Building a Hospitality Empire on Family Recipes with Michael Merendino | EP199

In Episode 199, Delo sits down with Michael Merendino, the founder of Crust Simply Italian and a fixture in the Arizona hospitality scene. Born and raised in New York, Michael shares his incredible journey from waiting tables at Mastro’s Ocean Club—where he made $1,000 a night during the golden era of steakhouses—to buying a 7-foot pizza oven before he even had a lease for his first restaurant. This conversation is a masterclass in grit, "scrappy" entrepreneurship, and the relentless pursuit of authentic hospitality.Michael opens up about the early days of opening Crust in 2007, making "every mistake possible," including opening without silverware and forgetting to wash the romaine lettuce on day one. He and Delo discuss the evolution of the restaurant industry from labor costs to the "MALT" principle (Music, Ambiance, Lighting, Temperature) that defines a great dining experience. They also dive deep into his expansion into the craft cocktail world with The Ostrich, a basement speakeasy in a 100-year-old hotel that houses feathers from the actual ostrich farm of Dr. Chandler.Whether you're a restaurateur navigating the chaotic waters of construction and permitting, or just a lover of great food and stories, this episode delivers. Michael explains why "touching every table" is still the secret sauce to retention, how he balances running a multi-concept portfolio while keeping a "family" culture, and even claims a little credit for the invention of lobster mashed potatoes.Chapter Guide:(0:00 - 3:15) Intro: Family Life & The "Scottsdale Love Story"(3:16 - 8:42) The Golden Era: Making $1k/Night at Mastro's(8:43 - 15:20) The First Crust: Buying an Oven Before a Lease(15:21 - 22:10) The Ostrich: Building a Speakeasy in a Basement(22:11 - 28:45) Scaling Up: Why "Touching Tables" Matters(28:46 - 35:30) Leadership: Managing Headaches & Celebrating Wins(35:31 - 40:37) Rapid Fire: MALT, Steaks, & Lobster Mashed Potatoes👉 If you love stories of hustling your way to the top, hit Subscribe!🍕 Explore the full Crust Concepts portfolio — the restaurants, the speakeasy, and the vision behind it all: https://crustconcepts.com🔗 Connect with DELO: https://linktr.ee/iamthedelo💡 Entrepreneur Community: https://www.builtdifferentcommunity.com 📚 Grab DELO’s Free eBook: https://toastability-production.s3.amazonaws.com/iiaxm3o0iqiawpe96g9o5efki5gh📲 DELO’s Preferred Business Service Partners: https://iamthedelo.com/connect📘 Facebook:   / iamthedelo  📸 Instagram:   / iamthedelo  📌 LinkedIn:   / daviddelorenzo1  📋 Restaurant Resources: https://www.runningrestaurants.com/subscribe DISCOUNT CODE: DeLo2025