后厨的烟火气还带着创业时的温度，收银台的抽屉塞满了熟客的笑脸。这家小店，是你们夫妻俩的心血，是街坊邻居的"食堂"。生意稳了，心里那颗"做 大"的种子也悄悄发了芽——开分店，创品牌，把这份味道传到更多地方去！ 可念头刚起，冷水就浇了下来： 这滋味，像极了看着自家孩子想远行，既盼他展翅高飞，又怕他路上摔跤。扩张，从来不是简单的"复制粘贴"，而是一场关乎基因重塑的硬仗。怎么打？ 一、扩张第一步：不是急着开店，而是"拆解自己" 想把夫妻店"放大"，先得把它"拆碎"。别急着跑马圈地，沉下心，把成功的根儿挖出来 1、你的"命根子"到底是什么？ 是祖传三代的秘制卤汁？是老板娘一眼看透顾客喜好的亲和力？还是你家凌晨三点就开始熬的那锅汤？ —行动： 拿出一周，像侦探一样记录 哪些环节顾客赞不绝口？哪些产品复购率奇高？哪些服务细节让熟客成了"自来水"？找到那1-2个非你不可的核心竞争力。这是未来品牌大厦的基石。 2、把"手感"变成"说明书" 老张的牛肉面一绝，可他一休假，味道就变。问题在哪？火候"凭感觉"，调料"少许"，全在老师傅手上。 — 行动： "傻瓜化"你的核心流程。 — 产品： 精确到克！ — 行动：培养人才骨干 汤底用 ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company achieved total consolidated GAAP revenues of $207.4 million, an increase of 20.2% from $172.5 million in the same quarter last year [20] - Adjusted EBITDA was $23.4 million, reflecting a 7.3% increase from $21.8 million in the prior year quarter [27] - Net loss was $10.1 million compared to a net loss of $7.3 million in the previous year, with adjusted net income at $1.7 million, down from $6.3 million [26][27] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Company-owned restaurant net revenues increased by 20.6% to $203.9 million, primarily due to the additional days of ownership of Benihana and Ra Sushi [20] - Restaurant EBITDA decreased to 15.4% from 17.5% in the prior year quarter, with Benihana locations at 18.5% and STK locations at 15.9% [22] - The company closed five locations that were underperforming or nearing lease renewals, indicating a focus on optimizing the growth portfolio [14] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company noted that traffic in the upscale casual segment remains challenged, particularly in Las Vegas, which has been impacted by shifting convention schedules and visitor traffic declines [51][53] - Demand remains strong during peak periods, especially on weekends, with strategies in place to maximize throughput [8] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to drive same-store sales growth through operational excellence, culinary innovation, and targeted marketing [8] - A focus on asset-light growth opportunities is evident, with plans to open five to seven new venues in 2025, including a company-owned Benihana in Seattle [12][30] - The integration of Benihana is progressing ahead of plan, with significant synergies expected to be realized by the end of 2026 [16] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in achieving a strong fourth quarter, driven by holiday traffic and improved logistics at Benihana [55][56] - The company is optimistic about its ability to navigate the current economic environment, focusing on internal factors rather than external economic conditions [58][59] - The loyalty program launched in Q2 is expected to enhance guest frequency and spending, with significant engagement anticipated in the upcoming quarters [90] Other Important Information - The company has approximately $50 million in liquidity, providing operational flexibility [15] - The new Benihana location in San Mateo has been performing exceptionally well, serving as a prototype for future openings [39][40] Q&A Session Summary Question: What were the issues faced by Benihana last year? - Management indicated that HVAC issues were significant challenges post-acquisition, which have since been addressed for better sales opportunities this year [35][36] Question: Can you discuss the new restaurant in San Mateo? - The San Mateo location has a different design, eliminating the sushi bar to increase table capacity, and has seen strong initial performance [37][39] Question: How is STK managing traffic in the current environment? - The strategy focuses on value pricing and happy hour promotions to drive traffic, while also emphasizing premium products [42] Question: What are the regional differences in same-store sales? - Vegas has been a challenged market due to shifting convention schedules and visitor traffic declines, while other regions performed consistently [51][53] Question: What gives confidence in maintaining annual guidance? - Management highlighted the strong performance of Benihana and STK, particularly during the holiday season, as key factors for confidence in guidance [55][56] Question: Can you elaborate on franchising efforts for Benihana? - There is growing interest from existing franchisees, and the company is actively participating in industry events to build a pipeline for new agreements [75][78] Question: What is the outlook for food inflation? - While some commodity prices have stabilized, beef prices remain a concern, but the company is prepared to navigate these challenges through innovation [70][72]

Group 1 - The core challenge of expanding a restaurant chain lies in maintaining consistency across locations, which is often more complex than anticipated [1][3] - Successful expansion requires a focus on four critical elements: product, people, supply chain, and financial management [1][6][10] - A detailed understanding of the restaurant's signature dishes and operational processes is essential to ensure uniformity in taste and quality across all locations [3][4] Group 2 - Developing capable store managers internally is crucial, as relying on external hires can lead to operational challenges [6][8] - Establishing strong relationships with suppliers and ensuring a reliable supply chain is vital to avoid disruptions that can impact service and product quality [10][11] - Implementing effective inventory and financial management systems can help track performance and prevent losses [14][15] Group 3 - Location selection is critical; choosing a site based solely on low rent can lead to poor customer traffic and financial losses [18][19] - Maintaining brand identity and customer experience across multiple locations is essential to avoid alienating loyal customers [22][23] - Financial prudence is necessary; businesses should maintain sufficient reserves to cover operational costs during the initial phases of new store openings [26][27] Group 4 - A systematic approach to expansion, starting with smaller, manageable projects, can mitigate risks associated with rapid growth [29][30] - Engaging experienced industry professionals for guidance can provide valuable insights and help avoid common pitfalls in restaurant management [34]