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The Buildout

VinePair

Every great bar has a story. We’re going behind the scenes with the people who built them: the founders, dreamers, and industry legends shaping the world’s most inspiring drinking destinations. From Maison Premiere to The Dead Rabbit, Long Island Bar, Schmuck, and beyond — this is how the world’s best bars get built. Hosted by VinePair Co-Founder Adam Teeter


A podcast from The VinePair podcast network.

vinepair.com


Follow us @buildoutpodcast


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

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  • 22 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 1 hr 1 min
  • English

Episodes 22

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  • S1 · E41
    Wednesday · 1 hr 7 min

    Kidilum

    Building a celebrated restaurant group in New Jersey is already an accomplishment. Bringing that success across the Hudson to New York City is another challenge entirely—one many restaurateurs never even attempt. But Sidharth Sharma and Sammeer A. Raajpal were determined to try. With Kidilum, their celebration of Kerala cuisine in Manhattan, they are betting that the same commitment to hospitality and showing guests a wonderful time that fueled their success in New Jersey can also resonate in New York. Sidharth and Sammeer join Adam on this episode of The Buildout to discuss how they built their restaurant group, why they were confident their approach would translate to New York City, and what it takes to make the leap into one of the world’s most competitive dining markets. Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/buildoutpodcast Kidilum: https://www.instagram.com/kidilum.nyc VinePair: https://www.instagram.com/vinepair Hosted by VinePair Co-Founder: https://www.instagram.com/adamteeter Produced and edited by: https://www.instagram.com/dolldoctor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • S1 · E40
    August 19 · 1 hr 6 min

    New York Distilling

    New York Distilling Company was born out of New York’s cocktail renaissance. Founded by Allen Katz, an entrepreneur obsessed with cocktails and the bars creating them, the distillery was built as a brand for New York bartenders. Katz also turned New York Distilling into a destination for the liquid-curious, creating a hands-on experience in Williamsburg where both aficionados and novices could learn more about spirits and cocktails. Since its founding, the brand has become a mainstay behind bars across New York, but Katz always believed it could become something bigger. That ambition ultimately led him to sell the company this past year. Allen joins Adam on this episode of The Buildout to discuss founding one of New York State’s first distilleries after Prohibition, building the brand, and preparing it to go global. Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/buildoutpodcast New York Distilling: https://www.instagram.com/nydistilling Allen Katz: https://www.instagram.com/nydistilleryman VinePair: https://www.instagram.com/vinepair Hosted by VinePair Co-Founder: https://www.instagram.com/adamteeter Produced and edited by: https://www.instagram.com/dolldoctor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • S1 · E39
    August 12 · 53 min

    Oriana

    Opening a restaurant in New York is difficult, even when the people behind it come from one of the best restaurants in the world. When Cedric Nicaise and chef Andy Quinn set out to open The Noortwyck, they wanted to create a true West Village neighborhood restaurant—something very different from the three-Michelin-starred Eleven Madison Park, where they had both previously worked. But building the restaurant has not been easy, a reality Cedric is refreshingly candid about. Some days, he admits, it can still feel nearly impossible. At the same time, The Noortwyck created the opportunity for them to open Oriana, their more approachable take on fine dining, which is already attracting attention and acclaim. Cedric joins Adam on this episode of The Buildout to discuss learning from mistakes, the importance of service and hospitality, and what restaurant critics get right—and wrong—about the dining experience. Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/buildoutpodcast Oriana: https://www.instagram.com/oriana.nyc Cedric Nicaise: https://www.instagram.com/cedlovesbacon VinePair: https://www.instagram.com/vinepair Hosted by VinePair Co-Founder: https://www.instagram.com/adamteeter Produced and edited by: https://www.instagram.com/dolldoctor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • S1 · E38
    August 5 · 54 min

