The Pre-Shift

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The Pre-Shift

7shifts

79 episodes

1 week ago

How do you grow from a single taco joint to a 50+ location brand without losing the soul of your company? For Joe Kahn and Chris Artinian of Condado Tacos, the answer is simple: QUESO. In this episode, Founder Joe Kahn and CEO Chris Artinian share the origin story of Condado Tacos, built on the principle of creating a restaurant where people would want to work forever. They detail their unique "QUESO" framework—Quality, Unique, Empowered, Service, and Opportunity—that serves as the lens for e...

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How do you grow from a single taco joint to a 50+ location brand without losing the soul of your company? For Joe Kahn and Chris Artinian of Condado Tacos, the answer is simple: QUESO. In this episode, Founder Joe Kahn and CEO Chris Artinian share the origin story of Condado Tacos, built on the principle of creating a restaurant where people would want to work forever. They detail their unique "QUESO" framework—Quality, Unique, Empowered, Service, and Opportunity—that serves as the lens for e...

Show more...

Episodes (20/79)

The Pre-Shift

The QUESO Framework: how Condado Tacos built a culture-first restaurant empire | 072

How do you grow from a single taco joint to a 50+ location brand without losing the soul of your company? For Joe Kahn and Chris Artinian of Condado Tacos, the answer is simple: QUESO. In this episode, Founder Joe Kahn and CEO Chris Artinian share the origin story of Condado Tacos, built on the principle of creating a restaurant where people would want to work forever. They detail their unique "QUESO" framework—Quality, Unique, Empowered, Service, and Opportunity—that serves as the lens for e...

1 week ago

24 minutes

The Pre-Shift

How to get your team to actually care about the numbers with Ji Hye Kim | 071

In an industry struggling with retention and wage disparity, how can operators build a business that is both profitable and truly equitable? In this episode, we talk to Ji Hye Kim, the celebrated chef-owner of Miss Kim and a leading advocate for One Fair Wage. She shares the innovative and practical systems she uses to foster a transparent and engaged team culture. From daily "Best Next Time" conversations that empower staff voices to "Gross Games" that make open-book finance an exciting team...

3 weeks ago

23 minutes

The Pre-Shift

Anthony Valletta on tech, training, and tearing up the traditional pay model | 070

What if your dishwasher earned the same as your most tenured line cook? At bartaco, that’s not a hypothetical—it’s the reality. In this episode, we sit down with Anthony Valletta, President of bartaco, to discuss the innovative strategies fueling their nationwide growth. Anthony pulls back the curtain on their revolutionary compensation structure, where every hourly employee receives the same base wage and an equal share of tips, eliminating pay disparity between the front and back of house. ...

1 month ago

20 minutes

The Pre-Shift

Where are you on the restaurant tech journey? | 069

Do you ever wonder if your restaurant's technology is ahead of the curve, just keeping pace, or falling behind the competition? In a tough environment where 44% of restaurants are missing their labor targets, knowing where you stand is the first step to getting ahead. In this special solo episode, host D.J. Costantino walks you through the four distinct stages of a restaurant's digital journey: from "Analog" paper-and-pen operations to a fully "Optimized" and integrated tech stack. Discover w...

1 month ago

5 minutes

The Pre-Shift

The WOWorks growth playbook for repeatable systems and unified tech | 068

How do you take six distinct fast-casual brands and scale them under a single, efficient operational umbrella? In this episode, we sit down with Lorena Borstein, Chief Operating Officer, and Kyle Mark, Chief Information Officer of WOWorks—the restaurant group behind Saladworks, Frutta Bowls, and Garbanzo, among others. They share the "One WOW Way," their philosophy for unifying operations, technology, and communication across their entire portfolio. Lorena details how creating repeatable syst...

2 months ago

29 minutes

The Pre-Shift

Franchising isn't an exit strategy—it's a full-time job with Shawn Saraga | 067

What does it truly take to turn a successful restaurant into a scalable franchise? In this episode, D.J. sits down with Shawn Saraga, a franchise development expert who has been involved in opening nearly 1,000 franchise locations. Shawn shares his journey from nightclub DJ to franchise guru and dives deep into the realities of restaurant expansion. He explains why franchising is not an exit strategy but an entirely new business that requires immense dedication. Listeners will learn the criti...

