Kelley Jones Principal Kelley Jones Hospitality and President & COO of Hospitality Alliance

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This week, I’m speaking with Kelley Jones Principal of Kelley Jones Hospitality, which focuses on F&B operations for on-premise venues, and President and CEO of Hospitality Alliance, a hospitality management, development, and consulting firm for the on-premise world from start to finish.

He started out at Pussers Rum and helped grow and open several locations which was the precursor to his career in the restaurant business. He had just opened his 106th restaurant at our recording in September 2023! He then jumped over to China Grill Management for nearly 5 years as Director of Development and Operations.

He has many experiences in the on-premise world, including being President of Light Group, where he dipped his toe into nightlife establishments.

Kelley is so engrained in the business and operations side that if I were to open a new concept, he’d be my first phone call. He’s buttoned up on every level from conception, to funding, and understanding the brick and motor development to operations. When it comes to cocktails on their menu, he lets the bartender create one for each spirit, but they must be made within 30 seconds. Wow!

Those of you looking for advice on restaurant management, you don’t want to miss this episode!

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1. Welcome (00:01:36)

2. Where Kelley's calling in from (00:01:51)

3. Friends with Tony Abou-Ganim (00:03:01)

4. Where Kelley's originally from (00:04:03)

5. Kelley's Current Ventures (00:06:50)

6. Food Hall Venues (00:08:50)

7. Kelley's involvement with casinos (00:09:31)

8. Where around the world Kelley has opened restaurants (00:11:28)

9. Kelley's experience with various concepts (00:18:29)

10. What investors want (00:19:11)

11. What to know when opening a new concept (00:20:32)

12. Mentors (00:26:07)

13. Third mentor taught him restautant marketing (00:27:52)

14. Three pilars of running a restaurant (00:31:24)

15. Recommended resources (00:32:21)

16. How he trains his waitstaff (00:37:52)

17. Servers are your brand (00:38:59)

18. Beverage management (00:40:14)

19. Lo and No Alc options? (00:43:58)

20. Importance of knowing your market for the right concept (00:45:07)

21. Kelley's non-work interests (00:46:13)

22. Next Thursday (00:48:47)

23. This Episode was Produced by Fedora J Productions (00:50:47)