest updates on the entire restaurant scene in Laguna
🚧 Big renovation beginning at Main Beach

Joining me was Ruben Flores, owner of Laguna Nursery and Visionscape, Inc. and a significant voice in Laguna Beach.
Then, I brought Bruce Russo back into Monday’s mix, because this national G.O.A.T of restaurant industry design and build had a lot to say about all three discussion points.1st discussion - our new podcast launching, Mastering Restaurant Revenue!


On Tuesday, Bruce and I launched our podcast after realizing that his chats with me on the “Best of Laguna Beach” radio show about creating smarter design and profitable restaurants were some of my most popular shows. This subject matter clearly attracts chefs, restaurateurs, investors and a surprising audience of people who just like to eat out. Now, our weekly podcast (separate of my weekly radio show, mind you) strictly focuses on this mad, mysterious science of restaurant success.


Our first 3 podcast episodes dropped Tuesday


All of our episodes are available on your favorite podcast platform and the video episodes are here at our YouTube station where we’d love 💓 new subscribers:Watch Episodes: YouTubeThe three of us quickly reviewed:
Ep #1 - The Profit First Restaurant Playbook - This introductory episode talks about Bruce’s realization two decades ago that restaurants are really manufacturing plants. From there, it changed everything in how he designed restaurants.
Ep #2 - Secret Revenue Pods for Every Restaurant - most restaurants don’t take advantage of the many revenue “pods” that can be implemented in any restaurant concept.
Ep #3 - Renovation, Rats and Money Traps - We discuss whacky, sometimes ghastly MacGyver hacks that we’ve seen during restaurant inspections in behalf of our interested restaurant operators looking at the space. Here’s what you need to look out for before you sign a lease.We’ve also set up a Mastering Restaurant Revenue website with perks and bonuses:

• Podcast replays the moment they drop out there in the world (you won’t see them here at the Best of Laguna Beach website)
• Secret Subscriber podcast bonuses
• Q-and-A live sessions with us
• Community quizzes and polls (because we use your answers to dive into what you really want to hear)
  Free Subscription: Restaurant Revenue

2nd discussion - Laguna’s current map of Food & Beverage Concepts


Then, we turned to my recently updated spreadsheets on Laguna’s Food & Beverage concepts. My first spreadsheet is about every restaurant in this town from the 1980s forward, when they’ve opened and when they’ve closed. This helps me watch trends over time. Also noted:

• I give the lowdown on when culinary really started in this town “The Grand Trifecta.”
• While “casual dining” (counter service) is occurring more in Laguna Beach, our Laguna residents counter service-oriented?

The second spreadsheet is about where each F&B concept is located in Laguna Beach (coffee shops to fine dining and everything in between). This allows Bruce and I to look at the entire map of the city and how we’re accommodating our residents and visitors in the various sections of our town.

• Bruce talks about the real problem behind so many cars coming into town.
• Our opinions on day trippers and their coolers, and Ruben asks, “How do we get to the point where we look at ‘day trippers’ as a positive thing for all us who live here in Laguna Beach?”
• With the decline in our Chef driven “destination restaurants,” are we losing our culinary scene caché?
• We talk about the high number of restaurants in the Downtown Corridor that are not benefitting from the marketing attention invested on the Promenade on Forest Avenue.
• Bruce shares the solutions he’s put in place for other cities to expedite vacancy issues and permitting processes with every party involved.

3rd discussion - Ruben then points to the renovation of Main Beach

• We discuss the lost opportunity in branding Laguna Beach in a more attractive way, and Bruce weighs in with options he does at his sites around the country.
• Ruben also notes that two Main Beach long-time palm trees that were gifted to