Robert Thompson believes that a mashup of chandeliers, food for foodies, shuffleboard, and craft beverages is the perfect night on the town.

An interview with the Founder of Punch Bowl Social

3 min readMay 18, 2017

This interview is part of Inspirations, a monthly series from Clearpath Search that asks extraordinary founders and executives the why.

What or who inspired you to start your brand or concept and why?

Ironically, there was a void in the “Eatertainment” category as far as “eating” was concerned. I thought it was strange that no experiential, eatertainment brand was focusing on the culinary product with a high degree of scratch kitchen integrity. Putting together a concept model like Punch Bowl Social with the culinary emphasis, craft beverage approach, and design forward appeal seemed obvious.

What’s been the biggest challenge you’ve faced so far and why?

Developing the real estate model to support a complex concept model like Punch Bowl Social was a broad undertaking. We focus on urban and quasi-urban opportunities leaving the nebulous, vast and fickle suburbs to those that understand them better than we do.

What’s been the greatest reward and why?

There are a handful of particularly loyal and hard working professionals within our organization that have begun to rise to the challenge that a growth brand requires. Seeing them earn industry respect and financial rewards strums my heartstrings.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to another entrepreneur just starting out and why?

You can get away with undercapitalizing your first project, but don’t try it a second time. Once you prove the concept model, raise enough cash to do it again; but don’t get cheap. Your second one will cost more because you’re going to want to go farther with the lessons you’ve learned. The worst decisions I’ve made as an entrepreneur have been related to undercapitalization.

What are your plans for expansion?

5-units in 2017 and 5–6 each year thereafter. High profile deals in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood, Brooklyn, San Diego, Sacramento and Atlanta are up next.

What is one brand or concept that you respect or admire and why?

I mostly study and admire what my fellow independent restaurateurs are developing. Before Punch Bowl Social, I was a serial concept man opening boutiquey restaurants and high-volume bars. I still approach the world like I’m the smallest concept man in creation and am trying to outdo the “big-boys/girls” with my creativity.

What’s one word that best describes you and why?

Reflective. History helps me see the road ahead and put challenges in the appropriate context. I’ve seen some heights and the professional bottom; once you’ve taken that “tour” you don’t get too scared or too happy with anything coming your way.

About Punch Bowl Social

Punch Bowl Social is — first-and-foremost — a food & beverage concept folding in “old school” entertainment as the “hook” (Bowling, ping pong, shuffleboard, darts, marbles, board games and private karaoke rooms). Their “culinary board” is a scratch kitchen gastro-diner with a high degree of culinary integrity. The beverage program is craft oriented. An innovative aesthetic and attention to design detail helps differentiate PBS from all other within the “Eat-ertainment” space. Founded in 2012, they have eight locations across the U.S.

About Clearpath

At Clearpath, we value relationships over everything because we know that great people are the secret sauce to success. We serve as ambassadors for emerging brands — connecting them with the leaders they need to build their businesses and change the world. Our collaborative, tenacious, and modern approach to talent acquisition empowers us to surface the right candidates — faster.

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