The growth of a restaurant growth professional : Sarid Drory: Sarid Drory has been delivering keynotes around the US over a decade, drawing on his unique and sometimes hilarious experiences at the intersection of restaurants, sales, entrepreneurship, and media. As a European citizen, he pursued his passion for high-end restaurant industryacquiring wine and beverage skills in France and Italy, and then emigrated to New York City to apply his studies and experiences. Read additional info at Sarid Drory 229. The menu is the heart of the restaurant. One should not waste too much in making fancy things about the menu. Budget meals should also be incorporated because we cannot avoid students to come in to the restaurant and eat. Make exceptional offers like “eat-all-you-can” deals, catering services, lunch delivery and combo meals. This will add an extra income for the business.
It takes more than a well-designed web presence that highlights menus and specials. Industry studies report that 80 percent of potential customers check out restaurant websites and online reviews before they make a decision. Invest in social media management that stretches your market reach and helps you win important positive reviews. You’ve established your brand, but you want to improve the bottom line. If you wonder about how to make a successful restaurant better, think beyond the dining room. Branch out with off-site catering. Explore on-site options with alfresco service. Take profits to another level by expanding on your current success.
Since that time, Drory has cultivated a prestigious history of success in the New York City restaurant scene. His first purchase was Ye Waverly Inn from the family who had run the establishment for three generations. Due to his strategic upgrades to the restaurant, including the installation of the famed garden, Drory created a popular New York hot spot and tripled the revenue in three years. After 14 years for ownership, he sold Ye Waverly Inn for seven figures. Next, Drory bought The Cub Room restaurant from renowned chef, Henry Meer for $1.25 million. After a year of ownership he had increased the revenue by 70%. Totaling in 8,000 square feet, The Cub Room housed a 3,000 square foot dining area, a lounge with a bar which was further expanded by Drory, with 89 types of scotch and 94 types of vodka. An organic café occupied the third room, which became a favorite hangout area for New Yorkers. After about ten years Drory sold the restaurant for $2.5 million
Drory’s next restaurant and renovation project was Greenwich café, a 24-hour café, which became a well- loved spot by its downtown West Village community. Barbara Walters even chose the restaurant to host a 4-hour, on-location live show where the community played an integral part of the broadcast. The initial project cost for the restaurant was $350,000 and it was sold for $1.8 million, adding to Drory’s portfolio. Along with Lesly Bernard, best known for Pravda and Clementine, and Herb Wilson, formerly of Bambou and Jack’s Fifth, Drory next remade Greenwich into NYC, which was acquired for $2.2 million. Drory’s other projects have included two Italian restaurants, located in East and West Village, and called Tanti Baci. Drory brought in special cooks from a village in Palermo, Italy, where his father was raised, to enhance the romantic feel of the restaurant. The two restaurants were a big success after 14 years of operating and were sold for $1.8 million each.
One of Drory’s latest projects is Artisanal Bistro, located on 2 Park Avenue, noted as NYC’s first artisanal food entries. After acquiring Artisanal, Drory made many improvements in the first 40 days, including saving $1.2 million by cutting expenses and adding enhancements to the environment for the clientele that love Artisanal. Menu enhancements by Drory include offering 81 types of wine by glass to match the existing menu of 197 types of cheese; expert bakers from Breads to add to the wine and cheese experience; and increasing the wine selection list to include top shelf cognac and scotch. Drory hired Adam Tihany, the famed hospitality designer who originally designed the space, to renovate Artisanal. Additional contracts in the works include two downtown hotspots; Spitzer’s Corner on 101 Rivington Street and Los Feliz on 109 Ludlow Street. Spitzer’s was bought for $5.2 million and Los Feliz for $2.8 million. Sarid also bought the club Fat Baby for $3 million. Drory will be moving Artisanal to a better and bigger location on Park Avenue, because Sarid would like to share the space with a substantial retail space for cheese and pastries by Fall 2016.
Running a restaurant can be tricky, especially if you are a first-time restaurateur. This industry is fraught with problems ranging from budget issues to staffing shortages. However, you can have restaurant success with the help of these useful tips to get you going.
Top-Notch Appliances – Just as with your food purchases, you need top-quality appliances to prepare excellent meals. This way, you are also at less risk of your stove or oven quitting halfway through a service. When you buy reliable brands, you can count on fewer repairs, longevity, and accuracy for temperature settings. So, you will save money in the long run when you budget for high-end kitchen appliances. USP – A unique selling point shows what you offer that your competitors don’t. Hone in on this by presenting meals that are made differently. For instance, cook with ingredients growing in a garden at the back of your restaurant. This will draw customers to you. Create dishes that exude your unique style or play on a traditional family recipe. This creates intrigue which leads to more foot traffic.