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Odd Lots · October 24, 2026 · 48m

How a Chicago Restaurant Has Stayed Open For Nearly Three Decades

In this conversation recorded in Chicago, restaurateur Richard Mott shares his journey from running a grad-school coffee shop to operating North Pond, a farm-to-table restaurant that has endured for decades. He discusses the ever-increasing pressure of food and labor costs, why diners are drinking less and how that affects the bottom line, and the expected and unexpected reasons that restaurants so often fail.

This summary was generated from show notes and public descriptions, not from a full transcript review. Details may contain inaccuracies.

Preview

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The relentless squeeze of rising food and labor costs
Richard Mott details how the steady climb in food prices and wages has continually pressured restaurant margins over his decades-long career.
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Diners are drinking less, cutting a critical revenue stream
The shift toward lower alcohol consumption is hurting restaurants where high-margin beverages once offset food costs.

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