>> Ted: NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON -- >> WE CAN ALWAYS CONTROL WHAT WE'RE DOING IN THE COMMUNITY AND MAKE FANS PROUD.

>> WE'LL SPEAK OF THE ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS.

AND THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

>> Ted: GOVERNOR HOBBS ANNOUNCED A NEW CHIEF OF STAFF.

CHAD CAMPBELL WAS NAMED TO THE POSITION AND HE'S A DEMOCRATIC OPERATIVE AND LONG-TIME FRIEND OF THE GOVERNOR'S.

THIS FOLLOWS LAST WEEK'S RESIGNATION OF ALI BONES AND THAT FOLLOWED CRITICISM OVER THE GOVERNOR'S HANDLING OF THE BUDGET AND LACK OF ANY CONTROLS OVER THE EDUCATION SOUNDER VOUCHER TO TO CONFIRM CABINET AND A REPUBLICAN LEAD SENATE COMMITTEE REJECTED ANOTHER HOBBS AGENCY'S NOMINEE.

THE COMMITTEE CITED WAS, QUOTE, A HISTORY OF SPREADING ANTI-SEMITISM.

ALONG WICKENS WITH CONCERNS OVER HIRING AND FIRING AND THE APPOINTMENT WILL GO BEFORE THE ENTIRE SENATE AT A LATER TODAY.

>>> PHOENIX COUNCILMAN PASTOR TO CONCEDE GAGEGGO AND THEN STATE SENATOR TESTIMONY ERAN AND AGUILAR.

THERE WILL BE THE LIFTING OF THE DEBT CEILING FROM GOING INTO DEFAULT.

THEY MET WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN AND JEFFREYS JEFFRIES WILL SUPPORT THE LEGISLATION.

>> I MADE CLEAR I'LL SUPPORT THE LEGISLATION ON THE FLOOR TODAY AND THAT I SUPPORT IT WITHOUT HESITATION, RESERVATION OR TREPIDATION.

NOT BECAUSE IT'S PERFECT, BUT IN A DIVIDED GOVERNMENT, WE CANNOT ALLOW THE PERFECT TO BE THE ENEMY OF THE GOOD.

>> Ted: OVER IN THE SENATE, MITCH MCCONNELL CALLED THIS A VICTORY FROM MANY FELLOW REPUBLICANS.

>> HOUSE REPUBLICAN'S UNITY GAVE THEM THE UPPER HAND AND THEY USED IT TO SECURE A MUCH-NEEDED STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

WHEN THIS AGREEMENT REACHES THE SENATE, I'LL BE PROUD TO SUPPORT IT WITHOUT DELAY.

>> Ted: AND WITH MORE HEADLINE OF NOTE, FEDERAL REGULATORS WANT TO REQUIRE AUTOMATIC BREAKING BREAKING BRAKING SYSTEMS.

MANY MODELS COME WITH THIS SYSTEM BUT THEY WANT TO MAKE IT MANDATORY AND THE AGENCY PLANS TO REQUIRE THE NEW SAFETY STANDARDS WITHIN THREE YEARS.

>>> WE CONTINUE THE 25th 25th ANNIVERSARY OF THE DIAMONDBACK'S SEASON AND WE HAD TWO OF THE TEAMS EXECUTIVES AND TONIGHT, WE SPEAK WHAT THEY RECALL AND THEIR CURRENT PRESIDENT AND CEO.

DERRICK, WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON THIS 25 YEARS FOR THE DIAMONDBACKS AND IN MANY RESPECTS, THE DIAMONDBACKS FEEL LIKE A NEW TEAM, DON'T THEY?

>> WE STILL FEEL LIKE A NEW TEAM AND 25 YEARS IS HARD TO BELIEVE.

THIS IS THE FOURTH OLDEST BALLPARK IN THE LEAGUE.

WHEN YOU THINK HOW OLD WE ARE.

SO YOU HAD YOUNG KIDS THAT ARE IN THEIR 20s OR CLOSE TO 30 THINKING THIS IS THE ONLY TEAM I KNOW AND GREW UP WITH.

>> Ted: ARE YOU SEEING MORE OF THAT?

>> I THINK TO WHEN I STARTED 20 YEARS AGO, TED.

I WOULD LOOK DOWN FROM MY OFFICE ON THE CONCOURSE AND I WOULD SEE PARENTS WEARING THE VISITOR'S JERSEYS AND THEN ABOUT FIVE YEARS LATER, I WOULD SEE THE PARENTS WEARING THE VISITING TEAM'S JERSEYS WITH KIDS WEARING D-BACKS JERSEYS AND BOTH SETS.

