Former line cook turned wealth advisor David Spungen joins Restaurant Leaders Unplugged to break down the real economics of opening, funding, and scaling restaurants. We dig into what’s working right now outside the major metros, the true cost stack (rent, labor, food), when to use friends & family vs. alternative financing, and how operators can build financial literacy without becoming accountants. We also cover advisory boards, exit planning for fast casual vs. full service, and why personal wealth planning should start before the liquidity event.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• How to pressure-test a restaurant model (traffic, Avg Check, turns, beverage mix, unit economics).
  
  
  
• Where operators are finding better profitability outside NYC/Miami — and why.
  
  
  
• Funding paths beyond pure equity: dining-credit prepay models (e.g., Inkin), build-out loans (e.g., Phoenix), equipment financing, and targeted crowdfunding (e.g., New Market).
  
  
  
• The finance stack that actually helps: great bookkeeping, hospitality-savvy CPAs, Restaurant365, and AI P&L visualization (Starfish).
  
  
  
• When to form an advisory board and how to run it so it’s useful.
  
  
  
• The fast-casual “3–5 units then scale” playbook vs. realities of fine dining.
  
  
  
• Why estate/tax planning shouldn’t wait until a deal is signed.
  
  
  

Connect with our guest:
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-spungen/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidspungen/channel/

Restaurant Leaders Unplugged with Sebastian Stahl

Follow us on social media to stay updated:

Instagram: @sebastian_stahlb | @breadthrestaurantmarketing
YouTube: @SebastianStahlb

Subscribe, share, and leave a review to help other restaurant leaders find us!

From working in his dad’s Quiznos to building one of the leading workforce platforms in hospitality, Jordan Boesch shares how 7shifts was born out of pure operational chaos—and how it evolved into a game-changing tool used by thousands of restaurants. In this episode, we dive into the messy MVP days, scaling challenges, real leadership, culture-building, and how 7shifts is tackling hiring and retention at scale.

If you’ve ever battled scheduling headaches, struggled with labor costs, or questioned how to build a resilient team culture—this episode is for you.

Connect with our guest:
Website: https://www.7shifts.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/7shifts/

Restaurant Leaders Unplugged with Sebastian Stahl

Follow us on social media to stay updated:

Instagram: @sebastian_stahlb | @breadthrestaurantmarketing
YouTube: @SebastianStahlb

Subscribe, share, and leave a review to help other restaurant leaders find us!

In this episode of Restaurant Leaders Unplugged, I sit down with Bob Sambol, founder of Bob’s Steak & Chop House, to unpack his remarkable journey from working in his father’s bar to running one of the most respected steakhouses in the country. Bob shares hard-won lessons on leadership, building a loyal team, scaling with consistency, and the simple business philosophy that’s kept him thriving for over 30 years.

If you’re a restaurant operator or aspiring entrepreneur, you’ll walk away with strategies you can apply today to grow your business, inspire your team, and deliver a guest experience that stands the test of time.

Connect with our guest:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bobs_steakandchop/

Website: https://www.bobs-steakandchop.com/bobs-steak-and-chop-house-location/dallas-lemmon

Restaurant Leaders Unplugged with Sebastian Stahl

Follow us on social media to stay updated:

Instagram: @sebastian_stahlb | @breadthrestaurantmarketing
YouTube: @SebastianStahlb

Subscribe, share, and leave a review to help other restaurant leaders find us!