Gregg Majewski sits down with industry icon Paul Mangiamele, CEO and Founder of Legendary Restaurant Brands, about his revival of Bennigan’s and Steak & Ale.
On this episode of Room For Seconds, Gregg Majewski sits down with industry icon Paul Mangiamele, the visionary behind the revival of Bennigan’s and Steak & Ale. Paul shares his journey of breathing new life into these beloved brands, emphasizing the importance of culture, passion, and staying true to the DNA that made these restaurants iconic.
Discover how Paul navigates the challenges of modern casual dining, from managing rising costs to creating memorable guest experiences with innovative strategies. Whether it's introducing tableside service or leveraging emotional connections with loyal guests, Paul’s story is a masterclass in resilience and leadership.
In reflecting on the revival of Bennigan’s and Steak & Ale, Paul highlights the power of emotional connection and a commitment to excellence. By focusing on the foundational principles that made these brands iconic—like exceptional service, menu re-engineering, and respecting the guest experience—he demonstrates that even the most challenging restorations are possible with passion, attention to detail, and a return to basics.
Paul underscores the critical role of passion in the restaurant industry, lamenting its decline in modern operations. Drawing inspiration from the legacy of Norman Brinker, he emphasizes that passion, combined with a strong culture and a commitment to excellence, is the cornerstone of success.
By shifting from a transactional mindset to creating meaningful guest experiences, restaurants can build lasting relationships and lifetime customer loyalty, turning every interaction into an opportunity to leave a memorable impression.
Paul advocates for prioritizing the top-performing 20% of a franchise system to maximize success and growth. He explains that while some operators excel and others have potential but resist the effort required, the bottom third often lacks the drive or conditions for improvement.
By channeling time, energy, and resources into top performers who are eager to innovate and grow, businesses can achieve greater results—turning $3 million opportunities into $5 million realities—rather than exhausting resources on those unlikely to improve.
Gregg Majewski has a vast amount of experience as a corporate executive in the restaurant industry. As the former CEO of Jimmy John’s, he played a major role in expanding the franchise from 33 to 300+ stores in just 5 years by surrounding the company’s marketing strategy around the innovative approach of delivering sandwiches and being “freaky fast”. Majewski has worked to develop restaurant concepts over the last two plus decades, before starting Craveworthy Brands in 2023, which currently includes a growing portfolio of restaurant brands. Craveworthy Media is Majewski’s gift back to the industry that has given him so much. The goal of Craveworthy is to inspire the up and coming industry leaders by providing important information, stories, and insights from titans past and present.
Do you know someone who would be great on this show? Let us know by emailing us at roomforsecondspodcast@gmail.com or sending a DM on social media @craveworthybrands
Room for Seconds is produced and published by Cali BBQ Media on behalf of Craveworthy Brands