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Lauren Bostic
Welcome to the Bostics, starring Lauren Bostic and Michael Bostic.
David Grutman
Together they are the Bostics. Hello everybody.
Lauren Bostic
Welcome back to another episode of the Bostics. Today we have our friend David Grutman. David is a visionary entrepreneur, hospitality titan and founder of Groot Hospitality. I'm sure many of you have been to some of his places in Miami or Vegas, places like live nightclub, Poppy Steak Gecko and more. But his influence extends far beyond the Miami and Vegas nightlife scene. He's also one of the most well connected people in the world with relationships that span industries. He's a serial investor and entrepreneur and a great father and husband. Most recently he's just written his first book called Take it Personal which we talk about in this episode and where he shares all the things that he's learned along the way from turning resilience into long term success, relationship building, the importance of a grounding partnership and how to find success in any venture. This book is not just for the nightlife entrepreneur or the restaurateur like we discovered in this episode. It's really for anyone trying to build anything. I think this is one of the most personal conversations David's had on a show like this. And with that he shared a lot of insights that I don't think he's shared in other places. We had a great time with him as always. With that, our friend David Grutman.
Michael Bostic
What's the first epiphany that gets you into the hospitality industry? Do you remember something even before you got in that you were like, damn, I really did like hospitality always.
David Grutman
So I always thought bartenders were probably the cool. Was probably the coolest job ever. And when I started bartending, I was like, this is very cool. But then I would watch the managers on the floor leading the like pacing the whole experience for people. And that's when I was like, I need to be a leader. I don't want to just be a bartender.
Michael Bostic
What are you like as a bartender? Like, let's talk about.
David Grutman
I was, I was in my 20s, Lauren. I was very good looking. Let's start there, right? And I was throwing, I was, I thought I was cocktail from Tom Cruise.
Michael Bostic
And are, are you like on stage, Mr. Performer?
David Grutman
By the way, Great, great.
Lauren Bostic
By the way, Tom Cruise is the greatest of all time.
David Grutman
Same birthday. Funny you say that.
Lauren Bostic
I had this, I had this debate
David Grutman
with our Michael Go like this. Did you see Tom? Did you see Tom?
Lauren Bostic
I could see, but he doesn't get, I think that like you listen, you know a lot of, a lot of big names, a lot of big people. I think, like, that's the white whale. Like, you don't really see that guy popping in your places too often.
David Grutman
I. I saw him one time at a friend's 50th birthday, and he was doing splits on the dance floor. This is like. This is a great story, actually. This is. This is like, maybe a year ago. It was Victoria Heckham's 50th birthday, and he's about to leave.
Lauren Bostic
Bit of a name drop, but yeah,
David Grutman
let's cut that out. Let's start over.
Lauren Bostic
No, I've got.
Michael Bostic
We're not cutting anything out.
David Grutman
We're cutting this out. Keep it in. So. So he's about to leave, and I'm there with a friend, my friend Ben Goreham, and both are just regular guys. And the door's about to open, and he looks at us and he goes, I'm going in, boys. And he puts his sunglasses on, and they open the door, and 1 million flashes happen. He's like, I'm going in. And he just knew what he was about to go through, and he just. He just went for it.
Michael Bostic
A lot of celebrities are very attracted to you and don't downplay it. They are.
David Grutman
I don't know about that, but.
Michael Bostic
Okay, what is it?
David Grutman
I think they feel safe with me. I think they know I'm just not trying to be, like. Trying to scum them. Also, I want them to have the best experience in Miami. It's the greatest city ever. And I think I put a lot of my friends into deals that I do, too, in investment deals.
Michael Bostic
When you started bartending, did you have the thought process that you would build it into something this big, or was that not even a seed in your
Lauren Bostic
head for context, for this audience? A lot of people are aware of you, but when you describe who you are and what you do at this point in your career, how do you describe it? You have a lot of spaces now,
David Grutman
so I'm in the fun business. Let's start there. So I have. I mean, many of your listeners have definitely danced on the tables at Live Nightclub. So Live. Live Nightclub. I mean, Live Beach. Poppy Steak, which is one of the most fun restaurants with David Papi, I don't really like. She loves that Casadana Gecko with somebody else. And Komodo. In Komodo, I have one in Miami, Dallas, and in Las Vegas.
Lauren Bostic
How many. How many venues now in total?
David Grutman
Not that many. 8, 9, 10.
Lauren Bostic
But they're very well known. And these are. These are the hot places.
David Grutman
Yeah. Yeah.
Michael Bostic
Okay. So did you know when you're bartending that you want to build this empire?
David Grutman
No. No. Had no idea. I just wanted to become a manager. That was, that was the first step.
Michael Bostic
Okay, so what happens after you become a manager?
David Grutman
Become a general manager. And then, then I do marketing at a nightclub and I see about, about events and sponsorships and stuff like that. And then I started a marketing agency to activate these, these brands trying to come into Miami. And then I, I run a big nightclub group in Miami and then from there I ended up with a small little nightclub called Live.
Lauren Bostic
What do you think some of the biggest lies people believe about owning restaurants and nightclubs are?
David Grutman
You know, there's something funny I've been seeing on Instagram and TikTok, there's this viral thing where people think a restaurant owner comes in, has like an espresso waiting for him and then it shows what it's really like and he's holding boxes and I mean first of all, you're in the, you're in the people business. So it's not so controllable as you know, people do stupid as you know. And it's, there's always something going on.
Michael Bostic
I mean my dad owned restaurants my entire childhood, so.
David Grutman
Did you work in the restaurants I've worked in?
Michael Bostic
She's a bartender, 14 to 25.
David Grutman
What did you do at 14? Hostess.
Michael Bostic
Hostess. Hostess. Went from cocktail server, cocktail server at 17. Cocktail server to bartender for 10 years.
David Grutman
Did you do this in Arizona?
Michael Bostic
Nope. California.
David Grutman
California, yeah.
Michael Bostic
And I, I saw the grit of what it takes. What's so cool about you is that you are a practitioner because you've done every single area of the business. Where I see owners that are fucked is when they make some money at a different venture and they think just cuz they made money at a certain venture that they can go open a restaurant.
Lauren Bostic
No, no.
David Grutman
I love when somebody that's made a lot of money in a different industry comes and goes. I'm buying three nightclubs and five restaurants and they don't realize how quickly you lose money in these spaces. And they're like, why didn't anyone tell me? They all think they know the magic without, you know, just why don't you open one first? Get that one going.
Michael Bostic
How did you learn though, to master the business? Because it is such a hard business.
David Grutman
It's a very hard business. People think it's just again you just show up and it's like a party going on and all that. I always talk about the daytime makes the nighttime. It's really the Daytime stuff that the. This, the parties, the experience, all that is just part of. From everything that you do during the daytime and how I listen. I'm a student, so I'm sure, like anybody else, when you find something that you love and you're passionate about, you just. You're so thirsty to find out information and find out, you know, how do you do it?
Michael Bostic
You know, Another thing I saw in the business is a lot of people getting sucked into the alcohol, the drugs.
David Grutman
Sure. And of course, I had my stimp with that, for sure. I think I had great people around me that said, you're about to lose everything that you work so hard for. So that's why I had to go sober.
Michael Bostic
Walk. Walk me through that.
David Grutman
Okay.
Michael Bostic
Is this a year ago? Is this 10 years ago? 10 years ago.
David Grutman
Congrats. So maybe 11 years now, but Liv is rocking and rolling. I'm drinking my own Kool Aid. I think I'm the coolest guy in the world. And. And of course, I was partying a lot. I was single. I was partying. Da, da, da. And my true friends came to me and they said, listen, I think you need to go away. And I'm like, go away? What are you talking about? Where are we gonna go? San Tropez? Where are we going? He's. They're like, no, there's a special place in Arizona for you. And I'm like, okay, what do you want to do? And I. And I thought in my head, of course, this is exactly what a cool club owner should be doing. And they're like, let me tell you something, my man. You're going to lose everything. Not only that, you've worked so hard your whole life to build your reputation, and it's going to be gone in one second. So there's a very nice place that we found for you for 30 days, and you're going to go. And I went. And I came back with a completely different mindset. And it's just now I'm out there and I see people really wasted. And it's not about partying and having a good time. It's about, like, really hurting themselves. And that's what I used to do. I used to do it so hard, I would hurt myself. So now I wonder, I'm like, what happened in their childhood? What traumas did they experience for them to have to medicate like this?
Michael Bostic
When you look at your own experience, what trauma were you medicating for?
David Grutman
Wow, you're trying to make me cry. I told you, you're not going to make me cry.
Michael Bostic
I'm really not trying to make you cry.
David Grutman
No, I was single again. You talked about. I was a single kid. I probably felt like I insignificant growing up. Didn't have a lot of supervision. I went to boarding school for high school. I. I was just never had that. That hardcore family like I tried to give with my girls and my wife.
Michael Bostic
That's so interesting because to me, you are in a business of significance now.
David Grutman
Yes. But listen, I think that's what drew me maybe you know, subconsciously to the business.
Michael Bostic
Right. It makes sense. So how do you maintain your sobriety with all of this going on?
