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.
After 54 episodes, dozens of powerhouse guests, and countless insights into leadership, growth, and grit in the restaurant industry, Room for Seconds is celebrating one full year on the air.
Hosted by Craveworthy Brands CEO Gregg Majewski, this special anniversary episode looks back on five of the most memorable and inspiring moments from the past year. From NFL legends turned restaurateurs to bold brand builders and culture-first leaders, these highlights showcase the heart of what Room for Seconds is all about: authentic conversations that push the industry forward.
Super Bowl Champion Ndamukong Suh has successfully pivoted from dominating the NFL to building an impressive entrepreneurial portfolio. One standout move? Investing in Kinnamōns, a cinnamon roll concept focused on premium ingredients and indulgent quality without compromise.
“If we're going to indulge, let's indulge with high-quality products,” Suh told Gregg.
Beyond cinnamon rolls, Suh draws parallels between football and restaurant franchising—emphasizing structure, discipline, and finding the right team to build a winning formula.
As co-founder of Dog Haus and visionary behind The Absolute Brands, André Vener has pioneered a new approach to virtual restaurants—one that doesn’t sacrifice brand DNA for the sake of scale.
“We leaned into virtual brands with the same ops, same culture, and same team,” said Vener.
Filmed at Craveworthy Kitchen in Chicago, this in-person conversation dives into how André balances innovation with consistency, proving that staying true to your roots is key—even in a rapidly evolving industry.
Hospitality veteran Amy Hom dropped one of the most powerful leadership lessons of the season—mentorship isn’t about control, it’s about growth. She shared a story of supporting a regional director through a tough promotion decision. The experience didn’t just teach leadership lessons—it shaped a future VP.
“Be easy on people, tough on standards,” Amy emphasized.
Her people-first philosophy reminds us that building leaders takes empathy, trust, and a willingness to let others learn from their choices.
In this heartfelt episode, Bob Norman reflects on his deep-rooted journey at Jimmy John’s and the mentorship he received from founder Jimmy John Liautaud. Beyond business, Jimmy’s hands-on support and generosity shaped Bob’s outlook on leadership and loyalty.
“He's the founder of a company… but he took the time to be there for me,” Bob shared.
It’s a moving reminder that great leaders show up—not just in boardrooms, but in the lives of the people they lead.
Sam Stanovich, Senior VP of Franchise Leadership at Big Chicken, opened up about how Shaquille O’Neal built the brand with humility, letting the food speak for itself. But it was the customers who brought Shaq’s story back into the spotlight.
“Restaurants are about family,” Sam said. “And we started showcasing that with a Shaquille O’Neal family menu.”
By embracing customer feedback and leaning into the brand’s emotional co
Ndamkong Suh is a household name for sports fans across the country. His tenacious approach and domination on the defensive line both in college at the University of Nebraska and the NFL afforded him a 13 year career that saw him reach five Pro Bowls, named to the All Pro team five times, win Defensive Player of the Year, a member of the 2010s All Decade team, and a Superbowl. As a youngster in Portland, Oregon, Suh knew early that he wanted a life beyond football. Now, as a businessman, he is the Founder of House of Spears Management and the Generals Restaurant Group. Suh currently resides in Portland with his wife and twin boys.
André Vener co-founded Dog Haus in April 2010 with his two business partners, aiming to transform stadium food classics into gourmet delights. Over the past decade, Dog Haus has grown from its roots in Pasadena, California, to nearly 50 locations nationwide. Vener and his partners have driven the brand's expansion through strategic alliances with top ghost kitchen networks, a partnership with Live Nation, and the creation of The Absolute Brands—a collection of virtual restaurant concepts featuring popular Dog Haus menu items like the Bad Mutha Clucka.
Amy Hom brings over 25 years of impactful leadership in the restaurant industry and technology innovation space, Amy is currently the COO at Barcelona Wine Bar. Previously, Amy served as the Chief Operating Officer and Chief People Officer for Bluestone Lane, where she played a pivotal role in shaping operational strategies and fostering a culture of excellence. Before her tenure at Bluestone Lane, she held the position of Executive Vice President of North American Retail and Kitchens at REEF Technology, where she led transformative initiatives to convert static neighborhood spaces into dynamic community hubs, including building a food safety team, training department, and an operational excellence strategy.
Bob Norman is a seasoned restaurant operations expert best known for his influential tenure at Jimmy John’s, where he played a key role in scaling one of the most iconic sandwich chains in the country. With a deep understanding of operational systems, leadership development, and franchise support, Bob helped build a culture of speed, simplicity, and relentless execution.
Starting his journey on the ground floor and rising through the ranks, Bob worked closely with Jimmy John Liautaud himself, gaining firsthand mentorship from the brand’s legendary founder. That experience shaped Bob’s people-first leadership style and instilled a lifelong commitment to empowering teams, streamlining systems, and never losing sight of the guest experience.
Sam Stanovich is the Senior Vice President of Franchise Leadership at Big Chicken, bringing extensive experience in the restaurant and franchising industries. He has a background as a Firehouse Subs franchisee and area developer in Northern Illinois and Northwest Indiana. Prior to his franchising career, Stanovich spent nearly a decade with the National Restaurant Association, helping shape the strategic direction of partner products. He is also the co-host of "The Takeout, a Delivery and Catering Show" on the Foodable Network and serves on the advisory board for the Illinois Restaurant Association. With his deep industry knowledge, Sam plays a key role in Big Chicken’s franchising initiatives as the brand expands nationally and internationally.
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