🎙️ From Madison Square Garden Floor Seats to 10 Restaurants: Craig Bernstein's Journey Building Doc B's Fresh Kitchen
In this inspiring episode, Craig Bernstein, Founder and President of Doc B's Restaurant, shares his remarkable journey from 10-year-old sixth-grader writing "Restaurant Entrepreneur" career reports after meeting Morton's Steakhouse legend Alan Bernstein courtside at a Knicks game to founding a 10-location fresh casual dining concept honoring his late father's bedside manner and ethos. Through candid stories about name-dropping Howard Schultz in a cold email to Potbelly (founder called him 7am next morning), becoming Houston's "worst server" before working up to general manager (one of life's greatest accomplishments), discovering guests wanted full-service experience not order-at-counter model (bar component saved the concept), corporate chef ghosting two months before second restaurant opened (could have killed the business), and meeting Wendy Thomas of Wendy's fame who assured him the "Number Six" spicy chicken sandwich won't trigger lawsuits ("you're so far below our radar"), Craig reveals how genuine hospitality plus coaster storytelling (founder@docbs.com printed on back connecting guests to late father Doc B's legacy) plus 16-week training programs promoting servers to GMs prove perseverance beats perfection—and sometimes God moves Houston's to transfer you to Long Island exactly one week before your father's devastating glioblastoma diagnosis changes everything.
✨ Key Insights You'll Learn:
Career spark: age 10, Madison Square Garden highest row, Alan Bernstein's floor seats inspiring "Restaurant Entrepreneur" sixth-grade report still on company website
Howard Schultz pivot: college senior pitching Bernie's New York Deli bodega concept, Schultz saying "get experience first" redirecting to Potbelly via investment
Concept evolution: guests at bar ordering from full menu while others used digital boards, 50-50 split forcing pivot from fast-casual to full-service model
Corporate chef disappearance: two months before second restaurant opening, no-show ghost (still never heard from him), Houston's kitchen training saving business survival
Coaster storytelling: "Thank you for choosing Doc B's since opening our first restaurant in 2013 and naming after my late father" with founder@docbs.com printed
Wendy Thomas friendship: random Chicago restaurant encounter, discussing Number Six spicy chicken sandwich (Wendy's value menu homage), "you're safe, below our radar"
16-week training program: promoting servers to GMs (10-year company veterans thriving), cultural foundation plus tangible skill sets preventing rushed external hires
🌟 Craig's Key Mentors & Influences:
Alan Bernstein (Morton's Steakhouse Legend)
Howard Schultz (Starbucks Founder)experience first," Maveron Capital's Potbelly investment opening doors
Houston's General Managers
Craig's Father (Dr. Bernstein "Doc B"): Bedside manner ethos foundation, glioblastoma diagnosis week after Houston's Long Island transfer, genuine hospitality inspiration, naming legacy
Potbelly Founder Brian Kyle
🔗 Connect with Craig Bernstein:
Doc B's Restaurant Email: founder@docbs.com
Website: DocBsRestaurant.com
Instagram: @DocBsRestaurant
📄 Transcript Available: From Madison Square Garden to 10 Restaurants: Craig Bernstein's Doc B's Journey
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📄 Special Thanks to Anthony Codispoti & AddBack Benefits Agency: AddBack Benefits Agency - Providing innovative employee benefits solutions that improve employee well-being while optimizing your bottom line Website: addbackbenefits.com
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