David Grutman
It's. Can I tell you, that's the easiest thing. People are like, how do you go into a nightclub? Or how do you. Like, it's, it's my job first of all. But like I don't need to have a cocktail in order to be around people. I feel like I'm confident enough now to be with. To sit with anyone and be able to have a conversation. And if you need alcohol or drugs in order to make you feel like you're going to be okay just to sit down with somebody, I think you need to figure that part out.
Lauren Bostic
Well, we obviously, we know you personally. Obviously. And we know your beautiful wife and we've met your kids and you're a great father and husband. And Lauren talks about it all the time. And we mean that as a compliment. Do you think that this industry is compatible for most men or do you think you need to be wired a specific way? Because I imagine for a lot of people there's a lot of temptation. There's a lot of room for mistakes. There's a lot of room for party.
David Grutman
Yeah.
Lauren Bostic
Of course you have to be really intentional. I imagine more so than like if I show up to the office.
David Grutman
Yeah, listen, I don't know your office has a lot of people working here. I'm sure there's plenty.
Lauren Bostic
There's no music and they're not shaking
Michael Bostic
butthole and doing like dances and you know, doing like some bottle service and
Lauren Bostic
there's not, there's no sparklers coming out.
Michael Bostic
We should.
Lauren Bostic
We could have arranged that today in
David Grutman
the studio, but I mean the deer office are lit. It's crazy what's going on over there. Listen, I think like anything else you have to, you have to put boundaries on everything. Like I'm not staying trying to be in the nightclub till 5am I mean, I don't know. I have boundaries. I play tennis early at 8am so I'm not gonna be Able to make that tennis if I. Whatever. I make sure I schedule early meetings whenever I travel. I mean, I just do a lot.
Lauren Bostic
So how do you. So if someone's gonna be your partner, one of your restaurants, or if they're coming in and they are going to work with you, how do you coach them to be able to make sure they don't get caught up into the party?
David Grutman
So, listen, there's always so much code. People like, listen, I have poppy steak, and Poppy's my partner. And poppy, listen, he's.
Michael Bostic
He.
David Grutman
He is a party. Right? So. But even Poppy knows how to regulate himself to not go past that point. I don't think it's endearing to people if you're just the party guy all the time, because then you're too accessible anyway. I think part of my business is not being so accessible.
Michael Bostic
That's interesting.
Lauren Bostic
Let's talk about that more.
Michael Bostic
Hold on. I need to hear about that. You think about absence as much as you think about present.
David Grutman
Well, listen, you don't want to be not present, but you also don't want to be so accessible that people could just access you all the time. Who wants that?
Michael Bostic
I totally agree with you.
David Grutman
Well, there's a power in saying no, let's start there. And it's funny because especially in the hospitality business, guys in the restaurant, in the nightclubs, the quickest way to get someone to stop going to your nightclub is to give them a VIP card. Because if there's not that little bit of, oh, no, am I going to get in? I don't know if it's going to happen at my. My. My hobby, if they just have a card that just gives them instant access, that. That eliminates them from coming to your nightclub. Now, the restaurant business is the opposite. You want to be, hi, how are you? So happy you're here. You want to be recognized. You want to remember their cocktail. You want to know their favorite food. You want to make them feel like this is their home. So it's two different kind of mentalities.
Michael Bostic
How'd you learn that?
David Grutman
I learned it from opening restaurants and nightclubs and seeing it.
Lauren Bostic
But even in your restaurants. Your restaurants are some of the most popular restaurants in Miami, in the cities you're in.
David Grutman
How. In Las Vegas at the.
Michael Bostic
Yeah, Michael, you got to say the whole thing.
Lauren Bostic
I need to go out there in October. I'm going to call you. So how do you decide he might
Michael Bostic
be able to get you in?
Lauren Bostic
How do you decide who gets a table and what table?
David Grutman
So, listen, I would love to say It's. It's all coming through my desk. I have an amazing team, and they know that tables. And even in the nightclub, they're like real estate plays, so. And then you also want to be able to pair people against each other that you think will have champagne wars, as, you know, being a bottle server. And same thing with. With restaurants. We always leave a little room for those VIPs that we know that we have to take care of. And then we want to make sure there's room for people that save their money all week and they want to go let it rip in one of my places.
Lauren Bostic
From your perspective, when you're looking at a room, one of the restaurants is packed. There's. Everybody's in there. Who's the real power in the room? Is it the money guy? Is it the famous person? Is the network? When you're. When you're sitting around, you're like, oh, that's the. That's where the. The real energy of the room is gravitating towards, you know.
David Grutman
You know, people have come up to me and said, hey, there's a billionaire over there. There's a billionaire. And I'm like, there's a billionaire. Okay. Like, there's always a billionaire. And it's always. They're always like, that billionaire wants to. Wants to hang out. And I'm like, okay, I'm happy to say, even if it's like, anybody just wants to say hi and I happen to be in the restaurant and someone's there, I'd love to say hi to them. But people always want to stress that that's a billionaire. And I'm always like, okay, man. But it's so funny that a lot of these billionaires and I see with artists a lot, like, certain artists, their manager will be like, hey, there's this billionaire, so you need to go say hi. I don't know why you have to go say hi. Because they're. Because they're a billionaire. All they want to know is how come they're not recognized? Like, you're not recognized. Maybe their life is not as fun, whatever it is. But listen, I love powers of power of industry in anything. It's great to meet great people, but I don't know. Whoa, what are you doing?
Michael Bostic
Coke Zero.
Lauren Bostic
Coke Zero.
Michael Bostic
You better believe it. Don't we get the vibe with crushed ice? Hope you're looking at the details, Dave.
Lauren Bostic
Thank you. Thank you, Emily.
Michael Bostic
You.
David Grutman
Where do I put this?
Michael Bostic
You can. We need to get a little table. That's. That's. Look, he found another Edit. He thought he wouldn't find another edit. He did. You are married to someone who is her own powerhouse in her own right.
Lauren Bostic
New show now, what's the new show?
Michael Bostic
What's the real story? Because it's conflicting on Instagram about how you guys met and who liked who.
David Grutman
The conflicting thing is if she called me the next day or I called her, I, I'm telling the truth. She called me. She loves to say that I called her, but like, even when, like, it's true, it's true that she called me first. I have to tell you, it's like it's conflicting. She doesn't want to look like she did that, but she did do that.
Michael Bostic
So you meet her. Do you fall in love immediately or was it a slow burn?
David Grutman
No. So I take her to lunch the next day after meeting her the night before.
Michael Bostic
Okay.
David Grutman
I fly back. She's in New York. I fly back to Miami. Her friends are all coming to Miami that weekend. I convince her to come. Her friends don't end up coming. She thinks I set the whole thing up. That being said, she comes on a Friday. I just never wanted her to leave again. I got engaged nine months later and we're having our 10 year wedding anniversary in two weeks.
Michael Bostic
You probably had girls throwing yourselves, throwing themselves at you. And I'm sure she had men throwing themselves at you.
David Grutman
I don't know if she had men throwing themselves at her.
Michael Bostic
No, no, I'm gonna say she did. I hate to break it to you, I bet she had a line out the door, down the street. You have, you have access to all this different. What makes her stand out? I know my answer, but I want to hear from you.
David Grutman
So let's forget, obviously she's the most special person outside and inside. We know all that, all that's fine. But a life with my wife is, doesn't even. Is it so amazing compared to. I feel bad for single people out there that have to keep going and going and going and going. It seems to me like that's just a really dark. Not that I'm, you know, if you're not married, don't you have to get married? But for me, life is just 10 times better with my wife. Like being able to share experiences, kids, love, everything, it's. And having a partner, it's the greatest thing in the world for what you've
Lauren Bostic
accomplished or trying to accomplish. And I think about this a lot. I look at some of the. My friends that are running around doing that very thing, chasing, and I'm like, it's Such a distraction. You got to be on all these dates talking to all these people. You're stressed.
David Grutman
I could even imagine dating now. Hey, would you like to go to dinner?
Lauren Bostic
I have no clue.
David Grutman
What would I say?
Lauren Bostic
No, but I mean, I just think from a pure output and focus perspective, if you're having to manage all of that chaos, how are you. How are you able to then, like, really focus on your ambition?
David Grutman
Then there's still kids and love and all that. With my wife, it's not like there's not a focus that goes into that because, you know, like, anything. Relationships. Typical.
Lauren Bostic
But I'm talking about, like, how. How distracting all the dating is.
David Grutman
I. I don't even know this world you speak of.
Lauren Bostic
Yep. Like the same.
Michael Bostic
How do you and Isabella keep it hot?
David Grutman
So, you know, you go through these. We try to make sure that we were. We, you know, do things every other day and stuff like that. Not the. Because once you start, you know, it's very easy in a marriage to start going to that once a week or once every two weeks things. And I think that's when it goes. And I think we just really strive, which is great for me, to make sure it's, it's, it's. It's a lot.
Michael Bostic
Her career has taken off. How do you support her career as a husband? Like, are you giving her any advice as she grows as an entrepreneur?
