CLOSE TO OPEN
RESTAURANT CONSULTING
A Little More About Us
Close to Open restaurant consulting starts with authentic listening and rigorous observation to uncover realities, while setting clear objectives and goals. Our consultants bring a genuine passion for people, food, and beverage, translating that love and energy into practical, measurable results you can track—fast.
We blend strategic thinking with hands-on execution to help you move confidently from concept to opening and beyond, turning aspirations into achievable milestones.
Your unique win is discovered in every facet of the engagement. Our hospitality experience spans decades on the frontline, in leadership, and in strategy, equipping us to elevate guest experiences, boost team performance, and drive operational excellence. We design guest journeys that feel effortless and authentic, while implementing performance standards that empower staff to deliver consistent, memorable service.
With Close to Open, you gain a partner who helps you translate vision into daily actions that lift both morale and profits.
We emphasize people-centered leadership and a culture that empowers teams to own the guest journey—from arrival to farewell. Quality emerges from a holistic approach: it’s not just the plate, it’s the entire guest experience—consistency, care, speed, accuracy, and warmth—enabled by well-designed systems, trained teammates, and an environment that fosters continuous improvement.
We craft a customized winning map anchored by practical benchmarks and a realistic timeline, combining field-tested beliefs with repeatable habits to build a scalable platform truly aligned with your brand, guest expectations, and business goals.
Our process prioritizes guest-centric metrics, financial discipline, and human-centric leadership to translate your vision into steady, sustainable results, while remaining adaptive, confidential, and focused on long-term resilience rather than quick fixes.
A Bit About our Founder
"Meet Peter"
Peter D. Bouloukos grew up in California’s Mission Viejo and is a proud graduate of Arizona State University. He makes his home in Bozeman, Montana, where he has been an active community member for fifteen years, coaching thousands of kids in soccer, football, basketball, and snow sports.
Peter’s true passion is supporting and serving others. As a Certified Professional Ski Instructor who loves the outdoors, he brings that same spirit of service and safety to the workplace. You’ll often find him weaving hiking stories with practical management and life lessons in his “Tip Jar” online—sharing actionable insights with a friendly, down-to-earth voice.
With thirty-eight plus years in the hospitality industry, Peter has worked across major markets including Chicago, Phoenix, Denver, Los Angeles, Ventura, Big Sky, Bozeman, Lewistown, Billings, West Yellowstone, and Island Park. Close To Open Consultants now spans nationwide, offering deep expertise in diverse market contexts and guest experiences.
Peter has owned and operated multiple themed restaurant concepts, managed and consulted on others, and driven volume into the eight figures per year in both full-service and nightclub environments. From fine dining to casual venues, wine tastings to beer dinners, Close To Open Management Consulting benefits from Peter’s hands-on leadership, positive energy, and commitment to people-first hospitality.
A lifelong student and advocate of beverage and food pairings, Peter specializes in concept development, employee education, and hospitality-centered leadership. He is passionate about sharing knowledge, mentoring teams, teaching practical skills, and building durable relationships and operations that thrive on trust and collaboration.
Known affectionately as “Chef Pedro” in some circles, he loves preparing large meals and treating friends and guests to memorable experiences—complete with great wines, craft beers, and stories from more than 38 years in the field. He believes food is a universal language of love that brings people together from every culture.
Peter’s background also includes notable contributions to Rolling Stone Magazine for special-event bookings and support of independent live music in the 1990s. He’s booked or managed more than 2,000 special concert events and helped launch The Tempe Music Festival in 1993, a staple reaching tens of thousands yearly. He also played a pivotal role in planning and operating National Championship Fiesta Bowl and Superbowl-related events in the mid-1990s, attracting substantial corporate sponsorships.
Beyond events, Peter has donated time refurbishing homes for low-income families and serves on the board of a community outreach non-profit focused on wellness and global awareness. His experience spans resort and private-club operations, convention and conference supervision, planning, and management.
Close to Open Consulting leverages a national network of professional contacts to bring you a rich tapestry of knowledge and resources.
What you’ll notice about Peter is his commitment to cultivating positive workplace cultures that people are excited to be part of—cultures defined by hospitality first, strong leadership, clear expectations, ongoing coaching, and a shared sense of purpose. If you have an open mind, Peter brings an open heart and a proven ability to get the job done the right way—through people, process, and genuine care.
Your dream. Close to Open Support and Service. One great future.