    Handshake Speakeasy

    Handshake Speakeasy seems to be everywhere these days, from starring in commercials for 1800 Tequila to being named the number one bar in the world. For anyone visiting Mexico City, missing the chance to have a drink at this acclaimed bar can inspire some serious FOMO. But its success was far from inevitable. It took years of starts, stops, and setbacks to finally get Handshake off the ground. Once it opened, however, the response was immediate. The bar offered something distinctly different from the cocktail destinations that had come before it in Mexico City, and its arrival helped further cement CDMX as one of the world’s most exciting drinking destinations. Co-owners Eric and Rodrigo join Adam on this episode of The Buildout to tell the story of how Handshake Speakeasy came to be. Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/buildoutpodcast Handshake Speakeasy: https://www.instagram.com/handshake_bar Eric van Beek: https://www.instagram.com/ericvanbeek.carino Rodrigo Urraca: https://www.instagram.com/rurraca VinePair: https://www.instagram.com/vinepair Hosted by VinePair Co-Founder: https://www.instagram.com/adamteeter Produced and edited by: https://www.instagram.com/dolldoctor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • S1 · E37
    July 29 · 1 hr

    Claud

    Chase Sinzer knew from an early age that he wanted to own a restaurant, pursuing that dream through high school and college before making his way to New York City to work for some of the best restaurateurs in the business. His first project, Claud, has been a breakout success, earning three stars from The New York Times, becoming one of the city’s hardest reservations to land, and establishing itself as one of the best places in New York to drink wine. But the thing that may have put Claud on the map in the first place wasn’t the service, the wine, or the entrées. It was a slice of chocolate cake. On this episode of The Buildout, Chase joins Adam to talk about building Claud, how to move from one success to the next, and why he offers finance classes to any member of his restaurant staff who wants to learn. Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/buildoutpodcast Claud: https://www.instagram.com/claud_nyc VinePair: https://www.instagram.com/vinepair Hosted by VinePair Co-Founder: https://www.instagram.com/adamteeter Produced and edited by: https://www.instagram.com/dolldoctor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • S1 · E36
    July 22 · 36 min

    Allegory

    Allegory DC was never supposed to become a 50 Best bar. But when Covid hit, the entire team left, and Deke Dunne found himself the last man standing. What followed was a complete transformation: a bar built around storytelling, creativity, and craft. On this episode of The Buildout, Deke joins Adam to talk about how that disruption gave him the chance to create the bar he had envisioned from the start, assemble one of D.C.’s most talented bar teams, and turn Allegory into a destination bar that helped raise the profile of the hotel it’s located in. Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/buildoutpodcast Allegory: https://www.instagram.com/allegory_dc Deke Dunne: https://www.instagram.com/deke_dc VinePair: https://www.instagram.com/vinepair Hosted by VinePair Co-Founder: https://www.instagram.com/adamteeter Produced and edited by: https://www.instagram.com/dolldoctor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • S1 · E35
    July 15 · 1 hr 4 min

    Dante

    For many, Dante is the bar that put New York’s modern cocktail scene back on the map. After rising to the top of the World’s 50 Best Bars list in just a few short years, it helped usher in a new era of cocktail culture in the city. But what exactly is Dante? A cocktail bar? A restaurant? Something in between? And how do you grow a brand nationally and internationally without losing the magic that made it special in the first place? On this episode of The Buildout, owner Linden Pride joins Adam to tell the story behind Dante, and how he and his wife and partner, Nathalie, have expanded it beyond anything they first imagined while preserving the spark that made it iconic. Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/buildoutpodcast Dante: https://www.instagram.com/dantenewyorkcity Linden Pride: https://www.instagram.com/lindenpride VinePair: https://www.instagram.com/vinepair Hosted by VinePair Co-Founder: https://www.instagram.com/adamteeter Produced and edited by: https://www.instagram.com/dolldoctor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • S1 · E34
    July 8 · 59 min

