In this episode of Just the Tip, Felix sits down with Will Thompson — widely known in Miami as the bartender’s bartender — for an honest conversation about hospitality, community, and the realities facing the bar industry today.

From growing up in a military family to working his way up from busboy to bartender at places like Broken Shaker, Will shares how structure, discipline, and creativity shaped his approach behind the bar and his commitment to doing things the right way. He breaks down what real hospitality actually means, why guest experience still matters more than trends, and how neighborhood bars have evolved without losing their soul.

The conversation goes deeper into the post-COVID reality of the hospitality industry, including aggressive inspections, rising rents, and regulatory pressure that continue to threaten independent operators. Will speaks candidly about how the community showed up during the pandemic, why mentorship and transparency matter now more than ever, and what city leadership needs to understand about supporting local businesses.

If you work in bars, restaurants, nightlife, or hospitality real estate — especially in Miami — this episode hits close to home.

Topics covered:

• What it really means to be “the bartender’s bartender”
• The evolution of Miami’s neighborhood bar culture
• Community, mentorship, and accountability in hospitality
• COVID, inspections, and regulatory pressure on local bars
• Rising rents and the future of independent operators
• Why guest experience still defines great hospitality

🎧 Listen now for a grounded, real-world conversation about the people who keep hospitality alive — and what it will take to protect the industry moving forward.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.