Close to Open Consulting specializes in coaching, mentoring, training, and duplicating high‑performance, hospitality‑driven operations. Our team brings extensive experience across Restaurant Fine Dining, Casual, Fast Casual, Bars, Nightclubs, and Concert Venues, with private and public resort‑level expertise, including special event planning for large conference centers.

We prioritize leadership development, servant leadership, and building teams that guests and staff are excited to experience. Our approach is anchored in a true “Hospitality First” mindset: every decision starts with how it will impact the guest experience and the people delivering it.
 

We are private restaurant consultants who focus on successful Restaurant Starts, Turnarounds, Management Training, System Development, and, most importantly, cultivating a thriving, people‑centered culture. Each client—in diverse market sectors—brings a unique context, and that perspective sets us apart.

Our Founder has more than 38 years of combined experience across Montana, Arizona, California, Idaho, Illinois, and Colorado, while our partners contribute over six decades of collective wisdom. This blend ensures guidance that is practical, grounded in real‑world hospitality, and oriented toward lasting people‑first outcomes.
 

We are a down-to-earth, people‑centered business. Our heart and passion for others shines through in everything we do. We go above and beyond—whether we’re dressed for a Liquor License hearing or rolling up our sleeves in a kitchen or storeroom—to help your team perform at its best.

Our reputation in the restaurant industry rests on the ability to balance all essential components of a business with a strong emphasis on culture. We align brand, operating model, and strategy to create a foundation for premium profit and ongoing success, all while fostering a positive, high‑functioning work environment that people are proud to support.

We are Food and Beverage experts with a passion for helping others thrive.