Why Denver’s Gastamo Group builds creative casual restaurant brands in the suburbs

Gastamo partner Peter Newlin shares how the group creates unique experiences for guests in the ’burbs. When COVID-19 and the work-from-home trend inspired many consumers to move into the suburbs, the restaurant industry followed suit — particularly quick serves and fast casuals that gobbled up valuable drive-thru real estate and other locations that could power off-premises service. A few years on, at least one group believes that the suburbs are now ripe for a different kind of restaurant experience: casual concepts with a local flare. Gastamo Group, a Denver-based hospitality firm that owns casual concepts like Park Burger and Homegrown Tap & Dough, among others, has committed to developing unique, localized casual-dining restaurant brands throughout Colorado. It particularly sees a lot of opportunity in operating its brands in the suburbs next door to the biggest national chains.  Gastamo cofounder and partner Peter Newlin joined the latest episode of Take-Away with Sam Oches to share why Gastamo Group is committed to a “regional fortress” strategy that confines growth to Colorado and its suburbs — and how the group develops creative experiences that resonate with guests.   In this conversation, you’ll learn more about why: Don’t assume to know what your community wants and needs in a restaurant Restaurants are living, breathing organisms; evolve them accordingly If you build a great brand, the opportunities for growth will follow Suburban casual dining is ripe for growth, especially among more localized concepts Your restaurant experience should tell a story A great restaurant experience is all in the details To level up loyalty, restaurants should take a page out of hotels’ playbook A “regional fortress” growth strategy could be a boon to smaller concepts Contact Sam Oches at sam.oches@informa.com.