David Grutman
So she'll ask me for advice here and there. But she, she's very smart. She. She's actually way smarter than me, but she'll come to me sometimes on how do I structure something or, you know, what do I think about that. But she's a boss. My wife is really good at what she does. First of all, her jewelry is. Is. So she really found her sweet spot. I think, as you know, all the girls love to wear jewelry, and I think that hopefully the brand lives past her. Like, I think that's what's so important right now as she's growing.
Michael Bostic
If someone was describing your style in business, are you like, are you like a golden retriever?
David Grutman
I don't know what that means.
Michael Bostic
I mean, are you. Are you. Are you soft? Are you hard? Are you like, are you. What's your business style?
David Grutman
So I want people to think twice about trying to screw me over. That's for sure. Let me not forget that. Because I. I am in the nightclub business, but I also want people to know that I do win, win business. And I. It's something I preach about a lot. Like, if we do a deal together and I'm the only winner and you're the loser. It's not, it's not going to be a relationship that's going to stick around for a long time. And it's not where I'm like doing the touchdown dance, like I got one over on this person. I'd much rather for me you run around saying, oh, I did this deal with David and we killed it.
Lauren Bostic
This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Let's talk about Mental health. May is mental health awareness month and it's so important to put a focus on your mental health. Take care of yourself. We've had so many high performers come on this show over the last decade and talk about how important it is to take care of their mind and how important it is to talk to someone about what you're going through, what issues you're facing, and make sure that you're not holding all that in and bottling in and not sharing it with someone that you trust. This is why Lauren and I have been longtime fans and partners of BetterHelp. BetterHelp brings therapy right to the comfort of your own home from your own digital device. Long gone are the days we have to drive across town, sit in a waiting room in this awkward room and wait for a therapist. Like I said, BetterHelp makes it easy and cost effective right from the comfort of your own space. Because here's the thing. Life is a journey. Some days feel good and others feel overwhelming. Whatever's keeping you up at night, it's easy to feel like you have to figure it all out on your own. But the truth is no one has all the answers and no journey should be al. Having someone with you to listen to, understand and support you can make all the difference. Better Help therapists work according to a strict code of conduct and are fully licensed in the US and BetterHelp does all the initial matchmaking work for you so you can focus on the therapy goals. A short questionnaire helps identify your needs and preferences and their 12 plus years of experience and industry leading match fulfillment rate typically means that they get it right the first time. Of course, if you aren't happy, you can switch at any time for any reason to a different therapist. And don't just take it from me. With over 30,000 therapists, BetterHelp is the world's largest online therapy platform having served over 6 million people global. So check them out. You don't have to be on this journey alone. Find support and have someone with you in therapy. Sign up and get 10% off@betterhelp.com skinny that's betterhelp.com skinny quick break to talk about Just Thrive and the Just Thrive Gut Essentials. If you've accepted bloat, cravings and the post meal crash after eating as your new normal, I'm challenging you to feel better. And I'm giving you the cheat code. The Just Thrive Gut Essentials Bundle. Lauren and I have been talking about Just Thrive on this show for years now because we think they are the best when it comes to gut health and maintenance. We've had Tina, the founder of Just Thrive on this show multiple times and every time we learn something new about the gut and gut health. What we love about the Just Thrive Gut Essentials bundles is it pairs two clinically proven gut superstars. The Just Thrive probiotic which we've been taking for years and their new digestive bitterswhich are an absolute game changer. The Just Thrive Probiotic is the only probiotic clinically proven to arrive 100 alive in your gut for a difference you'll actually feel we're talking less bloat, better energy and even clear skin. Then there's the Digestive bitters. It packs 12 science backed herbs in one tasteless capsule that jump starts your digestion and supports GLP1 production so cravings don't control you. Together they'll transform your health of your gut so you can feel like your best self fast. We've trusted them for years for our own gut health and we've recommended to anyone that's ever asking for a gut health product. Because for over a decade Just Thrive has been helping thousands of people take control of their health with science backed solutions you can trust. From their award winning probiotic to their full line of gut, immune and brain health supplements, Just Thrive is ready to help you live your healthiest life. Take the Just Thrive Feel better challenge today and save 20 on your first gut essentials bundle. All you have to do is visit justthrivehealth.com skinny and save 20% off with promo code Skinny See the difference for yourself or get a full product refund no questions asked. That's justthrive health.com skinny be the best you with Just Thrive this episode is
Michael Bostic
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David Grutman
I think it's just seeing the engagement and how it makes me feel inside as well. And then I kind of go from there. But by the way, my wife's taste is very good. I saw her eating Skinny Dipped in bed and my wife doesn't eat anything with sugar. Nothing. Anything. The fact that my wife kept ordering Skinny Dipped and then when the, when it came across my, my desk and I could be an advisor and an investor in it, I jumped at it for the single reason that my wife was eating it. And I know how much she, she loves Skinny Dipped.
Michael Bostic
That's interesting. So you're looking at what she was doing and you, and you.
David Grutman
I look at pop culture, I look at what people are doing. I think I, I, I'm big into energy and seeing what people love.
Michael Bostic
Symbiotica, too. Wow, that's a good one.
David Grutman
It's a great one. Symbiotica. I mean, great founders. I mean, they're, they're amazing. And the fact that I could work with them and help raise money for this, for this round that they just did. And I think we brought in the best people in the world. But the, the greatest thing was everyone thinks I'm some magician with it, but everyone's already using it. It was so easy to go to, like, the weekend and be like, hey, man, you want to invest in Symbiotica? And he's like, yeah, it's on my writer. Like, yeah, of course. Like, everyone did it.
Michael Bostic
Maybe you should invest in Coke.
David Grutman
Maybe you should Coke Zero.
Michael Bostic
Or maybe we should say it's Olipop.
David Grutman
Olipop. It's the Olipop vintage cola. I did invest in Olipop. Now, listen, you know, Poppy, listen, congratulations to Poppy. But I wasn't really sold on the poppy flavors. I like the Olipop nostalgic flavors way better. It was a much higher value valuation than Papi was at the time. And I went and listen, Poppy has crushed it. They, they got a great exit. I think Rohan is, Rohan is a genius with beverage and so happy for everyone that was in that deal. I hope Olipop too will have an exit. I don't, I think it'll be a great one. It does, it does great. I Know you love vacation. The sun, the sun.
Michael Bostic
I love vacation. I love.
David Grutman
I really appreciate all your posts on it.
Michael Bostic
The shimmer oil. You guys on vacation. Use vacation. When you're on vacation, put the shimmer on your legs. It gives you the prettiest, like most subtle glow. I like that a lot.
Lauren Bostic
But you're all. You're also like, you're involved in a lot of brands that I think also embody a lot of what you do in your lifestyle.
David Grutman
Yeah, of course.
Lauren Bostic
Brands, right. Like they're not like you're not like in some random thing that would have nothing to, nothing to do with you.
David Grutman
It just won't. It doesn't get me excited. For me to add value, I have to be excited about the authentic.
Michael Bostic
What about when it comes to you spotting talent? I see you with a lot of new talent and I know you've made a lot of introduct that have led to things. What do you think about spotting new talent in a certain way?
David Grutman
I have to, I have to see like what's bubbling, what's going to be the next hot thing if I just follow the trend afterwards. And I, I miss it. So I try to be. I, I use every resource at my disposal to try to find what, what, what's the next hotness.
Lauren Bostic
So what are you looking for? Like are there certain themes? Are there certain character traits? Like what are the. How do you spot that early? Is it something you see?
David Grutman
I mean restaurants on a, On a product, it's. What kind of engagement is it? Getting on socials and stuff like that. On talent, I'm looking to see what's the. It's not about how many. It's like what are all the kids talking about? What's the youth talking about?
Michael Bostic
What are they talking about right now?
David Grutman
Well, funny you say that. They're definitely talking about Prospa. These two DJs, that's. They're talking a lot about prospa. Kettima, John Summit, of course. Three years ago, I4. You know, I made that big investment. He's of course just outside. He's on fire. Crushed it. Disco lines.
Michael Bostic
You're doing your show with Alex Earl.
David Grutman
I'm producing a show with Alex Earl and her family. And it's so good. You guys are gonna love this.
Michael Bostic
It is.
David Grutman
Wow.
Michael Bostic
Yeah.
David Grutman
That's not just about Alex. It's the whole family, tj. The father, the stepmom, the mom, you know, the sister. The young kids now are tick tocking, but the whole family, it's. It's a, it's A full. It's a full unit.
Michael Bostic
The video of you dancing at super bowl went viral.
David Grutman
You saw that?
Lauren Bostic
What do you mean you saw that?
David Grutman
You saw that?
Michael Bostic
Super Bowl Stop.
David Grutman
No, I mean, it was a very viral moment for me.
Michael Bostic
What happened after that moment? Like, are you getting DMs from everybody? What's going on?
David Grutman
First of all, I never got. I've never received so many texts.
Lauren Bostic
Yeah.
David Grutman
At one time. Like, people I haven't Talked to in 20 years text. But like this, like this, like this. Funny. We're on our way home from super bowl that night, and all my. It's a red. It's. We're flying overnight and my friends are all sleeping. And of course I'm non stop on my phone just seeing everything. And we land and they're like, oh, we had a great. I'm like, oh, I wasn't able to sleep. They go, yeah, because you're a sicko. You said, hide your thing nonstop seeing that.
