This Bar Gives You 21% Off If You Pay in Bitcoin

Dan Kablaoui of PubKey shares how a neighborhood bar became something much bigger: a gathering place where hospitality, Bitcoin, media, and community intersect. From rebuilding a post-COVID community in New York to launching an ambitious Washington, D.C. venue with a stage, studio, and event space, he explains why physical spaces still matter in a digital world. This episode explores sponsorship-driven growth, content as a business model, and how great hospitality can make complex ideas feel approachable. Hospitality Can Be the Gateway to New Ideas – PubKey does not lead with Bitcoin jargon or hard sells. It leads with burgers, beer, and a welcoming neighborhood bar experience. By creating trust first through hospitality, the brand makes complex topics feel approachable and human. Sometimes the best way to introduce something new is through an experience people already understand. Restaurants Can Build More Than Food Revenue – PubKey treats its physical space as a business platform, not just a dining room. Events, sponsorships, podcast production, community meetups, and branded activations all create revenue opportunities beyond food and beverage sales. The modern venue can monetize attention, audience, and experiences in ways traditional operators often overlook. The Future Belongs to Spaces Built for Content – A great room used to be enough. Now the smartest operators design spaces that can also be filmed, streamed, clipped, and shared. PubKey’s stage, studio, and media setup turn every event into ongoing digital distribution. The venues that win tomorrow will be the ones built for both in-person energy and online reach. Episode Links PubKey Online: https://www.pubkey.bar/ PubKey X: https://x.com/pubkey PubKey YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PubkeyBar PubKey Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pubkey.nyc/ PubKey Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pubkey.bar Go to the National Restaurant Show 2026: https://nationalrestaurantshow.com Use our promo code SHAWN26 for $26 off registration! Disclaimer: Promotional offer is valid through 5/8/2026. Offer is redeemable through online registration and is only valid for operators. Offer cannot be combined with any other promotion and does not apply to current 2026 Show registrants. Non-exhibiting suppliers are subject to a higher badge rate. #2026RestaurantShow Where to find Cali BBQ MediaVisit our WebsiteFollow Restaurant Technology SubstackFollow us on InstagramFollow us on LinkedInLearn About our Media Services