>> Ted: OF COURSE, THE RED SOX AND THE CUBS AND DODGERS AND HERITAGE TYPE TEAMS AND GET THEIR FANS AND NICE WHEN YOU SEE THE D-BACK'S FANS.

>> IT IS.

OR YOU'LL SEE THE FANS AND THEY'RE YOUR FANS AND OWN FOR THIS SERIES.

[ Laughter ] >> OR THIS IS MY AMERICAN LEAGUE TEAM BUT I'M A D-BACK'S FANS.

>> Ted: FEELING LIKE A NEW TEAM HERE AND WHAT'S THE PERCEPTION AROUND THE LEAGUE?

IS THIS A STORIED HISTORY, ESPECIALLY EARLY ON, WINNING SO SOON, SO FAST AND A LOT OF FOLKS PRICKLIED.

>> THE PERCEPTION IS MUTUAL RESPECT FOR ALL OF US AND THE FACT WE'RE HERE WITH 14 OTHER TEAMS AND SPRING TRAINING AND THEY SEE WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO AND I THINK IT'S ELEVATED THEIR PERCEPTION AND IT'S A TRADITION OF SPORT AND TRADITIONALIST AND YOU'RE NOT THE CARDINALS OR YANKEES AND YOU AND THE RAYS AND YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T DESERVE TO HAVE THE SAME ATTENTION AS WE DO AND YET, YOU KNOW IT'S UP TO US TO PROVE WE'RE JUST AS IMPORTANT AND HISTORIED, YOU KNOW, AS THEY ARE.

>> Ted: THE IMPACT OF ACHIEVING SO MUCH SO QUICKLY WITH THIS TEAM, AFTER ALL THESE YEARS AND PEOPLE CYCLE THROUGH, A LITTLE BIT OF HOLDOVER?

>> WITH OUR FANS, TOO, BECAUSE IT'S NOT THAT EASY TO WIN, RIGHT, BECAUSE WE SPOILED OUR FANS AND THANK GOODNESS, AND THEY THOUGHT, WE'LL DO THIS ALL OF THE TIME.

SINCE THAT TIME, IT'S BEEN BACK TO THE PLAYOFFS.

AND TEAMS YEAR AFTER YEAR CONSISTENTLY AND THAT'S WHO WE NEED TO BECOME.

>> Ted: IF NOTHING ELSE, WE'RE PAYING OUR DUES.

>> YES.

>> Ted: 25 YEARS AND EXCITING AND WHAT WAS YOUR WORLD LIKE 25 YEARS AGO?

>> I WAS IN LOS ANGELOS WITH THE RIVALED DODGERS AND AND I GREW UP A DODGER'S FAN IN L.A. AND MY DREAM AND GOAL TO WORK FOR THE DODGERS AND CAME HERE TO WORK FOR ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY AND MARRIED 31 YEARS AND TOGETHER OVER 36 YEARS.

WHEN I WAS IN L.A. AND THE FRANCHISE CAME INTO EXIST AUDIENCEENCEAND I WAS HERE, I WOULD SAY, HOW DO I GET HERE?

IT FELT LIKE HOME.

MY WIFE IS FROM TUCSON AND THE STARS ALIGNED.

>> Ted: WHEN YOU WERE WITH THE DODGERS IN L.A., DID BROADCASTING IN L.A. AND YOU WERE THERE, IN '95, A WAR TO THE EXPANSION ROOM AND WHAT WAS THE RESPONSE TO THESE UP STARTS IN THE DESERT?

>> A LOT OF FEAR AND INTIMIDATION AND YOU LOOK AT 2001 IN PARTICULAR AND LEADING UP TO IT AND 2001 AND 2002, IT WAS A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH.

WHEN YOU HAD OPENERS AND IT SEEMED LIKE WE WERE OPENING AGAINST THE DIAMONDBACKS AND KEVIN BROWN ON THE MONDAY FOR THE DODGERS AND RANDY JOHNSON FOR THE DIEMON DIAMONDBACKS AND THERE WAS ANIMOSITY.

>> Ted: YOU LOOKED HERE AND THIS IS FOR ME AND THE PLACE FOR ME AND HOW DID IT WORK OUT?

