How Nicholas Stone Turned A $1,500 Basement Café Into A 65-Store Empire The Breakout Bunch podcast

How Nicholas Stone Turned a $1,500 Basement Café Into a 65-Store Empire

6d ago 50:25

Austen Tucker에서 제공하는 콘텐츠입니다. 에피소드, 그래픽, 팟캐스트 설명을 포함한 모든 팟캐스트 콘텐츠는 Austen Tucker 또는 해당 팟캐스트 플랫폼 파트너가 직접 업로드하고 제공합니다. 누군가가 귀하의 허락 없이 귀하의 저작물을 사용하고 있다고 생각되는 경우 여기에 설명된 절차를 따르실 수 있습니다 https://ko.player.fm/legal.

From professional athlete to investment banker — to founding one of America’s fastest-growing premium café brands.

Nicholas Stone’s story is about betting on yourself, building community, and finding purpose through human connection.

In this episode, Nicholas breaks down how he:

• Went from professional Australian Rules Football to investment banking in New York

• Built Bluestone Lane as a side project — starting with a 200-sq-ft basement café and no signage

• Opened 12 stores while still working full-time before taking the leap

• Turned a $1,500/month Midtown lease into a multi-million-dollar lifestyle brand

• Attracted celebrities like Taylor Swift and David Beckham through authenticity, not hype

• Used Instagram to fuel early organic growth before “viral cafés” were a thing

• Survived COVID by pivoting from office cafés to suburban community hubs

• Negotiated over 300 lease restructures and rebuilt stronger than ever

• Built a company that prioritizes human connection over convenience in a lonely, digital world

• Shares how AI now helps Bluestone Lane analyze reviews and elevate guest experience

• Plans to expand across the U.S. — aiming for hundreds of stores while staying true to the brand’s soul

If you’ve ever wanted to build something lasting — or wondered what it takes to lead through chaos — this episode is a masterclass in resilience, leadership, and vision.

Guest: Nicholas Stone — Founder & CEO, Bluestone Lane ☕️

📍 Based in New York City

IG: @bluestonelane

Timestamps:

COMING SOON

Welcome to The Breakout Bunch — where real stories from real entrepreneurs come to life.

Hosted by Austen Tucker, this show cuts through the fluff and gets straight to the heart of what makes business owners tick. These are honest, unpolished conversations with self-made founders who are in it for more than just the money—they’re chasing purpose, impact, and something bigger than themselves.

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