Episodes

In this episode of Chicago Sam's Franchise GPS, host Sam Stanovich sits down with Andy Freivogel, Co-Founder of Science On Call, to dive deep into solving the restaurant industry's most frustrating technology headaches. Coming straight from the hospitality trenches—from barista and fry cook to IT director—Andy breaks down how multi-unit operators and franchisees can streamline bloated tech stacks, eliminate operational friction, and protect top-line revenue. From safeguard measures like $50 bac...

In this episode of Chicago Sam's Franchise GPS, guest host Justin Egan (VP of Growth Marketing, Craveworthy Brands and Co-Founder, Wing It On!) is joined by Matt Ensero, Co-Founder & President of Wing It On!, and Robert Riddle, Regional Vice President of Operations for Fresh Brothers. Together, they break down Craveworthy Brands’ powerful co-branding strategy—bringing America’s award-winning wings and Southern California’s premier pizza under one roof. From kitchen workflow optimizations and sh...

In this episode of Chicago Sam's Franchise GPS, guest host Justin Egan sits down with Alexis Gillette, Vice President of Marketing at Craveworthy Brands, to deliver a tactical masterclass on local store marketing, grand opening strategies, and unit-level restaurant growth. Alexis leverages over 22 years of experience across retail, experience-based businesses, and major restaurant brands like Raising Cane's to break down why so many first-time operators struggle with customer acquisition—and ho...

"Chicago Sam" Stanovich sits down with Donovan McAdams, President of Vendita Digital, to deliver a tactical, unfiltered masterclass on modern franchise go-to-market (GTM) strategies, local store marketing, and customer acquisition. Donovan leverages over ten years of commercial construction experience and digital strategy expertise to break down why so many franchise operators plateau—and how to build a scalable, repeatable marketing engine that converts digital scrollers into loyal, repeat cus...

"Chicago Sam" Stanovich sits down with Brandy McAdams, Chief Revenue Officer at Vendita AII, for an in-depth masterclass on navigating commercial real estate, site selection, and lease negotiations for franchise operators. Commercial leases are a 5-to-10-year commitment—akin to a business marriage. Brandy reveals how modern franchise brands are abandoning manual site tours in favor of AI-powered market mapping and data analytics. Whether you are a first-time franchisee or scaling a multi-unit p...

Are you blindly trusting ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude to map out your next franchise location? In this episode of Franchise GPS, host "Chicago Sam" Stanovich sits down with Doug Sullinger, tech veteran and founder of Vendita AI, to break down why open-source AI tools are actually costing you time, money, and valuable real estate deals. Doug pulls back the curtain on how open models are only about 60% accurate and discusses the absolute danger of "garbage in, garbage out" data. Together, Sam and D...

You don’t have to navigate the complex world of franchising alone—in fact, building a successful brand requires collective strength and proactive protection. In this episode of Franchise GPS, Chicago Sam sits down with Paul Rocchio, the VP of Membership for the International Franchise Association (IFA), to discuss how the organization champions both franchisors and franchisees on a global scale. From fighting critical regulatory battles in Washington, D.C., to offering elite executive education,...

Everyone talks about franchising like it’s as simple as signing an agreement and opening a restaurant. But the real game begins the exact second you start looking for commercial real estate. One bad lease, an unreliable general contractor, a delayed permit, or a location chosen for the wrong reasons can bleed your dream business dry before you ever open your doors. In this episode of Chicago Sam’s Franchise GPS, guest host Justin Egan of Craveworthy Brands sits down with Nick Waeltz, Senior Vic...

What does it take to grow a franchise brand without hollowing it out? In Episode 2 of Franchise GPS, host Justin Egan sits down with Cassie Miller, Chief Marketing Officer at Craveworthy Brands, for a conversation that cuts to the heart of one of franchising's hardest problems: scaling without losing the soul. Cassie has been in the trenches of building and expanding emerging restaurant concepts — and she's learned that the brands that survive rapid growth aren't just operationally sound. They...

Welcome to Episode 1 of Franchise GPS with Sam Stanovich — the podcast where franchise leaders, operators, and entrepreneurs share real-world strategies for building successful businesses and thriving community brands. In this debut episode, Sam sits down with Nandini Mangroo, multi-unit franchisee of Taffer's Tavern and one of the original operators to join the Jon Taffer franchise family. From opening her first location in Alpharetta to expanding into Midtown Atlanta and Mercedes-Benz Stadium...

Recorded live at CraveCon 2025, this episode of Room for Seconds features guest host Josh Halpern in conversation with Brian Smetana of 25/7 Digital Labs and Adam Salinas of LG Electronics USA. Together, they explore the major shifts reshaping the restaurant industry, starting with the evolution of digital signage from a perceived expense into a long-term cost-saving and revenue-driving tool. What once felt like a luxury is quickly becoming essential, giving operators the ability to update menu...

In this episode of Room for Seconds, guest host Josh Halpern sat down with Avi Goren at CraveCon 2025, co-founder of Marqii, to unpack one of the most overlooked—but critical—drivers of restaurant success: discoverability. As the guest journey becomes more fragmented than ever, Avi explains why simply having great food and service is no longer enough. Restaurants today have to win before the customer even walks in the door—at the moment of search. From Google and Yelp to TikTok, AI tools, and b...