    Echo Lake

    What happens when a celebrated cocktail journalist and one of the country’s foremost rum authorities join forces? The result is Echo Lake. But opening the bar proved more challenging than either expected. Chloe Frechette had spent her career covering bars, not opening them, while Paul McGee had built his reputation in Chicago, not New York. On this episode of The Buildout, Chloe and Paul join Adam to talk about the challenges they faced, the lessons they learned, and how they created one of the most exciting new additions to the cocktail and rum scenes. Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/buildoutpodcast Echo Lake: https://www.instagram.com/echolakebar Chloe Frechette: https://www.instagram.com/chloefrechette Paul McGee: https://www.instagram.com/bagchatter VinePair: https://www.instagram.com/vinepair Hosted by VinePair Co-Founder: https://www.instagram.com/adamteeter Produced and edited by: https://www.instagram.com/dolldoctor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • S1 · E33
    July 1 · 53 min

    Nine Bar

    Taking over a decades-old family restaurant is daunting enough. Turning it into a cocktail bar in Chicago’s Chinatown — a neighborhood without a high-end cocktail destination — raises the stakes even more. But partners Lily Wang and Joe Briglio embraced the challenge, bringing Lily’s family along for the ride. The result is Nine Bar, one of the most exciting new additions to Chicago’s cocktail scene, drawing drinkers to a neighborhood many had never considered for cocktails. On this episode of The Buildout, Lily and Joe join Adam to share how it came together, from navigating family dynamics to honoring the culture of the neighborhood. Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/buildoutpodcast Nine Bar: https://www.instagram.com/ninebarchicago Lily Wang: https://www.instagram.com/lw4ng Joe Briglio: https://www.instagram.com/joebrigs VinePair: https://www.instagram.com/vinepair Hosted by VinePair Co-Founder: https://www.instagram.com/adamteeter Produced and edited by: https://www.instagram.com/dolldoctor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • S1 · E32
    June 24 · 49 min

    The Keefer Bar

    Opened in 2009, The Keefer Bar quickly became one of Vancouver’s essential cocktail destinations. But what happens when a beloved local institution suddenly finds itself on the national—and international—stage? In 2026, Keefer was named Best Bar in Canada, and a new wave of attention followed. On this episode of The Buildout, we tell the story of The Keefer Bar: how it helped shape Vancouver’s cocktail culture, influenced Canada’s bar scene at large, and is now navigating what comes next after reaching the top. Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/buildoutpodcast The Keefer Bar: https://www.instagram.com/thekeeferbar Keenan Hood: https://www.instagram.com/keenanhood Amber Bruce: https://www.instagram.com/amberbruce VinePair: https://www.instagram.com/vinepair Hosted by VinePair Co-Founder: https://www.instagram.com/adamteeter Produced and edited by: https://www.instagram.com/dolldoctor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • S1 · E31
    June 17 · 49 min

    Bitter & Twisted

    When Ross Simon left London for the States, he set out to make his mark on the American cocktail scene. What he didn’t know was that mark would be made in Phoenix, Arizona — a city that, at the time, was hardly known for its drinks culture. But maybe that was part of the magic. Ross landed in Phoenix and, a few years later, opened Bitter & Twisted, a cocktail bar that not only helped make his name, but also put the city on the map as a serious cocktail destination. On this episode of The Buildout, Ross joins Adam to tell the story of Bitter & Twisted and how its success helped transform Phoenix into one of America’s most exciting cocktail cities. Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/buildoutpodcast Bitter & Twisted: https://www.instagram.com/bitterandtwisted_az VinePair: https://www.instagram.com/vinepair Hosted by VinePair Co-Founder: https://www.instagram.com/adamteeter Produced and edited by: https://www.instagram.com/dolldoctor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • S1 · E30
    June 10 · 1 hr 14 min

