Webinar/Podcast

John Buchanan with Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises

Welcome to the Corner Booth!

Join hosts Chris Tripoli and Barry Shuster and their guests for a podcast for anyone who is starting a restaurant business, growing an independent restaurant business, or dreaming about starting an independent restaurant business.

Learn from successful restaurateurs who share their stories WHY they got into the business and HOW they created and built their winning concepts.

Corner Booth is a production of RestaurantOwner.com and its official magazine, Restaurant Startup & Growth.

So grab your favorite beverage, have a seat, and listen in!

John Buchanan joined Chicago-based Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises 42 years ago, and his continuing respect for the organization assures him he made a good choice. In his successful career with the 120-unit restaurant group, John progressed from unit management to systems development to establishing the company's Human Resource department, and then creating the Lettuce Entertain You Consulting company.

Says John, "Overtime laws, regulations, and consumer trends change; however, a corporate culture based on the importance of fairness and purpose doesn't. While people visit restaurants for food and beverage, they return because the company has paid attention to staff selection, training, and ongoing development. It is a people business.

John is bullish on today's independent restaurant marketing, and feels operators can set themselves apart with passion, creativity, and adaptability. Through years of consulting, he has found that many concept founders do not become the best leaders; however, John feels that as long as owners remain open to professional development, they can be coached. In John's office hangs a sign with the message: Think you can? Think you can't? Either way you are right."