Ty Largo of Awe Collective on the Common Mistake New Restaurants Make — And How to Avoid It

From now until we publish the 2016 edition of Best of Phoenix, New Times is naming 100 Tastemakers — members of our local culinary community who help shape the way we eat, drink, and think about food in Phoenix. Some you'll know, and for others, it'll be a first introduction, but each person on our list deserves a nod for helping make our city so delicious. Oh, and while you're here, be sure to check out our list of 100 Creatives.

44. Ty Largo of Awe Collective

Name a local restaurateur, and chances are good they've got Ty Largo's number on their contact list. Whether it's for business consulting, company branding, menu development, or interior design, Largo's talents make him one of the most influential — albeit behind-the-scenes — people in Valley dining. 

The college dropout (he went to Arizona State University to study music but never finished) is the head of Tempe-based, award-winning creative marketing agency, Awe Collective, which represents some of biggest names in retail, finance, restaurants, events, and real estate in the Southwest. Some of the company's metro Phoenix restaurant clients include chef Gio Osso's Virtu Honest Craft and Nico Heirloom Kitchen; chef Jeff Kraus' Crepe Bar; chef Justin Beckett's Beckett's Table; and Scottsdale-based restaurant group Fox Restaurant Concepts. 

Today, Largo dishes on his personal mantra and go-to place for prime rib.  

My go-to place for stiff drinks and perfect prime rib in Phoenix is The Stockyards Restaurant. Gary Lasko and team take amazing care of their guests. The bar is beautiful!

The best kept secret in Phoenix is Arcadia Premium’s amazing delivery service! Awe’s #BubblesFriday is supplied by the end-of-week delivery, straight to our agency’s door. The selection is excellent and the arrival is swift!

The most common mistake new restaurants make is assuming customers will keep coming back. Trust me, a customer’s attention is being pulled in different directions each day. Restaurants can avoid the mistake by regular e-mail marketing and social-media content. I can’t over stress the e-mail marketing!

My three design essentials are my iPhone (for snapping inspiration and jotting notes), my dry erase marker for mapping out ideas, and of course, my glass of Gruet Rose.

If my personal mantra were a hashtag, it would be #slay. 

The 2016 Tastemakers so far: 

100. Aaron Chamberlin of St. Francis and Phoenix Public Market Cafe
99. Ross Simon of Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour 
98. Debby Wolvos of DW Photography
97. Anibal and Salem Beyene of Café Lalibela Ethiopian Restaurant 
96. Bo Mostow of Uptown Farmers Market
95. Julian Wright of Pedal Haus Brewery
94. Stephen Jones of The Larder + The Delta
93. Eric Glomski of Page Spring Cellars
92. Richard Bock of Giuseppe's on 28th
91. Walter Sterling of Ocotillo 
90. Daniel Sevilla of Angry Crab Shack
89. Doug Robson of Gallo Blanco and Otro Cafe
88. LaDawn Driscoll of Liberty Market
87. Jason Calhoon of The Shop Beer Co. and Side Kick Cold Brew
86. Tim and Kim Cobb of United Lunchadores Street Gourmet
85. Micah Olson of Bar Crudo and Okra Cookhouse and Cocktails 
84. Paola Embry of Christopher's + Crush and The Wrigley Mansion
83. Jared Porter of The Clever Koi
82. Diane Corieri of Evening Entertainment Group
81. Erich Schultz of Steadfast Farm Shares His Go-To Place For Beer That Tastes "Like Arizona"
80. Jeff and Leah Huss of Huss Brewing Company
79. Aaron Pool of Gadzooks Enchiladas and Soup
78. Diana Santospago of The Maine Lobster Lady food truck
77. Gio Osso of Virtu Honest Craft and Nico Heirloom Kitchen
76. Lauren Bailey of Upward Projects
75. Rodney Hu of Arizona Distilling Company and Yucca Tap Room 
74. Jacob Cutino of Homeboy's Hot Sauce
73. Country and Sergio Velador of Super Chunk Sweets and Treats
72. Dean Thomas of Cornish Pasty Co.
71. Jennifer Caraway of The Joy Bus
70. Scott Holmes of Little Miss BBQ
69. Jared Allen of Proof Artisan Breads
68. Steve McFate of McFate Brewing Company  
67. Mel Mecinas of Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North
66. Jessa and Dan Koppenhofer of Gilbert Farmers Market
65. Todd and Kelly Bostock of Dos Cabezas WineWorks
64. Ryan Probst of Odelay Bagel Co.
63. Diana Brandt of AZFoodie
62. Benjamin Butler of Hayden Flour Mills
61. Jim and Maureen Elitzak of Zak's Chocolate
60. Michael Babcock of Welcome Diner and Welcome Chicken + Donuts
59. Nick Ambeliotis of Mediterra Bakehouse
58. Peter Kasperski of Cowboy Ciao and Kazimierz World Wine Bar
57. Kimber Stonehouse of LGO Hospitality
56. David Tyda of EATERAZ and Arizona Taco Festival
55. Pavle Milic of FnB
54. Pat Christofolo of Santa Barbara Catering Company and The Farm at South Mountain
53. Brandon Casey of The Ostrich
52. Jonathan Buford of Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co.
51. Sasha Raj of 24 Carrots
50. Rob Fullmer of Arizona Craft Brewers Guild
49. Bill and Lillian Buitenhuys of AZ Bitters Lab
48. Ramona Button of Ramona Farms
47. Justin Piazza of La Piazza Al Forno and La Piazza PHX
46. Andrew Gooi of Food Talkies
45. Jason Raducha of Noble Bread and Noble Eatery