Michael Bostic
Insane.
Lauren Bostic
Well, because it just. I don't think it was on anyone's bingo card really. Like, he's like, what do you like? You just like popped out there and then you're just like in the house dancing. Listen, you looked good.
David Grutman
My wife was like, I never seen you dance like that before. And they said to me, they go, first of all, there's a big screen in front of you, right? You see the big screen. Jumbotron. And I'm seeing my son. I'm like this. And they're like, damn it. Why did you have to keep looking up and dancing? I'm like, I'm seeing myself up there. That's cool.
Michael Bostic
Come on. Everyone's looking at themselves. Yeah, right. Everyone's gonna do it.
David Grutman
Of course.
Lauren Bostic
Okay. So people see the fun stuff, they see the restaurant. What is your real schedule look like day to day? You're up playing tennis every day.
David Grutman
I play tennis every morning, 8 to 9. Then I do, you know, very heavy weights. Obviously from 9 to 9 20. I call it the executive workout.
Michael Bostic
9 to 9 20.
David Grutman
And then. And then I start going into my. Sometimes it's 9:25, but I go into my meetings and stuff like that.
Michael Bostic
So your meetings are only at your house? We heard, yeah. Why?
David Grutman
I mean, you've been to the house.
Lauren Bostic
It's beautiful house. Yeah.
Michael Bostic
I have to say, I have to say you have one of the most beautifully designed homes I've ever been in. Because you know how, like, some people will buy, like a huge mansion and it, like.
Lauren Bostic
I say this nicely.
Michael Bostic
There's like, no taste.
David Grutman
Right there's no taste. There's white marble and fake polar bear couches and, like, something they saw. I don't know. My house is a little. Our house is a little bit different. I have a Brazilian wife, so I've become obsessed with Brazilian furniture and design. And my wife, yes, she has great taste. No, but it's.
Lauren Bostic
It's a beautifully curated space. Right, Right. It doesn't just. It doesn't look like you just went to a furniture.
Michael Bostic
It was really hard for me to focus on conversation at your house. I'm just telling you, the whole time, I was like, had to take in every last detail.
David Grutman
I love that.
Michael Bostic
The. The. The glasses above in the kitchen. No.
David Grutman
Oh, no, no.
Michael Bostic
In the kitchen, you have that wall.
David Grutman
The show kitchen. Oh.
Michael Bostic
And then also, I started, like, spiraling because you guys opened your fridge, and everything is organized. Isabella has, like, the wood caps and the silver caps, and there's, like, green juice that's labeled, and there's, like, a lemon tea. Like, everything. It's.
David Grutman
And there's liquid death Ollipop. And now Symbiotica is in that fridge, lined up as well.
Lauren Bostic
Do you think you have OCD beyond?
David Grutman
Yeah.
Michael Bostic
Yeah.
David Grutman
Because I get fixated on stuff. Let me tell you. Let me tell you. So yesterday morning, I was in Dallas, and I did Good Morning Texas.
Michael Bostic
Okay?
David Grutman
And I look in the waiting room. There's a thing for WI fi guys. You have to log in, get an email, then get a code, and da, da, da. And I got so fixated on the lady. I go. I go. And I took a picture of the WI fi thing. So throughout the time, I kept saying, going back to lady, but can we talk about the WI fi situation? Just to get it. Why can't it just be WI fi guests, whatever. But it was login code, someone's email that to verify that they could get WI fi. And I'm like. But I was so fixated. Even in my interview, I'm thinking about this WI fi code situation for the building.
Lauren Bostic
What were you thinking about when you came here? The rebrand. You were throwing off a little bit on the rebrand.
David Grutman
Let's talk about that guy.
Lauren Bostic
I'm happy to. So I knew it. So we talked.
David Grutman
I've been very excited to do your pod. As you know, the fact that I'm here at Austin. You didn't come to Miami to do the pod says a lot. Let's just start there. I don't like to leave my house for nothing.
Michael Bostic
That being said, I wasn't invited to your home to do the podcast. You should have said that.
David Grutman
I think we put it out there, that's for sure.
Michael Bostic
No one said it to me.
David Grutman
No, no, no. My wife was like, I went to Austin. You need to go to. I go, but why can't they bring it? We can reenact this in the house.
Michael Bostic
I would have done it with your house as a backdrop. No one told me.
David Grutman
Okay, so anyway, so. So I'm here. I've been dying to do this, and all of a sudden you decide to do a name change. The week before my pod's about to happen, you go for. I mean, who does that?
Michael Bostic
It's a good thing for you. I'm telling you, there's more eyes on it now that we did the rebrand.
David Grutman
But why could you just wait for the week after?
Michael Bostic
You don't you want the rebrand? I'm telling you, it's a better thing.
David Grutman
The fact that you thought I should be the guinea pig for the rebrand.
Lauren Bostic
Well, we tested some other people.
Michael Bostic
We've had a couple more. Who have we had?
Lauren Bostic
We did rfk. RFK junior. He was the guinea pig.
Michael Bostic
He was the guinea pig. It's a good thing, I promise.
Lauren Bostic
We're like.
Michael Bostic
We need.
Lauren Bostic
We need like a no name. Like, bring RFK on no name.
Michael Bostic
Do you decide because you don't need the money, right? And you don't really need the fame. Do you decide to write the book, take it personal because you want to give information to the Next Dave, who's 8 or 10 or 11 or 20, that's about that, wants to do what you do. What's the motivation?
David Grutman
Can you throw me that book, please? So the reason why I wrote this book, guys, it's. And I'm glad you asked, it's not just for the hospitality. It's not just for the entertainment business. It's not just for venture capital. It's for life. It's like a blueprint that I used for my life. Whether you're opening a car wash or you're a sales clerk or you're a realtor or whatever it is, the things that I wrote down in here, it's going to help you in your life. It's not about being a celebrity. It's not about opening up lots of restaurants and nightclub. It's about living your life, starting relationships, and really, like, being able to succeed and fail and succeed again.
Michael Bostic
Do you ask Kim Kardashian to write the forward and give us the, like, the history of that?
David Grutman
I mean, I've met. I've known Kim, and I'VE been taking care of Kim for. For longer than I can remember from when she was Paris Hilton's cute friend. You know what I mean? Like from back then. So, yes. And we have a coupon system. So I asked her very nicely if we could. If she could do my forward. And could I tell you, she even blinks right away. That's how loyal Kim is. I mean, she's just an amazing. But she also inspires me not just by being Kim, but how into business is she? Like the fact that she built skims and she builds brands and this girl does not stop. She'll sit in the. In the glam chair at 5am and again at 5pm and keep do meetings all the way through and oh, and by the way, be a great mom.
Michael Bostic
So when she writes your forward, what was that like for you to read what she said?
David Grutman
Well, I mean, it was. It's it for me. I just, I. I feel like I'm a great friend. She's a great friend. But as you know, your friends are. By the way, if I asked you guys to do it for. I know you would do a very endearing forward.
Michael Bostic
Of course it's important.
Lauren Bostic
You can't get Kim next time.
Michael Bostic
Forward by Michael Boston.
Lauren Bostic
Yeah, exactly.
David Grutman
Formerly known as the Skinny Confidential. No, no, no.
Michael Bostic
We're just the Boston.
Lauren Bostic
I said is. I was always known as Boston. Like, I feel like that's.
Michael Bostic
He's been in front of a pink.
Lauren Bostic
I've been trying to escape that pink for 10 years.
David Grutman
Is that what it is? You feel weird about being in front
Lauren Bostic
of the pink, but there's a lot
David Grutman
of rolly things I will say, though.
Lauren Bostic
Listen, Dave, you're a very comfortable, confident man. But a lot of these guys, you'd ask them to come on the show and they'd be like, oh, it's pink. And I'm like, you know, wow.
David Grutman
Really?
Michael Bostic
Yeah. Some of these guys kind of insulting to our.
Lauren Bostic
Some of the most macho men, you would think they get a little bit, you know, they get a little bit nervous about.
David Grutman
First of all, not only am I married, But I have two girls, 6 and 8. So I'm in pink and flowers and colors and this and that all the time.
Michael Bostic
That's the hottest thing in a man. It's called quiet confidence.
David Grutman
I like that.
Michael Bostic
My advice, if anyone's listening, it's the most important quality in a man. A man who is quietly confident. There is nothing sexier. It's not in your ego. It's not loud, it's not obnoxious. It's subtle, you know.
Lauren Bostic
I'll tell you what happened. This is the truth with the rebrand. It was a started off of her media property, the blog and the 20 years ago. And then we didn't. We thought it was gonna be like a fun random thing. It was him and her.
David Grutman
You built a brand.
Lauren Bostic
We built a brand. And then what happened was we built the other brands and people would be like, wait, who is this? You're married. What's the show? What's the brand? What's interesting? So now I'm like, okay, there's two people, we're married, the boss. And then there's these other things.
David Grutman
It's about building an ecosystem.
Michael Bostic
Tell me about the competitors mindset. It bothers the living shit out of me now.