3 months ago

25 minutes

The Pre-Shift

What do restaurant investors really want? unlocking the financial trifecta with Garrett Mills | 066

What does it truly take to grow a restaurant concept from a single unit to a multi-location brand? In this episode, we're joined by Garrett Mills, Partner at Uncommon Brands, for a deep dive into the world of restaurant growth and investment. Garrett shares his unique journey and unpacks the key financial and qualitative factors his firm evaluates when partnering with emerging brands. From the importance of a strong employee culture to the challenges of letting go of control, this conversatio...

3 months ago

31 minutes

The Pre-Shift

The franchise playbook: A CEO’s guide to restaurant expansion with Troy Hooper | 065

What does it take to grow a restaurant from a single location to a global phenomenon? In this episode, D.J. sits down with Troy Hooper, CEO of Hot Pal America, the holding company for the rapidly expanding Japanese fast-casual brand, Pepper Lunch. Troy pulls back the curtain on his extensive career, from his early days in the kitchen to leading a global brand. He offers a masterclass on scaling a restaurant business, detailing the crucial transition from hands-on manager to visionary executiv...

4 months ago

43 minutes

The Pre-Shift

AI is here, but your story is your superpower | Shawn Walchef, Cali BBQ | 064

The restaurant industry is at a crossroads, with two powerful forces shaping its future. On one hand, there's the explosive growth of AI and automation, a major topic at the recent National Restaurant Association Show. On the other, there's the timeless need for genuine human connection. This episode explores both. First, D.J. considers the impact of AI on restaurant operations. Then, he dives into a conversation with Shawn Walchef, the founder of Cali BBQ and Cali BBQ Media, who champions th...

5 months ago

33 minutes

The Pre-Shift

Can restaurants survive without traditional tipping? | Katie Button (Reupload) | 063

The restaurant industry has long struggled with the divide between front and back-of-house compensation. In this archive episode of The Pre-Shift Podcast, Chef Katie Button of Cúrate and La Bodega by Cúrate in Asheville reveals how she completely transformed her restaurant's pay structure after the pandemic shutdown. Katie details her journey from engineering PhD student to award-winning chef, and explains why she took the bold step of eliminating sub-minimum wage pay, implementing a weighted...

5 months ago

24 minutes

The Pre-Shift

The people-first culture that drives just 17% turnover at Brasa with Michel Falcon (Reupload) | 062

Building a company culture worth celebrating takes more than just words. In this archive episode of The Pre-Shift Podcast, we revisit our conversation with Michel Falcon, founder and CEO of Brasa Peruvian Kitchen, who shares his journey from management consultant to restaurant entrepreneur. Michel reveals how he built a fast-casual concept with an astonishing 17% employee turnover rate in an industry that typically sees 100-200%. He breaks down exactly how he crafted meaningful core values, i...

6 months ago

38 minutes

The Pre-Shift

Winning the restaurant hiring game in 2025 with Alice Cheng | 061

Finding and keeping great restaurant staff is harder than ever in 2025. In this episode of The Pre-Shift Podcast, we talk with Alice Cheng, Founder and CEO of Culinary Agents, about how smart restaurants are winning the hiring game. After 13 years of connecting restaurants with talent, Alice breaks down what works. She explains the "missing middle" skills gap hurting restaurants today and shares practical ways to make your job listings stand out. Whether you're struggling to hire line cooks o...

6 months ago

41 minutes

The Pre-Shift

Building skills beyond the kitchen with Justin Khanna | 060

Want to build a restaurant career that doesn't leave you burnt out? In this episode of The Pre-Shift Podcast, we chat with Justin Khanna, a chef who's cooked at some of the world's best restaurants, before switching gears to become an educator and founder of Repertoire. Justin takes us behind the scenes of his days at Per Se and The French Laundry, sharing what those kitchens taught him about way more than just cooking great food. He explains why running a successful restaurant isn't just abo...

