Peter Newlin is the Chief Vision Officer of Gastamo Group and a driving force behind some of Denver’s most community-rooted and experience-focused restaurant concepts. He also brings a unique perspective to the restaurant industry that fuses brand creation, tech innovation and guest connection.
Recently on an episode of Forktales, Peter shared why restaurants should serve the communities they’re in, not just their bottom lines. He talked about launching with a startup mindset, using AI to reduce risk and improve operations, and why loyalty programs should prioritize recognition over rewards.
HOW DID YOU GO FROM AN MBA WITH NO RESTAURANT PLANS TO BUILDING A GROWING RESTAURANT GROUP?
“I stumbled upon this little 40-seat burger restaurant. It was the first time I experienced hospitality. I sat at the bar, I looked left and right, I saw all this joy. You could feel the local energy, the authenticity. I applied the next day, and the rest is history.”
WHAT’S YOUR PHILOSOPHY ON TECHNOLOGY IN RESTAURANTS—HOW DO YOU BALANCE IT WITH HOSPITALITY?
“People don’t want to eat in the Apple Store. They want to eat in a dope restaurant with unbelievable experiences. So now my perspective on tech is: make it disappear. Use it to solve big problems—but it can’t replace human connection.”
YOU’VE BUILT YOUR OWN POS SYSTEM. WHY? WHAT PROBLEM WERE YOU SOLVING?
“We wanted to automate the front of house so the team could be focused on guest experience versus doing tasks. It started with one use case, but now it’s evolving to help with team training, incentives, guest sentiment—real-time coaching and better operations.”
BUY VS. LEASE: WHAT’S YOUR APPROACH TO REAL ESTATE AS YOU GROW?
“We want to own these restaurants and run them for the next 20–30 years. We’ve had painful lease deals. Every five years, renegotiating, rising rents. Now we look for opportunities to buy, even if that means a slower payback. It’s about long-term stability and reducing downside.”
