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Ever wondered what happens when social media stardom collides with the gritty reality of restaurant ownership? This episode pulls back the curtain on that journey as we welcome back Mr. Make It Happen, Matt Price, who shares the raw, unfiltered truth about opening his hot new DC restaurant, FRAICHE.

After building a 4 million+ following online Mr. Make It Happen really did make it happen by opening a brick and mortar restaurant in DC. We talked about this in our first episode with Matt in season one of the show (go back and check it out) and Chef Tony has provided consulting and feedback for the past year to help. It has been a journey and we are getting real and raw with the reality of opening a spot and delivering daily.

"The food side of things has been the least of my worries," he confesses, shattering the typical chef narrative. Instead, we got real on the challenges that actually determine restaurant success: assembling a reliable team, managing constantly breaking equipment, dealing with slim profit margins, and handling customer expectations when you're known from YouTube. Chef Tony and Matt agree on the advice to double whatever budget you've planned for opening a restaurant might save aspiring restaurateurs from financial disaster. Because it IS going to happen!
We went into practical restaurant management – from handling employees who take naps behind dumpsters to addressing bad reviews with FBI-level investigation. We explore the psychological journey of perfectionism that all restaurant owners face, "It's going to take you two to three years before it's not even going to be a thought in your head yet, because you're going to have a very hard time releasing it." - Chef Tony
Perhaps most valuable is the counterintuitive wisdom that resonates throughout: "Don't worry about the food. Your menu should be so secure that you're going to build an empire around it." This perspective shift – focusing on operations, systems, and business fundamentals rather than culinary creativity – offers a roadmap for anyone considering the leap from social media to brick-and-mortar. It is time to treat your restaurant LIKE A BUSINESS!
Ready to see these principles in action? Visit FRAICHE at 3345 14th Street Northwest in Washington DC's Columbia Heights neighborhood, open every day except Monday, and experience the culmination of this journey yourself.

Thank you again Matt for continuing to share your journey with us on the show and being a supporter of Luce as well. We can't wait to get up to DC!

Support him by subscribing to his YouTube here:
https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@MrMakeItHappen⁩

Check out his Make It Happen products here:
https://mrmakeithappen.com

Follow him on Instagram here:
https://www.instagram.com/_mrmakeithappen_

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*The views and opinions on this show are meant for entertainment purposes only. They do not reflect the views of our sponsors. We are not here to babysit your feelings, if you are a true industry pro, you will know that what we say is meant to make you laugh and have a great time. If you don't get that, this is not the podcast for you. You've been warned. Enjoy the ride!