
Tip & Strategies For Brick-And-Mortar Operators To Thrive In Today’s New Environment
Latest Episode

Wing It On!’s Matt Ensero on Finding Success Through Patience and People
On today’s episode of the Brick and Mortar Reborn podcast, Bobby speaks with Matt Ensero, President and Founder of Wing It On!, a fast casual concept focusing on serving authentic buffalo wings for takeout or dine-in. They discuss Matt's journey from pivoting from a...
Wing It On!’s Matt Ensero on Finding Success Through Patience and People
On today’s episode of the Brick and Mortar Reborn podcast, Bobby speaks with Matt Ensero, President and Founder of Wing It On!, a fast casual concept focusing on serving authentic buffalo wings for takeout or dine-in. They discuss Matt's journey from pivoting from a career in...

Is brick and mortar dead or is it just coming alive? Join industry veteran, Bobby Marhamat, as he investigates the future of brick and mortar, why it’s gotten a bad name and what it takes to create a customer experience that increases ROI and keeps people coming back for more. Join him as he interviews the experts and learn what it takes to make or break the in-location experience.
On today’s episode of the Brick and Mortar Reborn podcast, Bobby speaks with David Leonardo, CEO of Chill-N Nitrogen Ice Cream, a shop serving up fresh, made-to-order ice cream. They discuss Chill-N’s unique way of creating ice cream, and how they’ve automated steps to increase throughput to meet customer demand. They also discuss what makes a successful franchisee, how not to fall into the trap of believing a first profitable store means more profitable stores, how franchisees can instill great customer service in their employees, and how great teams create success.
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Topics discussed:
- The evolution of David’s career that spans 20 years in franchising, from Burger King and Wendy’s to his inspiration to start Chill-N, now grown to eleven stores with five more on the way.
- The challenges to scaling, and how Chill-N has used automation to reduce throughput and increase cup production to meet customer demand.
- What the future looks like for Chill-N, including more stores, more operators who understand customer service, and more leverage with vendors.
- What franchisees get wrong about early success, and why it takes opening a portfolio of stores to understand each one’s unique needs.
- How to know when you’ve found a formula for success, and why it’s based on the team you have around you.
- Methods through which Chill-N ensures consistent experiences across locations, including using a Franchise Business Manager as a point person, weekly calls, and empowering managers to “make it right” for customers.
- Trends seen across locations, including seasonality and the rise in delivery demand, which makes up 20-25% of business today.
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Past Episodes

Wing It On!’s Matt Ensero on Finding Success Through Patience and People
On today’s episode of the Brick and Mortar Reborn podcast, Bobby speaks with Matt Ensero, President and Founder of Wing It On!, a fast casual concept focusing on serving authentic buffalo wings for takeout or dine-in. They discuss Matt's journey from...

Using Technology to Bridge the Gap between In-Store and Online Retail with Showfields CEO Tal Zvi Nathanel
In this episode of the Retail Experience Show, Tal Zvi Nathanel, CEO and co-founder of Showfields, joins Bobby to discuss the vital role of experiential retail in today's landscape. Tal shares his perspectives on the importance of creating memorable...

Getting the Scoop on Successful Franchising Operations with Chill-N’s David Leonardo
On today’s episode of the Brick and Mortar Reborn podcast, Bobby speaks with David Leonardo, CEO of Chill-N Nitrogen Ice Cream, a shop serving up fresh, made-to-order ice cream. They discuss Chill-N's unique way of creating ice cream, and how they've...

A Sweet Journey: An Interview with Pat Egan, CEO of See’s Candies
In this delightful episode of The Retail Experience Show, Bobby interviews Pat Egan, the insightful President & CEO of See's Candies. Pat shares his journey to leading one of America's most iconic confectionery companies. Key topics discussed include...

Focusing on Your Restaurant’s “Founding Why” with Kitava’s Bryan Tublin
On today’s episode of the QSR Experience Show, Bobby speaks with Bryan Tublin, Owner and Co-Founder of Kitava Kitchen, a clean, casual restaurant serving modern American cuisine with a local twist. They discuss how Kitava was founded out of a need for...

Spicing Up the QSR Scene: The Journey of Fry the Coop’s Joe Fontana
In this episode of the QSR Experience podcast, Bobby Marhamat interviews Joe Fontana, owner of Fry the Coop, a successful Nashville hot chicken joint in Chicago. Joe shares his journey from valet to restaurateur, how he transitioned back to hospitality, and...

adidas’s Jonathan Muir on Creating Customer Communities Through Retail Activation
 On today’s episode of the Retail Experience podcast, Bobby speaks with Jonathan Muir, Director of Retail Activation at adidas. They discuss what retail activation is and how it can be used to increase acquisition and engagement by focusing on the products,...

Island Vibes: The Story Behind Island Fin Poke’s Success
In this episode of the QSR Experience podcast, host Bobby Marhamat welcomes Mark Setterington from Island Fin Poke. Mark shares his journey in the restaurant industry, the inception of Island Fin Poke, its growth into a successful franchise, and valuable...

Creating Memorable In-Location Experiences Across 40+ Locations with Andrew Pudalov, Founder and CEO of Rush Bowls
In this episode, our host Bobby Marahmat speaks with Andrew Pudalov, Founder and CEO of Rush Bowls, a healthy quick serve restaurant with more than 40 locations across the US with plans to add 20 more new locations in 2023. Topics discussed: How the 9/11...