For the first time in five years, I sat down with my friend Bill Laviolette—this time inside his brand-new Shotgun Willie's location in East Nashville. This episode marks the first-ever recording in the space, and it couldn’t have been more fitting as we dug into the real challenges of opening, owning, and operating a restaurant in today’s Nashville.

Bill shares candid insights on:

• The realities of building and moving into a new restaurant space in East Nashville

• Staffing in a hyper-competitive labor market, and how he’s building a strong team culture

• Managing skyrocketing food and beverage costs while keeping prices approachable

• How to balance being a neighborhood spot while attracting a broader audience

• The role of community support, vendor partnerships, and hospitality “grit” in keeping the doors open

This isn’t just a conversation about one restaurant—it’s a snapshot of what it really takes to run a business in Nashville right now. Bill’s honesty and experience make this an essential listen for anyone connected to the hospitality industry.