Name: Pete Porretta
Company: Lighthouse Architecture
http://www.lighthousedesign.com/
Introduce yourself. What does your company do?
Lighthouse Architecture is a team of architects that design new restaurants and rebrand existing ones. We work with quick serve restaurants, fine dining, and bars and lounges. We focus on the return on client investment. Lighthouse Architecture provides both creative and financial solutions.
Why is your service important in running a restaurant business?
The interior esthetics of a restaurant needs to reinforce the brand and concept in order to send the correct message to the marketplace. The chain restaurants are well of this and that is how they compete with independent restaurants that have better culinary offers. In selecting the architectural design, we focus on the restaurateurs’ concept and the demographic they are trying to attract.
Why did you join the Tri-State Hospitality Network? What does it bring you?
Tri-State Hospitaity Network is a group of people marketing to the same client base. Being a member gives me the opportunity to cross sell, as well as make referral marketing
Do you have any success stories?
I work with Audrey of Raison D’Etre. She does some marketing for my company. I have a strong relationship with a former member, Mary Siegel. In addition, I am currently meeting with a restaurateur that I met at one of our quarterly events.
If you had to recommend one restaurant in the city, what would it be?
I would say the Steven Starr restaurant, the Continental in Midtown.