Lauren Bostic
You bet. You. You got mad at us one time we came in and we ended up going like to. I think it was like the Four Seasons restaurant. And you were. You're upset. I remember that.
David Grutman
No, no, it wasn't the Four Seasons restaurant. It was another restaurant. That was the last time you were there.
Lauren Bostic
Which one was it?
David Grutman
Because I asked you. I go, where? Where are you guys going? You're in town for one night and it was a restaurant that wasn't mine and I was very upset with you.
Michael Bostic
Yeah, that's rude, Michael.
Lauren Bostic
We're not it again.
Michael Bostic
Michael sets it up.
Lauren Bostic
I didn't know it upset you so much. I was like, I felt bad.
David Grutman
I got very. And by the way, I even went after her.
Lauren Bostic
I know, I know. You went after everybody.
Michael Bostic
Let it rip. So what? What? Tell me about the.
Lauren Bostic
I think you scream in my daughter's face again.
David Grutman
Guys.
Lauren Bostic
You yelled at my child. No, I'm just kidding.
David Grutman
It's part about taking it personal. I mean, again, you're my friends. We're friends. We spend an amazing day on the boat. You're in my house and you think it's all right to go eat at another restaurant that's not mine?
Michael Bostic
I like the honesty.
David Grutman
Yeah, it's like a little fucked up to me. No.
Michael Bostic
Even though we ate at the restaurant for lunch, you want us to go for dinner?
David Grutman
There's other restaurants in one restaurant that I have in my catalog.
Michael Bostic
I just want to make sure for next time I go to Miami.
David Grutman
Yeah, yeah. You could have lunch at Casa Donna and then go eat at Gecko or Komodo or Poppy stick or whatever it is.
Lauren Bostic
Next time we're going to hit every spot in a two day period. We're going to do breakfast, lunch, dinner.
David Grutman
I'm here for it. Let Me help.
Michael Bostic
What is something that Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner have taught you? I know you're very good friends with them, and we had a little barbecue. I want to know how you like what they've told you. That's, like, really great advice.
David Grutman
Well, let's start with Ivanka. Ivanka's greater. You know what vodka's the best at is she sends you the best. And I try to do it too, but she's so much better at it is. She'll send you messages, just cheering you on all the time. Right.
Lauren Bostic
She's very good at that.
David Grutman
She's like, hey, I just saw this. I'm so proud of you for doing this. No one else could do this but you. And. And she'll send you notes like, what a great win that was. And she does it with my wife nonstop.
Lauren Bostic
She did it with us for the rebrand.
David Grutman
Did she?
Michael Bostic
Yeah, she did. Swear.
Lauren Bostic
I just did that because I wanted to stay on with you, but keep going, Keep going.
David Grutman
Okay. Jared is just gives you very thoughtful advice. Like, he really takes that second to, like, think about it and be very thoughtful on how you should handle something very strategically.
Michael Bostic
Both of them are thoughtful and purposeful in their friendships. It seems like they don't just have relationships just to have them.
David Grutman
No. And Ivanka and my wife have a very special relationship. My. You know, and when they first moved here, you didn't know. Right. My wife was like, oh, I don't know. And then she. She's so obsessed with Ivanka that Ivanka just does so many great things for her and wants my wife to win so much. It's. It's really special.
Michael Bostic
You have Tom Brady on the back of your book.
David Grutman
Weird.
Michael Bostic
That's on the back of your book. That's a pretty big deal to have the goat write a testimony.
David Grutman
There's a few goats on there.
Michael Bostic
Just to be clear, I haven't gotten down the list. I'm starting with Tom Brady. Don't worry, I won't miss a detail. Tom Brady to give you a testimonial. That's a big deal.
David Grutman
Yes, I think it's a huge deal. It's so nice of him to be able to do that for me, which is great. Again, Tom lives in Miami, so I'm a go to person for Tom, but I just want, you know, listen, I. It's been great to see Tom, you know, go through retirement. Tom go through a new, you know, really, you know, a new family situation and to watch him win over and over again and just keep Going he. There's a reason why Tom's.
Michael Bostic
Tom, what are some advice that these people that you have access to? What, what's some advice that they've given to you? You have Tom, you have Serena Williams, David Beckham, Mark Wahlberg. What, what's advice that they're telling you that helped you?
David Grutman
Rich Klein. I mean, all in their different ways. You know, not like I, I need. I, I love having mentors, but I, I'm so lucky to come across some of the greatest people in the world, not just celebrity wise, but also in business. And I think the way I look at things is I try to extract things from people that I, I really want to learn from. And there's of course, with every person, you're not going to like everything that they believe in a hundred percent. There's just no way. So to have the ability to be able to great, to take great things from people and then leave out the stuff that's not, you know, that's not for you. Is how I really get the most out of stuff.
Lauren Bostic
I want to switch gears a little bit and talk about Miami, specifically with
David Grutman
the greatest city in the world. Yes.
Michael Bostic
Should we move there to you?
David Grutman
I've been begging you guys to move there.
Lauren Bostic
Okay.
David Grutman
But it's like, then you're like in Tampa. Are you a stripper. In Tampa?
Lauren Bostic
I had to go to visit my aunt and say, is she a stripper? Not anymore. No. I'm just kidding. She's never was. It's a joke everywhere. And I hope she doesn't listen to
David Grutman
that because you're in, you're in Tampa. Okay.
Lauren Bostic
Okay. I want to know really, from Mr. Miami, what it actually took to break into that city and get to the top of the heap because it is probably one of the most competitive markets
David Grutman
in the world and continues to grow competitively. Like, people think it's the, it's the gold mine over there.
Lauren Bostic
And also if you read the history of Miami, like there, there were some rough and tumble people there that could, that have controlled Miami maybe for a long time. So I want, I wonder what it actually took for you to break into that and what, and what it was.
David Grutman
I, I listen, I think I had to dominate my field in order to make it in Miami. I dominated. Dominated, Dom. I didn't do tennis. I didn't do this. I focused on my work. I went the extra mile. I was in early, last out.
Lauren Bostic
So what did that look like actually in the early days, day to day? Like, what did you have to do?
David Grutman
Yeah, I had to get there by 9am and I had to leave it. Like, I take a break at 5 or 6 to take a nap, have some food. Food and go right back in. But like, no one, my friends will tell you and people in the business will tell you. No one will outwork me. Nobody.
Lauren Bostic
So that's what it was. Just like pure grit, determination, hard work.
David Grutman
People like, oh, just like, oh, it just happened. No man. And I. And I'm there to make sure it's perfect. Even today, I just did like the players party. A gecko for the Miami Open. I sat almost every table myself just because that's how important it was to me, that nothing happened bad at that experience.
Michael Bostic
Let me tell you about the Easy 5 pan by Lululemon. First of all, Lululemon just knows how to design to flatter women. I have been wearing Lululemon since high school. I remember going to the Carlsbad Forum and just stalking their whole site. Like, I used to work right next door to Lululemon. And after work I would get off and I would go into their store and I would just. Just be obsessed. From the leggings to the tops, I wore it all. And I was a pure bar teacher. So I, like, was into it, okay? And I still am into it. Now they just know how to design. Everything flatters. So there's this pant, okay? It's called the Easy 5 pant. It's like a structured pant that has just the right amount of stretch for me postpartum, I'm still in the midst of losing 15 pounds. This is very important. It feels broken in this pant. There's no like, stiff break in period. And I can move, so I can weightlift. I can wear them all day. I'll wear them from, like, the gym to get my cappuccino at Swedish Hill to come into the office to go home. I love a comfortable, like, buttery, structured pant. And this is the one. Definitely. Check out the Easy 5 pant by Lululemon. They know what looks great and what lasts. Here's the thing you need to know. Lululemon does limited color runs. So when those new styles drop every Tuesday, they go fast. You don't want to wait if it's not for you. Lululemon offers free returns, no risk. That's lululemon.com new drops every Tuesday. Go now. So I do this manipulation with my children. It's called Chocolate water, okay? And what I do is I mix Paleo Valleys chocolate bone broth protein into raw chocolate milk. So good. I get it at the farmer's market. I'll just mix in the Paleo Valley protein. They don't even notice. And what I like about it is they're getting this really amazing protein. It's like a bone broth protein. And they're also having a little bit of milk, which is fine. They love it. They ask for it. It's like a milkshake. I also just like their protein. For myself, I do two scoops of their bone broth protein. I am the chocolate all the way around. I love, love, love their chocolate protein. I even told the founder when she came on the show. She's been on twice. I was like, this is my favorite protein. It's the best. You could even have it, like heated up in water. It's delicious. It's not like chalky, gross protein. They also have beef sticks. So while you're on their site, grab some beef sticks for your handbag. And then they have an organ complex. And you guys know how I feel about organs. I eat my organs. I have changed my hair and nails. I really think the organs have helped so much because all the vitamins and minerals and aminos, you can't go wrong on Paleo Valley. Truly, like, they just really think of everything. It's real ingredients, quality sourcing, no junk, no filler. They hit all the things. Head to paleovalley.com skinny or use code skinny at checkout for 20% off your first purchase. That's paleovalley.com skinny or Use code skinny at checkout. Let me tell you about Bullen Branch's signature sheets. These are made from 100% organic cotton. Now, I am someone that believes in frequencies, and I also believe that the fabric that you use has a frequency. I mean, this is like actually science. This is not Lauren science. This is real. And when I sleep, I want it to be the best. And 100% organic cotton is the move. It's breathable. You feel luxurious. It's. It's buttery. You fall asleep faster. You stay comfortable all night. My kids love it. They're always in my bed. So it's important that I have a really nice fabric. Bolan Branch signature sheets, they just hit it. Okay. They hit all the things. 100% organic cotton, like I said, instantly make your bed feel breathable, inviting. And it's a one time upgrade that pays off every single night. 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Every single detail. They don't miss anything. It's such an experience. And when I thought about what brand I wanted to collaborate with, Eden Rock immediately came to mind. So we went down to St. Barts and we sat with their team and we conceptualized what this collaboration would look like. And so it's here. The Eden Rock St. Barts Times Skinny Confidential red ice roller. It's, it's in their signature red. It has a gorgeous like, look at this ah silver roller. It's so beautiful. It's very summer. You know, I could see this in an ice bucket while you're on the beach enjoying some or a margarita goes right in the ice. And then we also launched mouth tape so it's red too. So you're gonna get those red lips. Very summer esque. And again it's in the Eden Rock St. Barts branding. And then we launched facial towels. Everything is limited edition. It's very exclusive. Once it's gone, it's gone. And these facial towels are plastic free. They don't have any formaldehyde in them. And they're so adorable to throw in your beach bag. I use them to wipe my kids hands. I use them after an oil cleanse. This collection is so major. I'm so excited about it and it's so fun to see the Skinny Confidential come to life in red. You can shop our collaboration at the link in the show notes or on shopskinnyconfidential.com. you can also shop at the Eden Rock Saint Barts Boutique and the spa, Eden Rock St. Barts, wherever you are.
