Why Better Leadership—Not Better Cocktails—Unlocks Bar Success with Dave Nitzel

What if better leadership—not better cocktails—is the secret to unlocking your bar’s full potential?

 In this episode, Chris sits down with Dave Nitzel to unpack why the old-school, hard-nosed management style in hospitality just doesn’t cut it anymore. From coaching bar leaders to changing lives, Dave shares how real leadership development can radically transform not just your team—but your entire business.

In today's episode:

• Learn why hospitality leadership is about more than barking orders—and how to become the kind of boss people want to follow.
• Hear why dive bar owners and fine dining managers actually have more in common than you think when it comes to leadership.
• Discover the truth behind those “Bar Rescue” style quick fixes—and why real change takes time, support, and community.

Hit play now to hear how Dave and Chris are flipping the script on hospitality leadership—one honest conversation at a time.

Learn More:
Schedule a Strategy Session
Bar Business Nation Facebook Group
The Bar Business Podcast Website
Chris' Book 'How to Make Top-Shelf Profits in the Bar Business'

Thank you to our show sponsors, SpotOn and Starfish. SpotOn's modern, cloud-based POS system allows bars to increase team productivity and provides the reporting you need to make smart financial decisions. Starfish works with your bookkeeping software using AI to help you make data-driven decisions and maximize your profits while giving you benchmarking data to understand how you compare to the industry at large.
**We are a SpotOn affiliate and earn commissions from the link above.

A podcast for bar, pub, tavern, nightclub, and restaurant owners, managers, and hospitality professionals, covering essential topics like bar inventory, marketing strategies, restaurant financials, and hospitality profits to help increase bar profits and overall success in the hospitality industry.