026: You Lose The Restaurant Then The Universe Hands You A Keys To A New One

Hospitality Design Talks — Aura Garden Series (Part 3) with co-owner R.J. Fernandes

In part three of the Aura Garden series, Rachel sits down with R.J. Fernandez for the hard chapter: when the “planned rebirth” of the family restaurant doesn’t happen, the building sells (December 2023), and R.J. has to grieve what he poured his life into. From there, we follow the pivot—through unemployment, a more grounded season of decision-making, and into an unlikely little 1,800 sq ft former taco spot in a strip center that’s quietly becoming a health-and-wellness hub in North County San Diego.

This episode is a real-time look at what conscious business actually requires: letting go, reading the environment, designing for what’s true now, and building a concept that matches the life you’re living—energy, flow, well-being and all.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode

• When the rebrand plan collapses: the Salt & Smoke vision, the heartbreak of the sale, and the emotional aftermath of “another door closed.”
• The in-between season: unemployment, urgency, and the pressure to make a decision without the safety net of the old restaurant.
• The location that wasn’t “the dream”… until it was: why a strip center felt like a compromise—and how the surrounding fitness + wellness neighbors changed the whole story.
• Concept clarity through constraints: why smaller + quick service suddenly made sense (speed + quality, grab-and-go, beer/wine only, no late-night bar life).
• Partnership alignment: how R.J. and Andrew stayed malleable instead of locked into one rigid vision—and why that matters in hospitality.
• The “signs” that sealed the deal: the Jefferson exit connection and the license plate moment that felt like the universe winking.
• Naming Aura Gardens: “aura” as the people-energy of hospitality, “garden” as the metaphor—whole foods for a whole life, and the long game of nurturing team, guests, and community.
• Food philosophy, openly discussed: whole-food prep, local sourcing where possible, and R.J.’s nuanced take on “organic” vs actual quality.

Key Takeaways

• Grief and business decisions can coexist. You can be devastated and still build what’s next—slowly, intentionally.
• Constraints create the concept. Size, neighborhood, licensing, and lifestyle can be your best creative brief.
• Design starts with the feeling. Before finishes and furniture: What do you want people to feel when they walk in? That’s your aura.
• Your concept has to match your life. If you’re building a conscious business, the operations (hours, service style, menu, offerings) must support your well-being—not just your ambition.
• “Garden” is a business model. What you nurture—ingredients, team culture, guest experience—becomes what your brand produces over time.

Reflection Prompt (for owners, retreat hosts, and conscious entrepreneurs)

Take two minutes and write down:

1. What do I want people to feel in my space?
2. What does my business need to look like to support my life right now?
3. That feeling is your version of an aura—and it’s the truest starting point for design.

What’s Next

In the final episode of this series, we talk about what Aura Gardens actually feels like now that the doors are open—design details, playlist, events, and where R.J. and Andrew see the brand growing next.

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