Lauren Bostic
If you were coaching the next young guy that's trying to break into that city specifically, what would you tell them? They need to do in order to make it guy girl.
David Grutman
Build the best relationships with all the key people in Miami. For sure. Because listen, the locals are going to drive you business no matter what. You want to make sure you know every great person in Miami. And then I think you need to make it like you need to really focus on the details. I think people come into my place, I'm hyper focused on my details.
Michael Bostic
You say build the best relationships. If there is someone listening that doesn't know how to go about building the
David Grutman
best relationships, start in elevators, say hi to somebody, listen. People are like, oh, you're so confident. I didn't start off so confident. I was, listen, if you see some of these old photos of me, I was kind of a heavier set guy. I wasn't the best looking guy. Thank God for Peptides. That being said, I think I started off just in an elevator being able to get enough courage to say hello and say are you having a good day? And da da da. And keep going about it that way. And then you start hosting some people for dinner. I love hosting people for dinner. When you're inviting someone to dinner and you're hosting them, you're kind of like in that it's a different level for you, right? Because they're not. You're not like, yeah. And listen. Then I started curating experiences for people. When people came to Miami, I would take them to Wynwood. At that time it was just a bubbling street art area. I would show people parts of my city that no one else would show them and they felt like they were in the know and they connected with me. And then when I would take them out to eat, I would try to find the off the menu items. The ones that, the dishes that blew me away. I focused on that. Any chance you could get to show somebody an experience that they just can't do themselves changes the relationship.
Michael Bostic
That is a great tip.
David Grutman
It sounds like everyone says, oh, how do you just have so many? Like it didn't happen overnight. And no, I wasn't so confident that I thought I could talk to anybody at any time. Being a bartender definitely helped. Right? Because. And people are always like, oh, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna act. I wanna, I go, you should go do some impromptu, you know, impromptu, what is it called?
Michael Bostic
Improv.
David Grutman
Improv. Because improv really gets you in that mindset too of being able to do stuff off the cuff.
Lauren Bostic
If someone were to follow and shadow you for a week, what would they be surprised about and what would they be disappointed in?
David Grutman
So it's A great question. I make all my interns spend a day with me and we don't know. It's just whatever. You don't know if so and so is going to be there or nobody's going to be there. Right. I think what people would be surprised with is how hyper focused I am because I'm meeting hour after hour like this, that I, that I'm. That when someone comes to a meeting with me, I'm really present in that meeting with them. I'm not on my phone, I'm not trying to do a thousand other things while they're there. To me, someone that's meeting with me is the most important person in the world at that time.
Michael Bostic
How do you think about social media and your own social personal brand with what you're doing?
David Grutman
So I think it's important for me to just to show what's authentic to me. I don't. I do my own Instagram. There's nobody doing my Instagram for me. I think it's also a great way for people to get a snapshot of your life. I think I have a. Listen, I, I think I have a pretty cool life and there's some interesting things that goes on and I think to be able to share that on social media is great.
Michael Bostic
You have spoken with Gary Braca.
David Grutman
Yeah.
Michael Bostic
We all love. And it seems to me, and I, I might be speaking out of turn, but it seems to me that he's helped change your health. Is that correct?
David Grutman
Yeah, I mean, and his daughter Madison, another great, great, great person. Gary met me like right before, like right before COVID and I was already starting to go through that transition with a great trainer, Anthony Rhodes. And then Covet happened and I had the time to really hyper focus on my health and getting skinny and getting strong and he's really been such a big part of that.
Michael Bostic
What are the things that you did to take control of your health? What are all the little things you mentioned? Peptides. We want to know what peptides?
David Grutman
I don't know my, I don't know the formula that I take week. But I know it's a lot, it was a lot before.
Lauren Bostic
But is it for like, is it a weight management. Is it for mind. Is it for sleep?
David Grutman
No sleep. I, I take the neuro gum sleep. I love Neuro gum sleep. The dissolvable. It changed my life.
Lauren Bostic
Oh, I've never heard of that.
David Grutman
You never heard of neuro?
Michael Bostic
No.
David Grutman
Okay, I'm gonna get send you some.
Michael Bostic
Okay.
David Grutman
Proud investor. No, but it's neuro gums. Top 10 tick tock shop every week. Gen Z, the next generation. This is how they, they sleep. Yeah, because there's caffeine in it as well. For the. There's a daytime and a night time. And the neurogum daytime has like a half a cup of coffee in it. Is like for you without the crash, without the burn.
Lauren Bostic
No nicotine.
David Grutman
No, no, no nicotine in there. Although I do love. I do unfortunately love nicotine, but I. What? I love sesh.
Michael Bostic
A cigarette or like a.
David Grutman
No, I would never smoke a real life cigarette now I do this sesh.
Lauren Bostic
It's investor insider sesh investors. Okay, all right, all right, let's go
David Grutman
get into the best flavors. It's the better for you. Nicotine pouch sesh.
Michael Bostic
Okay, so go on. You do your peptides. I want to keep knowing all the little things that you do for health.
David Grutman
Weird, weird. Okay, weird. Anyway, so what else do I have a physio who does dry needling twice a week and stretches me. I'm very old, so I need to keep my body in a good position. I, I do the peptides. I, I take symbiotica every day. Which, which is your favorite Symbiotica?
Lauren Bostic
Well, it's. I mean, listen, at this point it's changed. So I used to love their. I still love it. The methylated B, I do the vitamin D. I do the vitamin C. You
David Grutman
don't do the creatine?
Lauren Bostic
No, I don't do the creatine.
David Grutman
Right. I love the creatine. Right. Before tension.
Lauren Bostic
Do you do the, the goo. Creatine or do you like the powder? Powder. I know that.
David Grutman
I don't know. I don't even know what the powder is. I do the, the vanilla. The vanilla. It's so it's their new creatine.
Lauren Bostic
You know, every time it's stacked every time Chihabadurana or Sherben come in, there's like 18 new products. And I'm like, I'm trying to keep up.
Michael Bostic
No, no, no. Here's the sleeper cell that no one is talking about. The elderberry.
David Grutman
People love the elderberry.
Michael Bostic
So good for your immune system.
David Grutman
That's what I was gonna say.
Michael Bostic
Sparkling water.
Lauren Bostic
No, the number one. Number one, the glutathione.
David Grutman
Really? So I get. Oh, you also get an IV once a week at Myers Cocktail with a glutathione. And I get, I get exosomes once every six weeks.
Michael Bostic
Exosomes, like a facial.
David Grutman
Oh, yeah.
Michael Bostic
What do you mean?
David Grutman
So it's an iv. It's like, it's the Top part of a stem, attacks all inflammation, just goes nuts on your body, and you don't feel any different from getting the iv. But when you get your test results, I used to listen. I'm a Jewish guy, so I. Everything, all of it.
Lauren Bostic
I don't know what that means.
David Grutman
It means we're the probably the most unhealthiest race there is.
Lauren Bostic
Okay. All right.
David Grutman
It means it's just not good when you get your test results.
Lauren Bostic
This is making it better.
David Grutman
It makes it amazing.
Michael Bostic
Did you buy Prince because you like tennis, or did you play tennis and then buy Prince?