Filmed live at CraveCon 2025, guest host Josh Halpern sits down with Chris McKenty of Edward Don & Company to explore the hidden systems that make restaurants actually work — from kitchen design to equipment strategy. Chris walks through the critical role that kitchen layout plays in the success of a restaurant. Often designed months before a location opens, the kitchen acts as the operational engine of the business. If workflow, equipment placement, and production lines aren’t built correctly ...

Recorded live at CraveCon 2025, guest host Josh Halpern sits down with Rachael Nemeth, CEO and Co-Founder of Opus Training, to unpack why traditional restaurant training is failing today’s workforce — and what operators must do next. Rachael shares the core insight that sparked Opus: while roughly 80% of the global workforce is deskless, nearly all training technology has historically been built for people sitting at computers. The result is a massive access and engagement gap across restaurant...

Recorded live at Crave Con 2025, this special episode of Room for Seconds flips the script. Guest host Josh Halpern sits down with his longtime collaborator and fellow podcast host, Jimmy Frischling, co-founder of Branded Hospitality. Jimmy pulls back the curtain on what it actually takes to build the business of hospitality in today’s environment. From investing in restaurant brands and operator-first technology to navigating failure, risk, and rapid change, this conversation is a masterclass ...

Live from CraveCon 2025, Room for Seconds welcomes guest host Sam Stanovich for an in-depth conversation with Matt Ensero and Justin Egan, the co-founders of Wing It On — a brand redefining what a modern wing concept can be. The episode opens with the origin story behind Wing It On, from late-night wing experiments and a coffee-shop naming moment to building a fast-casual concept rooted in authentic Buffalo-style wings. Matt and Justin explain why staying true to the fundamentals — crispy wings...

Recorded live at CraveCon 2025, this episode of Room for Seconds features guest host Josh Halpern in conversation with Greg Zamfotis, founder and CEO of Gregorys Coffee, for a wide-ranging discussion on passion, product obsession, and building a brand rooted in craft and community. Greg traces his journey back to growing up in a family-run food business in New York City—working deliveries as a kid and learning the fundamentals of hospitality long before launching Gregorys Coffee in 2006. What b...

Recorded live at CraveCon 2025, this episode of Room for Seconds features guest host Sam Stanovich in conversation with Fresh Brothers co-founder Scott Goldberg—aka “The Pizza Man”—for a deep dive into the entrepreneurial journey behind one of the West Coast’s most respected pizza brands. Scott traces his origin story back to 1985, when he took a leap of faith and used $7,000 of his college tuition to purchase a struggling pizza shop in Miller Beach, Indiana. That shop, Miller Pizza Company, is...

At the 2024 Prosper Forum, Gregg Majewski, CEO of Craveworthy Brands, captivated attendees with his fireside chat alongside Michael Gottlieb. The discussion centered on his unique philosophy on leadership, employee rewards, and franchise success. From his commitment to building millionaire employees to his focus on franchisee profitability, Gregg reveals the values that drive his approach to business. Listen in to hear how he creates lasting partnerships by investing in people, leading by exampl...

In this episode from the 2025 National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago, Gregg Majewski sits down with David Jobe, founder of The Prosper Company, to discuss how the Prosper Accelerate program is transforming restaurant industry leadership. They explore building better tables by building better businesses, the importance of mentorship, and why developing the next generation is the key to a thriving hospitality industry. Learn how Prosper is bridging the gap between current leaders and emer...

Filmed at the site of the 2025 National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago, IL., Gregg Majewski sits down with Shawn Walchef—the podcast king of the restaurant industry, owner of Cali BBQ in San Diego, and founder of Cali BBQ Media. Shawn shares his journey from struggling barbecue joint to industry influencer, highlighting how building in public, embracing social media, and staying curious can transform a brand. This episode dives deep into why storytelling matters, the importance of commun...

We’ve hit a major milestone—one full year of Room for Seconds—and to celebrate, we’re bringing you five unforgettable moments from the past 53 episodes that showcase the grit, growth, and game-changing ideas shaping the restaurant industry. From Super Bowl champ turned restaurateur to the minds behind Big Chicken and Badass Breakfast Burritos, these conversations are packed with leadership insights, brand-building wisdom, and stories you won’t want to miss. Takeaways: Indulging in High-Qualit...

In this repurposed episode of Hospitality Hangout, hosts Michael Schatzberg and Jimmy Frischling are joined by industry leaders Gregg Majewski, CEO of Craveworthy Brands, and Josh Halpern, CEO of Big Chicken, to break down one of the most talked-about moves in hospitality—Craveworthy Brands acquiring Big Chicken. Go behind the scenes as they reveal how the deal came together, the strategic thinking that fueled the partnership, and what this means for the future of both brands. From accelerating...

In this repurposed episode of The Builders Podcast, John Busby speaks with Gregg Majewski about his proven strategies for restaurant growth, franchising, and operational excellence. When Gregg joined Jimmy John’s, the brand had just 30 locations—under his leadership, it expanded to over 300, revolutionizing fast-casual dining with its freaky fast delivery model and an unshakable commitment to quality, cleanliness, and efficiency. Now, as CEO of ‪Craveworthy Brands, he’s building the next wave of...