Local Entrepreneurs Meet and Mingle at San Diego Event

Business owners from San Diego and beyond gathered on Tuesday, November 19, to share insights, make connections, and collaborate at the first-ever San Diego Accelerate event hosted by What Now Media Group in Downtown.

The free event at the holiday-decorated Good Night John Boy hosted more than 30 representatives from businesses featured on What Now San Diego, including restaurants and retail concepts, and more than 20 industry-leading experts in What Now Media Group’s network of Preferred Partners. Attendees mingled while enjoying bites and beverages.

The 70s-themed disco bar, restaurant, and nightclub in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter serve up holiday-inspired spins on classic cocktails and bar bites, including pizza by the slice, burgers, and more. Customers can expect a lighted dance floor, spinning disco balls, shag carpet, wood paneling, linoleum flooring, and retro wallpaper. To fill in with the theme, the restaurant will play 70s music, with a live DJ coming in every night of the week. Forward Hospitality Group has transformed the space into a holiday-themed bar and restaurant through the holidays.

Throughout a presentation led by What Now Media Group Founder and CEO Caleb Spivak, local entrepreneurs and business representatives shared their stories, gave updates on their progress, and reflected on what they’ve learned through opening a brick-and-mortar in San Diego. Some key takeaways: You’ll get nowhere without passion; knowing how to pivot effectively is essential, especially after an emergency, and connecting with others in the community can be crucial.

Another point of discussion was sales tax automation. We know that taxes are a monthly obligation that consumes your valuable time and money, and mistakes can be costly. Our partners at DAVO by Avalara offer a powerful tool that automates every step of the sales tax process—from collecting to filing to paying. It integrates seamlessly with your POS system, so there’s nothing you need to do once you’re set up.

DAVO simplifies sales tax management with a one-time setup process. Once you complete this simple setup, DAVO handles everything for you. They collect and set aside sales tax daily, using data from your POS system, so you don’t have to worry about having enough cash at the end of the month. Additionally, DAVO automatically files your state sales tax on time, guaranteed. Did you know that some states even offer a discount for on-time filing? If you’re interested in learning how to eliminate the stress of sales tax, visit our partners at DAVO or contact them directly for more information.

This is the type of essential service that restaurant owners can learn about at Accelerate events, where they can connect with service providers and experts who can solve their problems or questions.

This was the first time business owner Victoria Robertson had attended an Accelerate event. Last year, she opened DivoDiva Cafe in Hillcrest with her business partner, Rosario Monetti. The two professional opera singers sang a quick song for everyone before sharing how their business has done since opening.

They connected with Gene Rotondo from Tagrisk, who warned the group about the importance of proper insurance in preparing you for any situation. Tagrisj provides hospitality insurance policies for restaurants, bars, and nightclubs, from workers’ compensation to commercial, cyber, auto, and liability policies. Gene engaged the crowd through his humor and knowledge, leaving several attendees wanting to speak with him more.

Ali Sepehri and Thomas Pham of SLIQUE Media came from Orange County to share their knowledge of marketing skills essential to growing any business. Whether it’s how to improve a business’s standings in local search apps or how to reach more people within a tighter radius, SLIQUE Media has plenty of insight on the matter.

Another event highlight was hearing from Gary Tully, a franchise owner of Nick the Greek, who is opening three locations in San Diego County. He shared insights regarding his career’s success, including how he and his wife operate multi-brand franchises, having owned another franchise concept in the Bay Area. Tully also mentioned his growth plans moving forward and how he hopes to grow to as many as ten once he establishes his first three locations in San Diego.

This led CEO Caleb Spivak to discuss critical business points, such as having an exit plan and efficiently managing operations after expanding to multiple locations. After Caleb and the guests shared their tips, knowledge, and concerns, everyone quickly grew interested in learning more about their businesses and how they can help one another.

“I just loved how you included everyone in the presentation,” Carrie Hansen, one of the co-owners of Oak+Elixir, said to Caleb Spivak. “My daughter pushed me to attend this event, and I’m so glad I did. Once you introduced everyone, it was a lot easier to approach them afterward. I’m looking forward to the next one.”

What Now Media Group shares restaurant opening news in 31 cities across the U.S., breaking news and providing timely insight into yet-to-open brick-and-mortar businesses. The platform shares news of thousands of openings across all 31 cities annually.

The industry-leading experts in What Now Media Group’s network of Preferred Partners help new businesses open and existing businesses grow.

Stay tuned for future Accelerate events from What Now Media Group in 2024. For more details, see the Accelerate page here.