    Joseph Leonard

    From the moment Joseph Leonard opened, it was nearly impossible to get a table. The restaurant had an energy from day one that made diners want to spend their evenings there — even if it meant waiting hours for a seat. Owner Gabe Stulman credits that energy, at Joseph Leonard and across all great restaurants, to the bar. On this episode of The Buildout, Gabe joins Adam to discuss Joseph Leonard, the heartfelt ode to his grandfathers that helped launch his hospitality company, and cement his place as one of New York City’s most influential restaurateurs. Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/buildoutpodcast Joseph Leonard: https://www.instagram.com/josephleonardny Gabe Stulman: https://www.instagram.com/gabestulman VinePair: https://www.instagram.com/vinepair Hosted by VinePair Co-Founder: https://www.instagram.com/adamteeter Produced and edited by: https://www.instagram.com/dolldoctor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • S1 · E29
    June 3 · 58 min

    True Laurel

    Ask anyone in the cocktail world where the energy is on the West Coast right now, and one name keeps coming up: True Laurel. On this episode of The Buildout, Adam sits down with Nicolas Torres to talk about how the San Francisco bar went from beloved neighborhood spot to one of the most talked-about cocktail destinations in the country. While the techniques Nicolas and his team are using may feel perfectly suited to this current moment in drinks, many have been part of True Laurel’s DNA since it opened in 2017. Nicolas reflects on building the bar before Covid, watching it gain national and international attention after the pandemic, and what it means to receive acclaim without having to become something else. Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/buildoutpodcast True Laurel: https://www.instagram.com/truelaurelsf Nicolas Torres: https://www.instagram.com/key2_thecity VinePair: https://www.instagram.com/vinepair Hosted by VinePair Co-Founder: https://www.instagram.com/adamteeter Produced and edited by: https://www.instagram.com/dolldoctor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • S1 · E28
    May 27 · 57 min

    Leyenda

    What does it mean to mourn a bar? When a place becomes more than a business — a home for its staff, a gathering place for its regulars, and a defining chapter in a city’s cocktail culture — how do you come to terms with closing the door for good? On this episode of The Buildout, Adam sits down with Ivy Mix, co-founder of the beloved Brooklyn bar Leyenda, to talk about the full arc of the venue: how it began, what made it matter, and the difficult decision to ultimately close it. Ivy reflects on the grief that comes with ending something so personal, the complicated emotions of letting go, and what it takes for a founder to find the desire — and the courage — to build again. Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/buildoutpodcast Ivy Mix: https://www.instagram.com/ivymix Whoopsie Daisy: https://www.instagram.com/whoopsiedaisybar Fiasco: https://www.instagram.com/fiascobrooklyn VinePair: https://www.instagram.com/vinepair Hosted by VinePair Co-Founder: https://www.instagram.com/adamteeter Produced and edited by: https://www.instagram.com/dolldoctor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • S1 · E27
    May 20 · 59 min

    Banshee

    At a time when many new cocktail bars are chasing acclaim with high-tech techniques and elaborate presentations, Jen Murphy went in the opposite direction: perfectly poured Guinness, ice-cold martinis, and the kind of easy hospitality that makes a bar feel instantly essential. The result is Banshee, a true East Village neighborhood bar built on simplicity, precision, and a very clear point of view. On this episode of The Buildout, Jen joins Adam to talk about why New York needed a bar like Banshee, how she found her business partner, and why the perfect pint is anything but simple. Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/buildoutpodcast Banshee: https://www.instagram.com/banshee_nyc Jen Murphy: https://www.instagram.com/jenmnyc VinePair: https://www.instagram.com/vinepair Hosted by VinePair Co-Founder: https://www.instagram.com/adamteeter Produced and edited by: https://www.instagram.com/dolldoctor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • S1 · E26
    May 13 · 57 min

    Amor y Amargo

    Amor y Amargo was only supposed to be a six-month pop-up. Instead, it became one of the most influential bars of the modern era—a place with a distinct philosophy, a fiercely loyal audience, and a legacy that still matters. On this episode of The Buildout, Sother Teague joins Adam to tell the story of Amor y Amargo, explain why the drinks are always stirred and never shaken, and reflect on legacy, longevity, and why it still feels important for the bar to exist today. Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/buildoutpodcast Amor y Amargo: https://www.instagram.com/amoryamargo Sother Teague: https://www.instagram.com/creativedrunk VinePair: https://www.instagram.com/vinepair Hosted by VinePair Co-Founder: https://www.instagram.com/adamteeter Produced and edited by: https://www.instagram.com/dolldoctor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • S1 · E25
    May 6 · 1 hr 21 min

