#57 : Restaurant Business Foundations: Connection, Sustainability and Systems with Jen Quist

 

When restaurant dreams crash against business realities, what separates survivors from shuttered doors? In this revealing conversation, Simon Zatyrka talks with Jen Quist of Wishwell about the crucial balance between culinary creativity and business fundamentals.

From her career pivot at 30 to developing concepts for hotels across the country, Jen shares hard-earned wisdom about building restaurant foundations that last. This episode delivers practical insights on creating sustainable business models, fostering genuine community connections, and why the unsexy systems behind the scenes might be your restaurant's secret weapon for long-term success. Expect candid stories, tough love about industry myths, and a refreshing perspective on what truly keeps guests coming back.

A quick bio from Jen:

With nearly two decades in hospitality, Jen Quist combines entrepreneurial vision with operational expertise. Her journey spans from San Francisco real estate to French Culinary Institute training to award-winning restaurateur and consultant.

Quist launched Portland's acclaimed Riffle NW, directed operations at Davis Hospitality Group, and developed the renowned Multnomah Whiskey Library. She owned nationally recognized venues like Bullard (Esquire's "50 Best Restaurants") and Abigail Hall (Time Magazine's "100 Places to Visit").

As Head of Restaurant & Bar Development for Provenance Hotels and founder of Holler Hospitality, she excelled at creating profitable concepts within complex hotel environments. Through her company Wishwell, she continues shaping the hospitality landscape, with recent successes including Bend's Hawkeye & Huckleberry Lounge and F&B programs for boutique hotels across Oregon.

Success in hospitality means mastering two things: what happens inside your four walls — and how your business connects beyond them. At Wishwell, Jen bridges both.

Her work combines concept development, strategic structure, and thoughtful growth to help hospitality businesses become deeply rooted, well-run, and built to last. Because real hospitality doesn't just serve a community — it becomes essential to it.

 

Connect with Jen:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferquist/

Wishwell Website: https://www.thisiswishwell.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenquisty/

 

 

Connect with Simon:

mail: [e-mail]

Book a Call: https://calendly.com/culinarymechanic/connect

Website: https://www.simonsez.me/

 

If you're interested in Starfish: https://www.usestarfish.com/