Michael Chernow

When people used to ask me in the world, when I had evolved a little bit in my role as a restaurateur, people would say, what do you do?

And I know it sounds corny, but it's just way more fulfilling to me to say, I'm a memory maker than I own restaurants.

Because what do I really do?

I make memories for people all day long.

My number one priority.

Number one goal as a business person is to create a memory that you tell your friends about.

That's all I'm trying to do.

And the memory comes from great service, good food, cool environment, good music, good lighting.

It all is kind of like a medley.

I think where the things get hairy, and this was for me, when my role became far less about the hands-on, boots-on-the-ground stuff, leading the business with a P&L just...

just never sat well with me.

And when the money guys get involved, because they did in my businesses, all they care about is what that piece of paper says.

And I used to say, we used to start our board meetings with the numbers.

And I'd look around and I'd say, hey guys, I'm just going to say it again.

This never happened.

A guest walked into our restaurant, looked around, smelled all the smells and said,

gosh, I wonder what the P&L is like in this place.

You know, never not happened one time.

And you're prioritizing the one thing that the guests never, ever come into contact with or think about.

And the only, the only sign of success for us is if they walk out the door 10% happier than when they walked in.