The restaurant industry is about great food, appealing surroundings and happy customers. Recent supply chain issues have impacted the industry with availability — but mainly the actual cost — of food. We’ve been good customers for our suppliers for years; however, when our suppliers see food costs leap, it’s a challenge even for them to tell us that news. A key observation is that with our core team, we can manage almost any challenge. And, of course, it all comes down to the customer. Our customers, new and old, appreciate how hard we’ve worked to keep prices reasonable.
The lesson here is to get that strong team in place; restaurateurs need to be good customers to their suppliers and create those relationships — it pays dividends during times of challenge. And always deliver on the promise to the customers. Otherwise, it all collapses.
Meanwhile, we continue to pursue growth with three new locations of Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers opening this year: in Maricopa, our first in metro Tucson (Oro Valley), and Downtown Phoenix at Chase Field with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Outside Arizona, we’re looking at Dallas, Las Vegas and Nashville, and hope to be in one of those markets next year.
The Chase Field location will be a complete Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers restaurant experience — and then some. We want to make that especially clear. We will be open seven days a week to serve our customers in Downtown Phoenix, game on or not, rain or shine. We spent some time looking for the right spot downtown. It all came about as we discussed promotional opportunities with the Arizona Diamondbacks. You never know what might come out of a meeting like that. We appreciate Derrick Hall and his team championing our vision. Think of it: On game days, Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers will have live sports energy like no other spot in our system. And on non-game days, customers can enjoy the outstanding views of a major league baseball stadium. We hope it will be a destination dining experience for all our customers because, for baseball fans or any sports fan, like we are, this spot will be special any day of the week.
As for our B&B Cocktail Lounge at Chase Field, that will open next year, following our first location open this summer in Old Town Scottsdale. At Chase Field, it’ll have that small, club feel, although open to everyone. Imagine sipping the world’s finest bourbon while watching a live game or simply taking in views of the stadium.
S. Barrett Rinzler is the founder and CEO of Square One Concepts.
Did You Know: Square One Concepts is also opening several new Bourbon & Bones locations, including a Bourbon & Bones Cocktail Lounge in Old Town Scottsdale that will accommodate larger private dining groups than the nearby restaurant could handle.
