Scaling self-pour tap walls: Inside Oak & Stone's expansion | 074

Growing from one restaurant to nine teaches you that what worked at one location might not work at another. In this episode of The Pre-Shift Podcast, we sit down with Sam Aguilar, Brand President of Oak & Stone Restaurants, to discuss what it actually takes to scale a multi-unit concept without losing your culture along the way. Sam shares how Oak & Stone built a communication system that cascades from his weekly one-on-ones all the way down to the pre-shift, plus why he tracks two labor metrics. Whether you're opening your second location or your ninth, Sam's approach to scheduling, people development, and labor productivity offers practical takeaways for restaurants looking to grow. Key Takeaways Two Numbers, Not One: Hear why Sam tracks checks per labor hour alongside sales per labor hour — and how rising prices can dilute what's really happening on the floor. The Hardest Jump Isn't Zero to One: Discover why going from one location to two was Sam's toughest stretch, and why the processes that worked for a single-unit operator had to be rebuilt from scratch. A Cascade That Doesn't Break: Learn how Sam's communication flows from his weekly one-on-ones down through area leads, GMs, and managers, ending in a daily pre-shift built around exactly three things. Systems Over Memory: Find out why Sam pushes leaders toward PAR-based ordering and documented standards instead of letting critical knowledge live in one person's head. The Tap Guide Role: Understand how Oak & Stone staffs and measures the person responsible for guiding guests through a 50-tap self-pour wall, and how that role became a real career path. Feedback Is a Gift, Even for Your Best People: Hear Sam's case for spending five minutes and a cup of coffee recognizing high performers, who often get overlooked simply because they're not the ones causing problems. Hiring Is Everything: Discover why Sam calls people selection the single most important decision a growing operator makes, since it creates almost every problem and solves almost every problem down the line. Resources Connect with Sam Aguilar on LinkedIn 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-aguilar-75b05667/ Oak & Stone 🍺 https://oakandstone.com/ Chapters 00:00 Meet Sam Aguilar 00:51 Career Path to President 02:02 Oak and Stone Growth Story 04:01 Hardest Jump One to Two 07:51 Scheduling for New Volume 09:39 Leading Multi Unit Teams 10:34 Meeting Waterfall Culture 14:00 Systems Not Tribal Knowledge 15:54 Labor Metrics That Matter 18:15 Tap Guide Self Pour Wall 21:32 Scaling Past Seven Units 25:45 Developing Leaders Internally 31:39 Texas Expansion Playbook 34:58 Franchising and Partner Fit 36:18 Advice and Favorite Menu Items 40:27 Key Takeaways and Wrap Send us Fan Mail 📲 Connect with us Email us Follow on LinkedIn More 7shifts Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts Subscribe to Food Runner, our Monthly Restaurant Newsletter 7shifts on YouTube Follow us on TikTok Read the 7shifts Blog About Us 7shifts is the restaurant HR platform helping operators hire, train, schedule, pay, and retain their team in one place. With an easy-to-use platform and built-for-restaurant workflows, 7shifts replaces disconnected systems for 55,000 restaurants.