7 months ago

39 minutes

The Pre-Shift

AI marketing strategies that boost restaurant revenue with Josh Kopel | 059

AI is changing the restaurant marketing game in ways that can save you time while boosting your revenue. In this episode of The Pre-Shift Podcast, I chat with Josh Kopel, a Michelin-awarded restaurateur who's truly mastered the marketing side of the business. Josh breaks down how restaurants of any size can use AI tools like ChatGPT to create better email campaigns, design loyalty programs that actually work, and analyze menu performance - all without needing a marketing degree. What I love a...

7 months ago

31 minutes

The Pre-Shift

Stop fixing light bulbs and start delegating with Avery Ward | 058

Breaking free from being the "superhero" operator can transform your restaurant's future. In this episode of The Pre-Shift Podcast, we talk with Avery Ward, third-generation CEO of Little Italy Ristorante in Groveport, Ohio, about how he turned around his family's struggling business. Avery shares how his tech background helped him implement smart systems that let him step back from daily operations. He breaks down exactly how he delegates tasks, documents processes, and builds accountability...

8 months ago

45 minutes

The Pre-Shift

Navigating Tariff Uncertainty for Canadian Restaurants with Jay Ashton | 057

Uncertainty seems to be the only certainty in today's restaurant industry. In this episode of The Pre-Shift Podcast, we sit down with Jay Ashton, Canada's Restaurant Guy, to discuss how Canadian restaurants can adapt to tariffs and economic challenges. Jay shares practical strategies from his 35-year career. These go beyond simply raising prices to tactics like creating salads without lettuce and developing multiple revenue streams through newsletters and digital merchandising. Whether...

8 months ago

38 minutes

The Pre-Shift

Growing careers (and franchises) at Jeremiah's Italian Ice | 056

For many 16-year-olds, a first job is just a way to make some extra side cash—nothing more than a temporary gig. But for Julianna Blackhurst, a part-time job in high school became the foundation of her lifelong career. In this episode of The Pre-Shift Podcast, we sat down with the Senior Director of Franchise Operations at Jeremiah’s Italian Ice, to talk about two types of growth: career growth and franchise growth. Resources: Check out Jeremiah’s Italian Ice 🍦Connect with Julianna on ...

9 months ago

33 minutes

The Pre-Shift

The end of boring training for restaurants with Arrow Up | 055

What if mandatory training didn’t have to be boring? With creative storytelling and an irreverent approach, ARROW UP Training makes engaging, effective training programs for restaurant teams. In this episode, we’re joined by Jason Berkowitz, the founder and CEO of ARROW UP Training. Jason offers insights into building consistent employee experiences and the role of continuous training in fostering a strong team—and a better guest experience. He also discusses the importance of structured onbo...

9 months ago

42 minutes

The Pre-Shift

Insights for serving up restaurant excellence with Square | James Schonzeit, Square, Eric Cacciatore, Restaurant Unstoppable | 054

Great teams make great restaurants. On The Pre-Shift, restaurant operators and industry experts dive into building great restaurant teams. We explore their stories, strategies, and valuable lessons on running restaurant teams. Hosted by D.J. Costantino. Presented by 7shifts. In this episode, 'Restaurant Unstoppable' host Eric Cacciatorre teams up with industry experts James Schonzeit from Square and D.J. Costantino from 7shifts to tackle the pressing challenges of staffing and technology in ...

1 year ago

57 minutes

The Pre-Shift

Building an a kitchen OS | Josh Sharkey, CEO of meez | 053

Great teams make great restaurants. On The Pre-Shift, restaurant operators and industry experts dive into building great restaurant teams. We explore their stories, their strategies, and valuable lessons on running restaurant teams. Hosted by D.J. Costantino. Presented by 7shifts. This episode of the Pre Shift Podcast focuses on Josh Sharkey, the founder and CEO of meez, an innovative recipe tool and culinary operating system. Josh shares his journey from a Michelin-starred chef to a tech en...

1 year ago

40 minutes