Fear, Failure, and Reinvention: How Jeff Gigante Built a Restaurant Empire

Jeff Gigante has built some of Tampa Bay’s most recognized restaurants, but his path began with a failed pizzeria, a canceled acting job and a $40,000 debt he had no idea how to repay.In this episode of Fractured But Fearless, Dr. S. Irfan Ali sits down with Jeff, founder of Next Level Brands, to explore the failures, risks and personal experiences that shaped his approach to entrepreneurship and hospitality.Jeff shares how he went from studying theater and pursuing acting in New York to helping transform Tampa’s restaurant scene. He explains why storytelling sits at the center of hospitality, how his team hires for attitude over experience and why every restaurant carries a responsibility to create meaningful memories for its guests.The conversation also examines one of the defining moments of Jeff’s career. When COVID-19 shut down businesses across Florida, his team urged him to close. Jeff chose to reinvent the restaurant instead. He launched takeout, fed first responders and found a creative way to solve Tampa’s toilet paper shortage. The campaign generated national attention and helped lay the foundation for Next Level Brands.Jeff and Dr. Ali also discuss imposter syndrome, charitable giving, the hidden cost of success and the mindset that allows leaders to move through fear. Jeff shares how training with Wim Hof changed his understanding of human capability and why he views pressure as a privilege.This conversation offers a candid look at what it takes to build a company, lead during a crisis and create a life grounded in relationships and purpose.WHAT YOU’LL LEARNHow Jeff moved from acting into the restaurant industryWhy his first pizzeria failed after only a few monthsHow he overcame fear while opening his first Tampa restaurantWhy Next Level Brands hires for attitude and personalityHow company culture influences the guest experienceWhat “pressure is a privilege” means to JeffHow Wim Hof training changed his view of personal limitsWhy Jeff refused to close his restaurant during COVIDHow a toilet paper promotion generated national attentionWhy failure has played a larger role in his life than successHow charitable work changed his understanding of leadershipWhy relationships ultimately define a meaningful lifeCHAPTERS00:00 Introduction00:31 Jeff Gigante’s lifelong ambition01:03 Elevating Tampa Bay’s restaurant scene02:15 From theater student to restaurant entrepreneur04:24 Opening a pizzeria while still in college06:06 Borrowing $30,000 to start the business07:08 A crisis two weeks before opening08:16 The first major challenge Jeff overcame09:00 Why the restaurant failed10:00 Choosing between acting and hospitality11:18 Booking a role on a soap opera11:43 The show gets canceled12:17 Jeff decides to pursue restaurants13:21 Seeing Tampa’s potential early15:05 Pitching a New York restaurateur on Tampa17:45 Feeling terrified while starting the business19:00 Reframing fear as excitement and readiness20:38 Imposter syndrome at a 400-seat restaurant22:00 Connecting business with community service23:00 Meeting WWE superstar Titus O’Neil25:13 Activating your heart instead of writing a check27:00 Building a culture around human experience28:17 How Next Level Brands approaches culture29:28 Hiring for attitude over experience30:34 Growing to more than 700 employees31:00 The personal cost of success32:42 Why pressure is a privilege34:16 Meditation, breathwork and cold plunging35:00 Training with Wim Hof in Poland36:00 Discovering the mind’s hidden capacity37:27 Building a legacy for your children39:19 How Jeff’s restaurant survived COVID41:11 Refusing to close the business42:00 Feeding first responders42:46 Solving Tampa’s toilet paper shortage43:50 The campaign that went viral44:06 National media attention and reinvention44:55 Protecting employees during the shutdown46:47 Why leaders must lead during a crisis48:25 Remaining a student of life50:32 Jeff’s advice to young entrepreneurs51:16 Why failure matters more than success52:48 Measuring life through relationships54:16 Defining the responsibility of hospitality55:00 Creating “laid-back luxury”56:38 Honoring every guest’s decision58:04 What’s next for Next Level Brands01:00:00 Friends are strangers we haven’t metMentioned in this episode:Fractured But Fearless - Cold Open