>> LUCKILY, YOU KNOW, HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH OWNERSHIP AT SOME POINT IN '04 AND WE GOT TO TALKING AND REALIZED I TALKED TO RICH DOZER IN MY POSITION, A GOOD FRIEND AND MY WIFE AND WIFE AND DECIDED TO SWITCH ALLEGIANCES FROM DODGER BLUE TO PURPLE AND TEAL AND IT'S HOME AND WE'RE ALL ARIZONA.

>> Ted: WERE THERE THINGS WITH THE DODGERS YOU TOOK WITH YOU, THOUGHTS, IDEAS, THE WAY OF DOING THING IN.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE STARTED WITH PETER O MALMALLLEY IT WAS IMPORTANT TO BRING THAT HERE.

I REMEMBERED BACK TO WHAT IT WAS LIKE AT DODGER TOWN IN FLORIDA.

IT STARTED IN THE '40'S.

IT WAS A NAVAL BASE THAT THEY CONVERTED.

THE FANS COULD WORK WITH THE PLAYERS FROM FIELD TO FIELD OR THE TRAINING ROOM TO HOME AND STADIUM WHERE THEY PLAYED.

I THOUGHT, LET'S BRING THAT TO ARIZONA.

WE'VE DONE THAT WITH SALT RIVER FIELDS.

WHERE THE PLAYERS WALKED WITH THE FANS AND THEY COULD TALK AND TAKE PHOTOS AND ENGAGING.

>> Ted: WAS THAT A DIFFICULT PROCESS TO GET THAT SPRING TRAINING FACILITY?

IT WAS GAME-CHANGING WHEN IT WAS FIRST DEVELOPED.

HOW DIFFICULT WAS THAT TO GET DONE?

>> IT WAS DIFFICULT AND THE BIG HURDLE WAS JUSTIFYING LEAVING TUCSON.

I WAS MARRIED IN TUCSON AND SO MANY FANS IN TUCSON.

WE'RE NOT THE PHOENIX DIAMONDBACKS YET.

ONCE WE REALIZED WE WERE ONE OF TWO TEAMS IN TUCSON, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY CHALLENGING BECAUSE IF TEAMS WOULD PLAY YOU, THEY WOULD HAVE PLAYERS WEARING NUMBER 98.

BUT FINDING THE PERFECT LOCATION, WHICH I THINK WE DID, IT'S BEEN A FAN FAVORITE.

WE SET RECORDS THERE.

YOU HOPE THAT EXCITEMENT, THAT ENERGY WOULD THEN SPILL OVER INTO THE REGULAR SEASON AT CHASE FIELD.

>> Ted: IT'S AMAZING TO THINK THOSE OF A CERTAIN AGE REMEMBER THE ANGELS IN YUMA AND SOMEONE WAS IN CHANDLER.

>> AND THE BREWERS.

>> Ted: AND NOW IN THE METRO PHOENIX AREA.

>> I WAS IN THE GRAPEFRUIT LEAGUE AND YOU WOULD HAVE TO GET UP AT 5:00 IN THE MORNING AND GET UP AT 10:00 AT NIGHT AND NOW YOU GET UP AND NO TRAFFIC AND IT'S THE BEST.

>> Ted: WE'VE TALKED ABOUT 25 YEARS HERE AND A LOT OF HISTORY AND THE TEAM RIGHT NOW IS A FUN WATCH.

WE LOVE THE MAKEUP OF THIS PARTICULAR TEAM AND ROSTER.

HOPE THEY DO SOME THINGS, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE TEAM?

WHERE DOES IT GO FROM HERE AND THERE'S STADIUM ISSUES.

WHAT'S UP WITH THAT?

>> IT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE HAVE TO INCREASE THE REVENUE TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THE TEAM ON THE FIELD AND KEEP UP WITH THE JONES'.

YOU LOOK AT WHAT OTHER TEAMS ARE SPENDING, ESPECIALLY IN OUR DIVISION, IT'S TOUGH.

IN ORDER TO DO THAT, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE STADIUM SITUATION.

WHEN STADIUMS ARE BUILT, IT'S NOT A STAND-ALONE STADIUM BUT MIXED USE AND HOTELS, MAKING SURE IT'S 365 DAYS.

WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE AROUND CHASE FIELD.

OBVIOUSLY, IF WE ARE OUR FIRST CHOICE, IT'S STAYING AT CHASE CHILD.

FIELD.