    Kees

    Jeff Bell may be best known for PDT, but as much as the bar reflects his influence, it wasn’t something he built from the ground up. That bar is Kees. A deeply personal project, Kees gave Jeff the chance to create something entirely his own—and to do it under the weight of expectations that come with being so closely associated with one of the most famous bars in the world. On this episode of The Buildout, Jeff joins Adam to talk about his second act, the pressure of opening a new bar when your name is already tied to an iconic one, and the intentionality behind building Kees from scratch. Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/buildoutpodcast Kees: https://www.instagram.com/seekkeesnyc Jeff Bell: https://www.instagram.com/jeffreymbell VinePair: https://www.instagram.com/vinepair Hosted by VinePair Co-Founder: https://www.instagram.com/adamteeter Produced and edited by: https://www.instagram.com/dolldoctor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • S1 · E24
    April 29 · 1 hr 25 min

    Trick Dog

    People come up with bar names and cocktail ideas in all kinds of ways, but for Josh Harris, inspiration often comes from memory, art, and whatever happens to spark something bigger. That creative instinct helped turn Trick Dog into one of the most influential bars of its generation. But Josh wasn’t always sure the bar—or even his place in the industry—would work out that way. On this episode of The Buildout, Josh joins Adam to talk about what it really takes to build a great bar, how to create a team culture that encourages creativity and buy-in, and how his own sobriety has shaped the way he thinks about hospitality and the bar world today. Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/buildoutpodcast Trick Dog: https://www.instagram.com/trickdogbar Josh Harris: https://www.instagram.com/josh_the_bon_vivants VinePair: https://www.instagram.com/vinepair Hosted by VinePair Co-Founder: https://www.instagram.com/adamteeter Produced and edited by: https://www.instagram.com/dolldoctor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • S1 · E23
    April 22 · 58 min

    Bar Goto

    When Kenta Goto left Pegu Club to open his own place on the Lower East Side, he was stepping into unfamiliar territory. He knew how to run a great bar program — but building a business from the ground up was something else entirely. So he did what came naturally: he studied. Kenta read everything he could about owning and operating a business, and that preparation paid off. From day one, Bar Goto clicked, eventually growing into one of the city’s most beloved bars and expanding with a second location in Brooklyn. On this episode of The Buildout, Kenta sits down with Adam to talk about taking the leap from star bartender to owner, what he learned while preparing to open, and how Bar Goto became a lasting New York success. Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/buildoutpodcast Bar Goto: https://www.instagram.com/bargoto_nyc Kenta Goto: https://www.instagram.com/kenta_san VinePair: https://www.instagram.com/vinepair Hosted by VinePair Co-Founder: https://www.instagram.com/adamteeter Produced and edited by: https://www.instagram.com/dolldoctor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • S1 · E22
    April 15 · 1 hr 6 min

    Cure

    When Cure opened, Neal Bodenheimer had a simple goal: create a great neighborhood bar. He did that—and then some. Over the years, Cure has grown into one of the country’s most celebrated drinking destinations, a New Orleans modern classic, and a must-visit for anyone in search of an exceptional Sazerac. On this episode of The Buildout, Neal joins Adam to share the story behind Cure, why he returned to New Orleans to open it, and how the bar became an institution far beyond its neighborhood. Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/buildoutpodcast Cure: https://www.instagram.com/curenola Neal Bodenheimer: https://www.instagram.com/nealbodie VinePair: https://www.instagram.com/vinepair Hosted by VinePair Co-Founder: https://www.instagram.com/adamteeter Produced and edited by: https://www.instagram.com/dolldoctor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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