Invest Like the Best with Patrick O'Shaughnessy

Sean Feeney - Reinventing the Restaurant Business - [Invest Like the Best, CLASSICS]

9 snips

Sep 5, 2025

Sean Feeney, co-founder of Grove House Hospitality Group and owner of acclaimed NYC restaurants Lilia and Misi, shares his inspiring journey from finance to culinary success. He reveals how he disrupted traditional norms in the restaurant industry, focusing on authenticity and community engagement. Feeney discusses the immersive dining experience, the power of storytelling, and the importance of nurturing customer connections. Tune in for a fascinating look at how his passion for food transformed into a thriving business built on innovation and strong relationships.

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ANECDOTE

How A Dinner Sparked A Partnership

Sean met chef Missy Robbins as a neighbor and cooked bolognese for her during Hurricane Sandy night which led to deep conversations and trust.
That year she considered leaving restaurants and Sean spent months convincing her to partner and offer ownership from day one.

ADVICE

Make Rent A Shared Outcome

Tie occupancy cost to sales rather than fixed dollars to align incentives with landlords and reduce ruinous fixed rent risk.
Model expenses as percentages of sales to target a clear net income (Sean targeted 20% EBITDA vs typical 8%).

INSIGHT

Make Customers Chase The Brand

Brands that make customers chase them generate scarce demand and deeper community bonds.
Use drops and off-premise products to feed excess demand without building another full restaurant.

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Welcome to this classic episode. Classics are my favorite episodes from the past 10 years, published once a month. These are N of 1 conversations with N of 1 people. Sean Feeney makes you want to be a better person, friend, and leader. Sean is the co-founder of Grove House Hospitality Group and the owner of Lilia and Misi, two of New York City’s most sought-after restaurants. He left his job in Trading to chase down a dream with Michelin star chef Missy Robbins.

Sean leveraged his finance background to write his own rulebook for the restaurant industry, crafting several establishments that now boast several thousand people on the waitlist any given night. His story is as entertaining as it is inspiring. As we go step by step through his business endeavors, he points out all of the times he was told “it’s just always been done this way” and how that revealed to him where he could innovate. Sean’s restaurants are the perfect example of building a business into the fabric of a community, collaborating with other brands in authentic ways, and staying true to yourself along the way.

Please enjoy this awesome conversation with Sean Feeney.

For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here.

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Invest Like the Best is a property of Colossus, LLC. For more episodes of Invest Like the Best, visit joincolossus.com/episodes.

Past guests include Tobi Lutke, Kevin Systrom, Mike Krieger, John Collison, Kat Cole, Marc Andreessen, Matthew Ball, Bill Gurley, Anu Hariharan, Ben Thompson, and many more.

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Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com).

Show Notes:

(00:00:00) Welcome to Invest Like the Best

(00:03:58) A Chance Encounter with a Michelin-Starred Chef

(00:08:52) The Birth of a Culinary Partnership

(00:12:49 Embracing the Genius Within

(00:16:41) Innovative Approaches to the Restaurant Business

(00:24:53) Creating Demand: The Art of Exclusivity

(00:28:49) Learning from the Best: Insights from Kith's Success

(00:34:21) Defining Exceptional Hospitality

(00:44:20) The Power of Customer Relationships in Hospitality

(00:52:31) Unlocking Team Potential

(00:53:33) The Philosophy of the Perfect Turn

(00:54:05) Balancing Art, Commerce, and Satisfaction

(00:56:13) The Impact of Authentic Experiences and Brands

(01:03:24) The Evolution of a Hospitality Brand

(01:06:38) Community Engagement and the Power of Simplicity

(01:24:40) Creative Responses and Business Lessons Learned

(01:36:05) Lessons From Working In The Restaurant Industry

(01:43:01) The Kindest Thing Anyone Has Ever Done For Sean