David Grutman
So I did Prince with ABG before I even played tennis. When I grew up, Andre Agassi was, to me was like watching him play in the US Open and watching, you know, all these great tennis players play tennis with Prince. And to me, it was a historic American country club brand. And I always look, it was the first brand I ever really did. And to be able to partner and have an iconic American brand like this ip, I forget about tennis. And then during COVID I pick up tennis, and now I become obsessed with tennis. I'm like, I have this tennis brand. I don't play tennis. I'm just worried about country club and collaborations and all that. And now I care more about the encore than I do about the off court.
Michael Bostic
What was it like for you in Saba? Linka thanked you in her speech.
David Grutman
It was great. It was like the Super Bowl.
Michael Bostic
I mean, that's pretty major.
Lauren Bostic
I don't know if anything was like the Super Bowl, Dave, but I still
David Grutman
can't believe you saw that.
Michael Bostic
She thanked three people in her speech and one of them was you.
David Grutman
Yes. So that's great. I mean, listen, you build relationships, you try to add value over and over again. Like you. Like we talked about, and in my book, I talk about that's the main thing in a relationship is you don't go into a relationship to see what you could get out of it. You go into a relationship is, how can I add value to that relationship? How can I make this person's life better? And seeing the look on their face when something great happens for them that you helped orchestrate is amazing.
Michael Bostic
How do you think about your relationship with Noah? I know that Noah Tepperberg. Yeah, of course. I feel like. I feel like he's sort of. It seems.
Lauren Bostic
What's interesting about.
David Grutman
I don't think it's a win win relationship for Noah. And I, I get. I take so much from him. I really do.
Lauren Bostic
Well, it's interesting because you guys are obviously like in a weird way, like, in the same and for no
David Grutman
different,
Lauren Bostic
but like, competitive in a way. No, but yeah, for sure.
David Grutman
Especially in Vegas.
Lauren Bostic
Yeah.
David Grutman
Like, it's. It's, you know, it's. It's a very competitive market. That being said, I would love to tell you it's a win, win relationship between me and no, but I do. I take so much from him. He's such a great man and he gives me such great advice. Michael Rapinoe at Live Nation. The same thing. I would love to say, hey, it's a win, win relationship, and it's just not. I go to these guys for everything, and they come back with just words of wisdom for me, it's Jeff so far. I just. I. I'm lucky enough to have great people around me that I could go to for real advice.
Michael Bostic
What are you going to them for and what's the advice they're giving back?
David Grutman
I mean, there's a million things, guys, I would love to tell you that I think I. I know it all or how would I deal with that situation, Or. Let me ask you a question. It does feel weird to you. Like, it feels weird to me. When something doesn't make me feel right, I always want to ask. Maybe I'm looking at it wrong or maybe I'm misunderstanding, but my intuition's usually right. To be honest with you, I should learn to trust it even more than I do.
Michael Bostic
Are your parents blown away at what you've done?
David Grutman
So my father passed away. But before he passed away, Liv was already ripping. And for him, it was great for me to be able to tell him the numbers each. Each night. And because my dad was a president of SunTrust, he was a very conservative banker and the opposite of what I do. Right. My mom's still alive, and she's just, you know, she's like, this is crazy. What goes on with you?
Lauren Bostic
We've talked a lot about a lot of the good stuff. You mentioned this earlier. A little bit. What's it like when someone gets on your bad side?
David Grutman
So I. I try to let things go more now, but, I mean, listen, I. I try to, like, be in their cereal any chance I get when someone's just. When? I don't know. I just. Now I'm at that place in my life where I don't think I have to. Like.
Lauren Bostic
In your younger years. What?
David Grutman
My younger years were really bad. If it was Skinny Confidential, then we could get into it. But now it's the Bostics. No, but listen, when I was younger, I would really Try to ruin people's lives. Like that would. That would cross me or whatever. I remember when a new club would open against me on like, you know, listen, Live on Sunday is a very dominant night. And this new nightclub had opened. They tried to start a hip hop night against me. And I would make the talent cancel the day of. That's diabolical. And always say, make them say wait. And make them say, family emergency. So they knew every time that this talent would cancel, they would say, family emergency. They knew who it was. And I would send them my sales from Sunday night, Monday morning to their emails and saying, how was your night? Here's how my night's going. No, no. I was a really sick human being. Sick, sick.
Lauren Bostic
No, but I mean, like, I think it's honest. And how would you get that talent to do that? Because obviously you have to have a
David Grutman
lot of pretty good relationships.
Michael Bostic
Would they go play it live?
David Grutman
No, not when they were already booked there. And then if. If I found. I would say, listen, you took this job. I'm never going to book you again for the rest of my life. Not just for Live on Sunday, but for the. Or Live, but for the rest of my life. And let me tell you something, I'm not going away anytime soon. This new club, they're from out of the country. Nobody knows who they are. I think you should really think about your relationship with me over the long game with them.
Michael Bostic
What happened to the new club?
David Grutman
They don't.
Lauren Bostic
They're gone.
David Grutman
They're gone.
Lauren Bostic
So what happens?
David Grutman
But I would send them to my sales, and you know what? I see them once in a while. They talk about. They go, dave, you know how up it was that you would send me your sales from the night before? And this is when Live on Sunday was just the pinnacle of.
Michael Bostic
So what made you evolve? Was it your kids?
David Grutman
My wife, maybe a little bit. She called me Noah. Also, people around me, like, you don't always have to, like sometimes not doing any. Just. Just, you know.
Lauren Bostic
So what happens now? Someone tries to come up against one of your. Your husband.
David Grutman
Listen, there's so much competition. There's no way I could control it like I. I did before. People are like, how do you let all these New York restaurants enter Miami? I'm like, okay, like what? I can't stop someone from coming to Miami. But what I can do is try to build relationships so big with people that they feel at least for that split second, maybe they shouldn't go to that other restaurant before coming to mine. And I want them to at least make sure they stop in one of my places while they're there for two or three days. But that's relationship based, guys. And that's focusing on that and making sure that person knows. What's important to me is that you come and support my places when you go.
Lauren Bostic
Now I see you doing this a lot. When you go and speak at schools, you have a course too, right? A class.
David Grutman
So I taught a college course for five years at fiu.
Lauren Bostic
No word.
David Grutman
Five weeks, three hours. I just wrote a book. The course inspired the book.
Michael Bostic
Oh.
David Grutman
So I wanted to spend the time to take those five years of courses, put it into a book.
Michael Bostic
That's cool.
Lauren Bostic
So back in the, at that time and now it's in the book, what was the main thing that was that the, the schools were, were basically booking you for working with you.
David Grutman
Like what did they said? Listen, listen. Anyone could go, listen, I go to Hart, go every school and go tell your story. And they bring 50 or 100 kids, 200 kids. I want to do 500 students. I want to teach a college course that they get college credit for. And I want to talk about the things they don't teach you in school. And I think that's what's really important. They don't teach you about how important IP is. They don't teach you about relationships, they don't tell you about long game and like, like go all the way. You know, all these kids want to graduate school and open their nightclub or open the restaurant right away. But now there's platforms, there's ways for them to be entrepreneurial. Right. They don't need, like, for us, it was very hard to be entrepreneurial back then. Maybe you traded some baseball cards, you were an entrepreneur. But now there's so many ways for them to start their own businesses. It's, it's amazing.
Michael Bostic
What mistakes do you see young kids making on YouTube or opening a restaurant or just running a business or being an entrepreneur in general when they're young,
David Grutman
not really taking it as a business, thinking that it's like a fun time kind of thing. Like for me, these are real assets, these are real businesses. And you have to treat it like a business. You have to build real infrastructure. You have to have hr. You have to, you know, I mean, you have to know what's going on. You can't just be the talent anymore. You have to have a real business sense.
Michael Bostic
I bet you really had to do HR with everything you got. You have the gnarliest HR in the United States. Your hr, your HR Is literal rigor mortis, catatonic dying.
David Grutman
So we have a very.
Lauren Bostic
We have a listen.
David Grutman
I have a very good hr. I have the best hr. Julie Howe. Greatest hr, by the way. Let's give her a shout out. Julie Howe.
Lauren Bostic
Let's make sure we give.
David Grutman
HR has taught me many things, to not scream and not say, you're gonna find their kids. I thank you, Julie Howe, for that.
Michael Bostic
What are you like as a father? You have two girls. What are you like? Are you.
David Grutman
So I would think that my girls. Yeah, obviously, they know to come to me.
Michael Bostic
Okay.
David Grutman
We like to call it 90.
Michael Bostic
10.
David Grutman
90. ISABELLA 10 me on any decision.
Michael Bostic
What is. What do you mean?
David Grutman
My kids say it, too. They go, dad, we know we have to go to mom because she's 90 of the decision making, and I'm 10 of the decision making. Okay.
Michael Bostic
And what are you like as a dad?
David Grutman
I just want to be cuddled and loved by my kids so much. They're two different kids, by the way. I'm sure it's, you know, but. But I think it's the coolest thing in the world. I. I really don't take it for granted at all. I have pink shoes on right here. You know what I'm saying?
Michael Bostic
So how are they different?
David Grutman
They're complete opposites, and it's the same mix that made them.
Michael Bostic
What do you mean? Is one more like you and one more like Isabella.
