What Happens When Two Microsoft Retirees Buy a Restaurant
My guests this week on The Restaurant Prosperity Formula podcast are two restaurant owners who've turned their business around and found their definition of success. Angie and Doug Brown, owners of The Cove Restaurant and Peninsula Golf Course in Long Beach, Washington, came from Big Tech careers. They both worked at Microsoft, spent time raising a family and then looking toward retirement, followed Doug's passion for golf and purchased a golf course and restaurant back in 2007. Their goal was to travel and enjoy retirement. Little did they know the learning curve they had in store for them!
Let me just say that these two entrepreneurs really kicked butt when it came to systems but more importantly, they learned how to communicate with their team so they could take ownership of everything that needs to be done in the restaurant. Angie, Doug and I do our best to show every restaurant owner looking for change and freedom what the journey can look.
Angie and Doug, both former Microsoft professionals, entered the restaurant and golf course business unexpectedly. Initially searching for a retirement venture, they discovered a golf course in a small town in southwestern Washington. With Doug’s passion for golf and a desire to help the community, they purchased the property in 2017, intending to be silent investors. However, as the business faced closure, they took on active roles to keep it alive, focusing on providing stable jobs and a reliable community gathering place.
Managing both a golf course and a restaurant presented unique challenges, especially with limited local resources and staff. Complications arose when key management left due to health issues, and the pandemic intensified their involvement. Despite the distance — living 180 miles away — they committed to making the business a “safe place to eat, work, and play,” fostering growth and stability for locals.
Angie and Doug’s experience with their new business was full of challenges – as are most restaurants. They had to learn how to run a restaurant to start! They faced communication issues, decision-making issues, staff and operational limitations, food cost management issues and a search for answers.
Throughout the conversation David prompts Angie and Doug to share what they learned and why they think other restaurant owners should consider using restaurant systems and coaching to help them gain control of their restaurants and their lives. Some of their tips include:
- Develop core values and mission
- Implement recipe cards and standard operating procedures
- Use digital checklists
- Manage food and labor costs closely
- Empower staff through training and trust
- Bring key staff to training events
- Improve communication and planning
- Empower decision-making with values
- Focus on developing business perspectives in staff
- Build a playbook
Angie and Doug pack this podcast episode with incredible first-hand experiences, actions they took to resolve their challenges and things they wish they would have known sooner. They have transformed their business by implementing practical systems, empowering their team and building a strong culture. Through trial and error, they’ve learned what works — and what doesn’t — in tackling food and labor costs, creating consistency in service and food quality and managing remotely. Their journey provides valuable lessons for anyone looking to run a restaurant more efficiently, foster team accountability and ultimately create a business that can thrive without constant owner oversight.
Whether you're a seasoned restaurant owner or just starting out, this episode offers a playbook for building a resilient and people-centered business.
Click the podcast player above to listen in, or you can watch the video on YouTube, click here to download the latest episode.