IT WOULD TAKE A PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP LIKE THE SON'S GOD AND THE RENOVATION AND WE'LL PUT 400 OR $500 MILLION INTO THAT BUILDING BECAUSE WE NEED TO TO INCREASE THE SOCIAL SPACES AND THE CLUBS AND NEW SUITES AND, AGAIN, JUST MODERNIZING IT TO WHAT THE NEWER BALLPARKS ARE LIKE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE REVENUES AND PUT IT BACK INTO THE FIELD.

>> Ted: YOU WANT TO STAY WITH THE LOCATION WITH WHERE IT IS NOW BUT ARE YOU STAYING WHERE IT IS NOW?

>> WE WOULDN'T WANT TO LEAVE MARICOPA COUNTY.

THEY HAVE MEMORIES OF CHASE FIELD AND WE OWE IT TO OURSELVES AND THE COUNTY, TO THE CITY AND STATE TO MAKE IT WORK THERE AND WE'RE PROUD OF THE INVESTMENT WE'VE MADE AROUND DOWNTOWN AND WE HAVE OWNER WHO HAS INVESTED MORE IN CITY THAN MOST HAVE AND I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY PRIORITY NUMBER ONE.

>> Ted: UPGRADES TO THE STADIUM AND WHERE DO THEY STAND?

REGARDLESS OF THE STADIUM IN THE FUTURE, YOU HAVE TO FIX IT UP NOW?

>> WE HAVE $240 MILLION OF IDENTIFIED INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS TO FIX AND PUTTING BANDAIDS OVER IT NOW WHERE THE INSPECTOR SAID DON'T OPEN OR CLOSE IT AND THAT MAKES IT STUFF.

WE HAVE TO SHOW FIREWORKS, BUT AT LEAST NOW WE CAN OPEN AND CLOSE IT AND THAT HAS TO GET FIXED.

THERE ARE LITTLE THINGS TO DO THAT ARE BIG THINGS AND REDOING THE ENTIRE SOUND SYSTEM AND THERE'S MANY THINGS TO DO RIGHT NOW TO BRING IT UP TO CODE.

AND THEN SOME OF THE ELEMENTS WE WANT TO BRING IN, WE CAN DO DOWN THE ROAD IF WE STAY THERE AND I HOPE WE DO.

>> Ted: WE SAW IN TEMPE, A HOCKEY ARENA AND THAT LOSS AND THE PUBLIC'S APPETITE FOR PUBLIC FINANCING IS NOT SO HOT AND AS YOU MENTIONED, THE RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL, AND THESE ARE A PART OF IT AND HOW DO YOU SQUARE THAT CIRCUMSTANCECIRCLE?

>> WE WANT THE MAJOR SPORTS.

WE SHOULD HAVE THEM ALL HERE AND I HOPE HOCKEY IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

IT'S LOOK AT THE COUNTERPARTS IN A SIMILAR SITUATION AND THEY'RE GETTING SUPPORT.

YOU KNOW, MILWAUKEE AND CLEVELAND AND PITTSBURGH AND BALTIMORE.

I'M SURE WE WILL, TOO.

WE'LL FIND THAT PERFECT PARTNERSHIP TO WORK SOMETHING OUT.

>> Ted: FOR THE NEXT 25 YEARS, WHAT DO YOU SEE WITH THE TEAM IN GENERAL?

JUST THE BUILDING OF A TEAM, WHAT ABOUT SAN DIEGO?

SAN DIEGO SPENT THAT MONEY THAT YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO SPEND AND THAT TEAM IS NOT VERY GOOD RIGHT NOW.

THEY MIGHT GET BETTER IN THE SEASON AND YOU HAVE A BUNCH OF YOUNG KIDS HUSTLING TO MAKE A LIVING AND DOING WELL.

HOW DO YOU SQUARE THAT?

I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE BALANCE COMES IN.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE BOTH.

TAMPA SHOWS EVERYBODY IF YOU'RE DOING IT RIGHT WITHOUT A HUGE PAYROLL, YOU CAN BE A CONSISTENT WINNER.

WE KNEW A FEW YEARS BACK, WE WERE DOING IT WRONG ON THE FREE AGENT MARKET AND TRADE MARKET AND NOT BUILDING FROM WITHIN AND IN A MARKET LIKE OURS OR TAMPA OR OAKLAND OR DETROIT AND MINNESOTA AND CLEVELAND, WE HAVE TO HAVE A STRONG FARM SYSTEM AND DEVELOP THE PLAYERS FROMMEN.

FROM WITHIN.

WE HAD A BOTTOM FARM SYSTEM AND WHEN WE HIRED HAYES, PRIOR NUMBER ONE IS TO DEVELOP THE FARM SYSTEM.

