Restaurant Owners Uncorked - By Schedulefly

In this episode, Wil chats with longtime friend and restaurateur Drew Moore of Carrboro, NC. Drew shares updates on his ventures, including Venable Bistro, B-Side Lounge, Auto Strada Pizza & Panini, Auto Strada Gelato & Coffee, and the upcoming House of Gatewood Chop House in Hillsborough. He explains how a 2022 trip to France and Italy inspired Auto Strada, modeled after Italian “auto grills,” offering high-quality paninis, pizza with imported Italian flour, and real ingredients at approachable prices. They discuss the challenges of running restaurants, including supply chain issues (especially in beef), workforce recovery post-COVID, rising tuition and its impact on staffing, and educating consumers on healthier food choices. Drew emphasizes values-driven business practices, maintaining ingredient integrity, and making dining experiences approachable while elevating quality, all while balancing the very real, unglamorous daily demands of restaurant ownership.Takeaways: Inspiration from Italy: Auto