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24 deep playbooks for opening & running a NYC hospitality venue.
2,049 operator-grade Q&As + 97 charts, NYC code-cited, written from the 338 audited Nightrush bibles. Pick a topic to drill in.
Pre-launch · Concept → Open
9 playbooksBrand & Concept Development
Concept research, naming, trademarks, identity, positioning, persona, design brief.
Buildout
Lease signing → opening day. Permits, design, GC, MEP, agencies, TCO, costs, schedule.
Real Estate & Lease
LOI to lease execution. Brokers, base rent, TI, exclusives, assignment, NYC loft & 421a.
Liquor License
NYC SLA process — license types, 500-foot, CB stipulations, MoO, violations, costs.
NYC Permits Beyond Liquor
DOHMH, FDNY, DCWP, DOT, BIC, DEP — every permit your venue needs that isn't an SLA license.
Hiring & Staff
Roles, NY labor law, wage & hour, tips, hiring, onboarding, HTC, payroll, termination, compliance.
Finance & Accounting
Monthly close, P&L, COGS, prime cost, sales tax, payroll tax, accountants, lenders.
Insurance & Legal Protection
GL + liquor liability, workers comp, EPLI, property/BI, claims, counsel, entity, contracts.
Marketing Launch
Brand, pre-launch, PR, social, content, influencer, paid, events, SEO, reservations, KPIs.
Operating · Day-to-Day
11 playbooksPOS & Tech Stack
POS, reservations, KDS, scheduling, payroll, ordering. Toast, Square, Resy, SevenRooms.
Vendor & Procurement
Broadliners, par sheets, RFPs, allocations, payment terms. Sysco, US Foods, Baldor, Hunts Point.
Wine, Beer & Spirits Program
Opening order, ratios, reorder points, cocktail prep, distributors. SGWS, RNDC, Empire.
Daily Operations
POS, reservations, inventory, scheduling, accounting, payments, IT, guest, maintenance, compliance.
Food Safety & DOH
NYC DOH letter grades, ServSafe, allergens, FSMA 204, pest, plumbing, complaint inspections.
Events & Private Buyouts
Inquiry to BEO. Deposits, COIs, gratuity, alcohol, run-of-show, cancellation, settlement.
Catering & Off-Premise
Drop-off catering, food trucks, festivals, ghost kitchens, commissary, corporate accounts.
Outdoor Dining & Sidewalk Café
DOT Dining Out NYC permits, sidewalk + roadway, structures, heaters, Mamdani year-round.
Music & Live Performance Licensing
ASCAP/BMI/SESAC, NYC sound ordinance, Office of Nightlife, DJ + live-music contracts.
Sustainability & Energy
LL97 carbon, LL146 food waste, LL154 gas, EPR, single-use ban, EPA ER&R, BIC waste zones.
Loyalty, Membership & Retention
Loyalty platforms, membership clubs, gift cards, CRM, churn cohorts, NPS, reviews.
Grow · Scale → Exit
4 playbooksHotel F&B Operations
Brand standards, HOA carve-outs, leased vs in-house, room service, HTC IWA, OTAs.
Multi-Unit Operations
1 → 2 → 5+ venues. Holdco, GMs, central kitchen, multi-unit POS, KPIs, franchising.
Crisis Management & PR
DOH outbreak, Dramshop, raid, lawsuit, social-media crisis, fire/flood, statement protocol.
Sale, Exit & M&A
Valuation, lease assignment, SLA license transfer, NY WARN, §1141(c) bulk sales, R&W.