Building Hospitality That Lasts: Lessons From Charles On Scaling, Community, And Longevity ON THE DELO: Arizona Restaurant & Hospitality Stories podcast

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Building Hospitality That Lasts: Lessons from Charles on Scaling, Community, and Longevity

17d ago 58:51

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Step into Episode 181 of On the Delo as David DeLorenzo sits down with Charles Jr. (“Chuck D”) —an East Valley native behind Aftermath, Born & Bred, and the forthcoming Rosewood in downtown Gilbert—to talk craft, community, and why he wants people dressing up for dinner again.

From first shifts at Tony Roma’s to 15 years fast-tracking at Zinc with mentor Terry, Charles breaks down the real levers: concept, lighting, music, and a female-friendly vibe that draws everyone. The two get real on safer nightlife and DUIs, scaling pains from a 1,300→3,800 sq ft buildout, and what’s next—an aggressive late-night push in Chandler.

Chapter Guide (Timestamps):

(0:15 – 1:02) Opening & Episode 181; welcome Charles.

(1:03 – 2:23) Junior & nicknames (“Chuck D” plates; Delo’s “Italian Stallion”).

(2:26 – 3:01) Origin story—5th-gen AZ; Mesa/Chandler/Gilbert roots.

(6:52 – 8:27) First jobs: Tony Roma’s → Outback lessons.

(11:41 – 13:29) Zinc years & discovering hospitality as craft.

(18:00 – 20:07) Launching Aftermath in Uptown; scaling from 1.3k→3.8k sq ft.

(22:41 – 23:48) Where to find them: Aftermath (Phoenix), Born & Bred (Scottsdale & Chandler), Rosewood → downtown Gilbert.

(25:17 – 27:05) Mature crowd, safer nights; calling out DUIs.

(39:56 – 40:24) Chandler goes late-night—food & cocktail specials.

(40:33 – 42:27) Rapid fire: read minds, water slides, gold, flip-phone experiment.

(45:06 – 45:28) Health: lift weights & bodyweight focus.

👉 If this convo gave you something, subscribe, drop your takeaway, and share the episode with a friend in hospitality who’s building for longevity—not hype.

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184 episodes