Ignacio Garcia & Francesco (Grove Bay) go deep on scaling street-side and airport concepts, the 9-year

Bayshore Club saga, Michelin’s real P&L impact, and why “Main & Main” beats trendy addresses. It’s chef

artistry meets business math—no fluff, just playbook.

Chapters:

00:00 – What it really takes to open (lease, insurance, PR, IT, accounting, payroll).

00:00:37 – Founders’ origin stories: Shula’s CFO call + airports CFO path.

00:06:30 – Beauty & The Butcher: neighborhood anchor + $12 smashburger happy hour.

00:08:29 – Scaling count: ~24 units now; ~27 by next year (street-side + airports).

00:10:55 – Biggest miss: Brickell build “off paper” and the never-again lesson.

00:12:29 – Location rule: “Main & Main” all day (access, parking, visibility > vibes).

00:13:45 – Bayshore Club: referendum, lawsuits, multi-agency approvals—opened July 2022.

00:17:04 – Why it worked: scarce waterfront access + hometown insight.

00:17:57 – Chef partnerships: art × business; the “middle” that wins.

00:20:12 – Michelin moves money: best Stubborn Seed year (2022) + plaque halo.

00:22:29 – Airport ops 101: captive audience, different ordering, 20–40 min turns.

00:24:51 – Airports want local chefs/brands now (Raleigh example).

00:27:10 – Vegas expansion: Resorts World, bigger footprint, reverse open kitchen.

00:29:27 – Scaling across cities: corporate processes, app-based training, partner support.

00:33:06 – Market outlook: Miami saturation; Raleigh rising street-side.

00:45:05 – Regatta × Bayshore synergy: “we basically doubled neighborhood sales.

”00:49:08 – Giving back: Grove Bay Foundation—FIU hospitality scholarships (8 full rides/yr).

00:54:25 – One piece of advice: don’t just cook—master the business stack.

00:57:01 – Rapid fire: more hospitality, fewer gimmicks; influencers; robotics; training > ads.

balli/

Connect with me on my instagram:

🤳Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emiguerra99/

Connect with Francesco Balli:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/francesco

_

Connect with Ignacio Garcia-Menocal:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iggygarciamenocal/

Know more about Orlando Mendez: https://www.orlandomendezmusic.com/

Listen to my podcasts on:

🍎Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/industry-talks-hospitality-podcast/id1790526837

🍏Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5Qqf1YkCmKKL0nEH9J5rAv

Check out my hospitality businesses on Instagram:

🏨 Breakwater Hospitality Group: https://www.instagram.com/breakwaterhg/

🏨The Wharf Miami: https://www.instagram.com/wharfmiami/

🏨The Wharf Fort Lauderdale: https://www.instagram.com/wharfftl/

🏨PIER 5: https://www.instagram.com/pier5bayside/

🏨JohnMartin’s: https://www.instagram.com/johnmartinsmiami/

🏨Carousel Club: https://www.instagram.com/carouselclb/

🏨Regatta Grove: https://www.instagram.com/regattagrove/

🏨Riverside Wharf: https://www.instagram.com/riversidewharf/