Dan Haggerty: Four Concepts, One Block, and a Bar With No Booze | Ep. 53

He built three of Manchester's most talked-about spots from scratch -- and now he's opening a fourth. Dan Haggerty, co-owner of Industry East, Stashbox, and Moka Pot, sits down with Carol Erickson to talk about how a dishwasher at 14 ended up building one of the most creative small business empires in downtown Manchester. In this episode: • The traveling mixology business that became Industry East -- and how it almost looked completely different • The hot dog that saved the liquor license (and became their most iconic menu item) • Why a cocktail guy decided to open Manchester's first dry bar -- and what the sober-curious movement actually looks like from inside the industry • The Moka Pot expansion and what Dan says makes Manchester's small business community unlike anywhere else • Running multiple concepts within 2,000 square feet -- and what it takes to hold it all together FIND DAN & HIS SPOTS: Industry East -- 28 Hanover St, Manchester NH | industryeastbar.com | @industry.east.bar Stashbox -- 866 Elm St, Manchester NH | stashboxnh.com | @stashboxnh Without -- coming soon to 8 Hanover St, Manchester NH (Manchester's first dry bar) Moka Pot -- 8 Hanover St, Manchester NH Subscribe to Beyond the Plate on YouTube so you never miss a conversation like this one. New episodes every Tuesday. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook: @beyondtheplatenh Find us everywhere: linktr.ee/BeyondtheplateNH --- This episode is sponsored by Red Arrow Diner. 4 NH locations: Manchester, Concord, Londonderry, and Nashua -- open 24/7. redarrowdiner.com | Instagram: @redarrow24diner | Facebook: Red Arrow Diner --- ABOUT BEYOND THE PLATE WITH CAROL Carol Erickson, owner of Red Arrow Diner since 1987, sits down with the people behind New Hampshire's food and hospitality scene. It's not just about the food -- it's about the journeys, the community, and what drives people to go beyond. Follow Beyond the Plate -- find us everywhere: linktr.ee/BeyondtheplateNH Follow Carol: Instagram @carolsew24 0:00 -- Intro 0:20 -- From dishwasher to front of house at 15 1:44 -- What kept pulling him back to the industry 2:57 -- Guest plug: Industry East, Stashbox, Without, Moka Pot 3:32 -- The traveling mixology business origin 5:28 -- When the traveling business became a real place 6:15 -- Meeting Jeremy Hart and building Birch on Elm 7:22 -- The decision to become an owner 9:10 -- Building Industry East during COVID 10:38 -- The 18-seat design and what makes it work 11:09 -- Mixologist vs. bartender (Dan has thoughts) 😄 12:24 -- Dan and Jeremy's roles: "He's the cocktail guru, I'm the loud one" 13:03 -- How the Industry East menu came together 15:45 -- The hot dog that saved the liquor license 16:49 -- Carol's eggs benedict hot dog visit 19:03 -- Over 300 wieners of the week 23:25 -- The charcuterie board and the quality philosophy 28:03 -- Why Stashbox happened 29:01 -- Finding the "cursed" Elm Street building 31:38 -- Red Arrow sponsorship 32:07 -- The Without dry bar -- how it started 32:29 -- Is Dan alcohol-free himself? 😄 33:07 -- Why the NA movement is real and not a trend 37:38 -- "It's cool to be sober now" 38:04 -- The real reason Without will work 38:34 -- How close is Without to opening? 39:07 -- The Without menu: Hawaiian chef, Polynesian fusion 41:50 -- Moka Pot: the expansion and the vision 45:07 -- Running multiple concepts across 2,000 square feet 47:26 -- Baby Penelope and balancing family with the industry 49:29 -- The wiener of the week right now (Banh Mi) 50:26 -- Supporting local restaurants right now 51:01 -- Lightning Round 54:54 -- Closing: what Dan is most proud of 56:34 -- Outro