Welcome to Takeaway with Sam Okas, a podcast for leaders of growing restaurant companies looking to take their businesses to the next level.

In nearly two decades covering restaurants, I've gained access to some of this industry's most influential decision makers, and I'm letting you in on the conversations.

In today's episode, you'll hear from the founder and head chef of a Tampa-based hospitality group

about the power of creating family-like atmosphere in your restaurants and about why

multi-concept portfolios are key to letting your creativity fly.

Jim Ream is the founder of Pineapple Hospitality Group, while Jessica Tomlinson is the vice

president of culinary. Pineapple owns five going on while Jessica Tomlinson is the vice president of culinary.

Pineapple owns five going on six restaurants in the Tampa area, and the restaurants

flourish on homey atmosphere that Jim has been developing over the course of his nearly

50-year career in restaurants.

In fact, Jim believes so much in restaurants treating guests like family that most of his

actual family is involved in the pineapple hospitality business.

Jessica, meanwhile, is a veteran of restaurant chains that was brought in last year to

further fuel the culinary creativity across Pineapples' five concepts.

I recently sat down with Jim and Jessica inside their restaurant,

Craft Street, Kitchen, and Drinks to talk about their commitment to hospitality and creativity

and how it's helped them through this challenging economy. In this conversation, you'll learn

more about why the first 30 seconds that a guest is in your restaurant are among the most important,

why great hospitality starts at the job interview, and why you're writing a new story to share with your guests

every time you launch a new concept. If you learn something from this episode, go follow

takeaway wherever you listen to podcasts and leave some feedback. It's the best way to get these

lessons into the hands of

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