David Grutman
So the first one is Kaya. And my daughter Kai doesn't want sugar drinks, green juice, doesn't want to hurt anyone's feelings. She cares about everyone's feelings. She just wants happiness for everybody. Then there's Vita, and Vita loves her. And up to me, daddy, Daddy. They did. The person tripped or the person spilled something on them or they felt. They know that. I love that when people trip or somebody, like, hurts, you know, they. She knows. I love it.
Lauren Bostic
Like, you like to trip. Like, if somebody said, I love when
David Grutman
someone trips on stairs or, like, gets mustard on their shirt from the hot
Lauren Bostic
dog, I'm gonna start sending you some.
David Grutman
I love that.
Lauren Bostic
I'm gonna start sending you some memes, so.
David Grutman
And she knows. She's like, daddy, so and so. And I'm like, so I connect with them on different levels. I. I see a lot of myself in Vida. I see a lot of myself in Kaya, and I see a lot of my wife in both.
Michael Bostic
I just want to say that they were so nice to my kids, both. Like, I have. Like, they were so sweet to both of them.
David Grutman
Right?
Michael Bostic
Like, very, very nice.
David Grutman
And you should see them when they walk into a room. They go, hi, I'm Kaida. Nice to meet you. They introduce themselves. They do the whole thing.
Michael Bostic
All right, who should buy your book? Take it personal.
David Grutman
I'm so happy you asked. Who should buy my book? I really feel like everyone should buy my book. And I'm not just saying it like that because there's life lessons in there for everybody. It's not just celebrity. It's not just hospitality. It's life.
Michael Bostic
I am so excited. I got this custom book. You guys have to see it if you're on YouTube. This is so major. Thank you for bringing this. The next time you come on this show, let me look in the camera.
David Grutman
What will the name of the show be? What will the name of the show be then?
Michael Bostic
Michael Sharon Lawrence.
Lauren Bostic
Be the Michael Sharon intro.
David Grutman
I like that.
Michael Bostic
You never know. Second marriage. I might have a new last name. You never know. The next time I do this show with you, it's in Miami at either one of your restaurants or your house. With Isabella, him and her perspective.
David Grutman
So you really guys. I think you guys kept asking me, is my wife coming? My wife coming? Did you really wanted my wife and not me? Are you using me to get to my wife?
Michael Bostic
No, I didn't want. We. We didn't want her on the show. And I'll tell you why. Isabella, if you're looking, listening, we already had her on the show.
David Grutman
She did great.
Michael Bostic
She did great. We want to get the lay of the land, so then we want to get the lay of the land with you. But the next time you come on, it's together.
Lauren Bostic
This is the honest truth. Sometimes couples want to come on because we're a couple and they're like, talk to us both. But it's. If it's the first time you're doing an interview with someone.
Michael Bostic
No, no, no.
Lauren Bostic
You got to get the awkward because you're like. You're trying to have two.
David Grutman
Tell me.
Michael Bostic
It's like a threesome.
Lauren Bostic
So, like, people wanna. People will come on. They'll be like, okay, come on with me and my wife. And I'm like, yeah, we could do that if we. An additional con. But we couldn't have this conversation about your book and what she was here. Yeah, because then we'd be.
David Grutman
It would all be about her. Jew is a Grutman Jewelry.
Lauren Bostic
Yeah.
David Grutman
And listen.
Lauren Bostic
Next. But the problem is, it's a really hard.
Michael Bostic
He's an investor.
Lauren Bostic
And by the way, we don't necessarily like it when people try to interview us as a couple. Because they don't. They don't know what to do either. There's a very few interviewers that know how to interview, like, two people at once. They don't know.
Michael Bostic
I'm just putting it out there. I could. We're at the restaurant and.
David Grutman
Or the house.
Michael Bostic
Or the house. And it's. That's the background. And we're interviewing both of you together.
David Grutman
I love that.
Michael Bostic
We want to. We'll get the relationship juice.
Lauren Bostic
No, we've got a Miami trip coming up. We got to figure that.
David Grutman
Is that true?
Lauren Bostic
It's not.
David Grutman
Stop in Tampa for Montana.
Michael Bostic
There's no Tampa.
Lauren Bostic
And then you go, I got to go check the. Yeah, I got to go check the register 2000.
Michael Bostic
Where can everyone find your book and find you on social media?
David Grutman
Well, at. David Grutman is on social media, and the book is everywhere from Amazon to Barnes and Nobles to everywhere.
Michael Bostic
Which restaurant should they start with in Miami and Vegas?
David Grutman
Okay, great question. Only one poppy steak for sure. In Vegas. That was built for Vegas. But Komodo, I'm telling you, is amazing. In Las Vegas at the Fountain Blue, I have not been followed by live. And then the next day, go to live beach.
Michael Bostic
I have not been.
Lauren Bostic
So we're going to Vegas in October. In October, I'm gonna go see Metallica in the sphere. I'm really excited about it. Are you? Yeah.
Michael Bostic
Are you excited about that?
David Grutman
I'm not so excited about Metallica in the sphere, to be honest.
Michael Bostic
I'm excited. That's only thing spa and your restaurant.
Lauren Bostic
But I want to go because I know Symbiotic is doing something with you guys over there in Fond Blue.
David Grutman
We have a Symbiotica wellness bar there.
Lauren Bostic
Yeah, I'm.
David Grutman
They even have the vitamin C in the salad dressing.
Michael Bostic
That is cool.
Lauren Bostic
I'm gonna stay at the Fontainebleau. I'm gonna go. I'm gonna check and I'll go to your restaurant.
David Grutman
Okay.
Lauren Bostic
And we're gonna do the whole thing.
David Grutman
I will.
Lauren Bostic
I'll not go anywhere else.
Michael Bostic
You're a visionary entrepreneur. I'm so inspired by you. Thank you for coming on the show.
David Grutman
Thank you for having me.
Michael Bostic
Thank you for.
Lauren Bostic
Congratulations on the book. It's gonna crush.
Date: April 16, 2026
Hosts: Lauryn Bosstick & Michael Bosstick
Guest: David Grutman
In this engaging episode, Lauryn and Michael Bosstick sit down with David Grutman—nightlife and hospitality visionary, founder of Groot Hospitality, and now author of "Take It Personal." The conversation dives deeply into David’s journey from bartender to industry titan, his approach to relationships and business, the realities (and myths) of running restaurants and nightclubs, and the importance of focus, boundaries, and personal growth. The dialogue is rich with personal stories, candid confessions, and actionable advice for anyone looking to build something meaningful—business or otherwise.
Timestamps: 01:11–04:31
Timestamps: 04:52–07:08
"You're in the people business. It's not so controllable. ...You lose money so fast in these spaces." (04:58–06:06)
Timestamps: 07:02–09:49
“You’re going to lose everything. Not only that, you’ve worked so hard your whole life to build your reputation, and it’s going to be gone in one second... And I came back with a completely different mindset.” (07:24–08:21)
Timestamps: 10:12–13:25
“The quickest way to get someone to stop going to your nightclub is to give them a VIP card.” (11:48)
Timestamps: 13:25–14:36
Timestamps: 15:11–18:54
“For me, life is just 10 times better with my wife... Having a partner, it’s the greatest thing in the world.” (16:27)
“She’s actually way smarter than me... hopefully the brand lives past her. That’s what’s important.” (18:21)
Timestamps: 19:11–29:02
“For me to add value, I have to be excited about the authentic.” (28:29)
Timestamps: 31:34–34:09
Timestamps: 43:12–44:42, 51:34–53:14
“No one will outwork me. Nobody.” (44:25)
Timestamps: 34:34–36:18, 64:34–65:42
"It's for life... It's about living your life, starting relationships, and really being able to succeed and fail and succeed again." (35:40)
Timestamps: 54:50–59:19
Timestamps: 40:08–43:12
Timestamps: 39:00–44:42, 61:41–64:00
Timestamps: 66:42–68:37
On personal value-add:
“You don’t go into a relationship to see what you can get... You go into a relationship: how can I add value?” (59:19)
On business philosophy:
“If we do a deal together and I’m the only winner... It’s not going to stick around for a long time.” (19:11)
On humility and power:
“There’s a power in saying no, let’s start there.” (11:48)
On evolving past revenge:
“Now I’m at a place in my life where... sometimes, not doing anything is just... Just, you know.” (63:47)
On personal motivation:
“I had to dominate my field in order to make it in Miami. I dominated. I focused. I was in early, last out.” (44:10)
On spotting trends:
“I have to see what’s bubbling, what’s going to be the next hot thing... If I just follow after, I miss it.” (28:46)
On marriage:
“For me, life is just 10 times better with my wife... It’s the greatest thing in the world.” (16:27)
On boundaries:
“I just do a lot. I’m not staying in a nightclub till 5am... I play tennis early at 8am.” (10:31)
This episode offers a masterclass in the realities of building an empire, not just in hospitality, but in life. David Grutman’s honesty about hard work, sobriety, boundaries, relationships, and personal growth makes this essential listening for entrepreneurs, creatives, and anyone who aspires to cultivate authentic, lasting success in a noisy world.
This summary skips advertisements and non-content digressions and retains the episode’s candid, dynamic tone.