Staying Hungry dives deep into what it really takes to grow a hospitality brand without losing your soul.

In this episode, “Scaling Without Selling Out,” hosts Michael D’Onofrio and Vinny Pappalardo sit down with James Bonanno, co-founder and CEO of Upstream Hospitality Group - the team behind Tap Room, Bango Bowls, Salt Shack, and more Long Island favorites.

From two broke bartenders to a multi-concept operation, James breaks down how Upstream scaled smart - building systems, culture, and tech that keep guests happy and teams proud. This one’s all about the mindset shift from running restaurants to running a company.

If you’re a restaurant owner, operator, or anyone in hospitality trying to grow without compromising quality or authenticity - this conversation will hit home.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

01:41 Jamie’s Early Career in Hospitality

03:34 The Birth of Taproom

10:11 Scaling the Business

13:42 Challenges and Successes

16:06 Franchising and Expansion

20:44 Technology and Data in Restaurants

24:59 Partnerships and Future Plans

31:15 Working with Tritech: Initial Hesitations and Success

32:17 The Impact of Location and Development on Business

35:34 Expanding with New Concepts and Franchises

38:36 Building a Strong Leadership Team

43:21 Networking and Community Building

45:50 Balancing Work and Personal Life

49:52 Future Plans and Mentorship

58:50 Final Thoughts and Reflections

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