Meet Larry Herz of Ocn Eats

Today we’d like to introduce you to Larry Herz.

Larry, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was in the restaurant business for 29 Years. I started managing restaurants in NYC after graduating from George Washington University with a BA in Marketing. In 1993 I moved to Denver, Colorado and in 1994, I opened my first restaurant Carmine’s On Penn, that I sold but is still open 26 years later. I owned five more after that culminating with 730 South that I owned for 18 years in the Bonnie Brae neighborhood of Denver. I sold that last restaurant after my rent got up to 14k per month. I was working so hard for so little money and I wasn’t seeing my teenage girls grow up. I figured I’m hard-working and relatively smart, I can be successful at anything I do.

So at the age of 51, I reinvented myself taking an office job for the first time in my life as a restaurant promoter. I work for Our Community Now Colorado, where they have allowed me the freedom to develop assets that help drive revenue for restaurants in the Denver metro area. I started Ocn Eats Instagram 17 months ago, after not being on Instagram because I’m old, and now I have 12.3k followers. I also started Ocn Drinks on Instagram that has 4.2k followers. I have three shows on YouTube Restaurant Tours that focus on one restaurant, Restaurants Near Me, that focus on a neighborhood and my latest that I started to help restaurants during the pandemic called What’s For Lunch? I’m not a critic. I’m here to help. I’m a promoter1.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My life has certainly not been smooth. I have several failed businesses in my past. Since I reinvented myself, there was a steep learning curve. I had no idea how to work on my first laptop. I didn’t even know what a hashtag was. Now I’m considered by some to be a restaurant marketing expert.

We’d love to hear more about Ocn Eats.
What sets me apart from everyone else in Denver is that I’m the only person doing what I do. I’m also the only person who used to own restaurants who now helps restaurants. I know there struggles and I know their pain. I’m the only person who does Instagram, podcasts, videos, Facebook, email, and text for restaurants. I have unique access to restaurants because I know most of the owners in town. They trust me to help them and make them look good. I always say I’m here to help. Whatever you want help with, I can help you achieve your goals.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I have two different. When I opened my first restaurant and my Mom, who had terminal cancer, flew in to witness the opening and in my second career, I’m proud of the work I’m doing every day to help save restaurants. I get Dm’s almost daily from restaurant owners thanking me for what I’m doing for the industry. That was and is my goal to help restaurants and the fact that restaurateurs recognize my efforts makes me proud and makes me want to work harder every day to help.

Contact Info:

• Address: 6200 South Syracuse Way #125
  Greenwood Village, CO 80111
• Website: https://ourcommunitynow.com/CO/statewide/colorado. local.ocneats.com http://www.ocneats.com/
• Phone: 3033326965
• Email: lherz@pinbn.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ocn_eats/. https://www.instagram.com/ocn_drinks/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ocneatsdenver/?ref=br_rs

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