IT'S MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE, NOT TO MENTION THE FANS KNOW WHO THE PLAYERS ARE.

THEY'RE WATCHING THE PROGRESS AND IT'S EXCITING.

YOU FEEL A SENSE OF PRIDE WHEN YOU HAVE THOSE YOUNG PLAYERS COMING UP AND BUILDING AN ENTIRE ROSTER OF YOUR OWN HOMEGROWN FARM BUILT.

HAVING A TEAM THAT OUR FANS ARE PROUD OF AND CONTINUING TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITY.

525 YEARS AND GIVEN $80 MILLION AND WE HAVE TO DO MORE.

WE CAN'T CONTROL THE WINS AND LOSSES ON THE FIELD.

WE WILL TRY TO IMPROVE THOSE, BUT WE CAN ALWAYS CONTROL WHAT WEAR DOING IN THE COMMUNITY AND MAKING FANS PROUD OF WHAT WE'RE DOING.

>> Ted: DERRICK HALL, PRESIDENT AND CEO, CONGRATULATIONS ON THE SUCCESS THIS YEAR AND BEST OF LUCK TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND THE WHOLE DIAMONDBACK'S FAMILY.

CONGRATULATIONS!

>> THANK YOU, APPRECIATE IT.

>> Ted: A NEW REPORT SHOWS RESTAURANTS AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE ADDING NEW JOBS AS THE INDUSTRY CLIMBS OUT OF PANDEMIC ERA RESTRICTIONS AND SHOWS FINDING WORKERS CONTINUES TO BE STRUGGLE.

WE ASK STEVE CHUCRI, THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION.

STEVE, THANKS FOR JOINING US.

WHAT IS THE STATE OF ARIZONA RESTAURANT INDUSTRY?

>> WE'RE HEALTHY AND TO THE VIEWERS AND PEOPLE LIKE YOU WHO KEPT US US AFLOAT, WE'RE DOING WELL.

>> Ted: HAS EMPLOYMENT HIT PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS?

>> IT HAS NOT AND I WOULD EQUATE THIS TO DRIVING A CAR WITH A SPARE TIRE, IT'S OPTIMAL.

SO WIRE WE'RE INCREASING THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEE, WE'VE HAD MORE SEATS TO GET AND IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGE, BUT WE ARE LOOKING FOR POSITIVE THAN NEGATIVE, ABSOLUTELY.

>> Ted: THE STUDY FINDS THAT RESTAURANTS, THEY ARE FINDING IT HARD TO LOCATE WORKERS, TO RECRUIT WORKERS AND ARIZONA RESTAURANTS SEEING THE SAME THING?

>> WE ARE AND DOING BETTER THAN MOST OTHER STATES IN THE COUNTRY AS FAR AS WHERE WE'VE COME SINCE COVID.

THE GOOD NEWS, WE'RE NOT SEEING THE SAME PRESSURES OF GETTING TO THE OPTIMAL SIDE OF GETTING THE GETTING THE WORKERS WE NEED.

IT'S JUST NOT HAVING WORKERS PLAIN AND SIMPLE.

>> Ted: BASICALLY AN ABUNDANCE OF JOBS.

>> THERE IS AN ABUNDANCE OF JOBS AND WILLING TO FILL THEM.

THERE'S A 20 MINUTE WAIT AND TABLES ARE OPEN, BUT WE DON'T HAVE SERVEERS.

SO THAT'S THE BIGGEST COMPLEXITY WE SEE TODAY, BUT WE'RE GETTING THERE.

>> Ted: I'M READING FROM THE REPORT THAT TURN-AROUND IS A FACTOR AND PEOPLE ARE COMING AND GOING.

WHEN YOU DO HIRE SOMEONE, THEY'RE NOT STAYING AS LONG AS THEY USED TO.

ARE YOU SEEING THAT?

>> THE TURNOVER IS TOUGH AND NOT AN INDUSTRY FOR THE FEINT OF HEART.

THE BACK OF THE HOUSE IS FILLING NICELY AND THE FRONT DINING ROOM AND GETTING SERVEERS, YOU CAN MAKE GOOD MONEY, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE A COLLEGE STUDENT OR A YOUNG ADULT OR SINGLE MOM OR DAD THAT NEEDS TO MEET TAKING THE KIDS TO SCHOOL.

WE'RE AN INDUSTRY OF CONVENIENCE.

BUT WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE PEOPLE LOOKING FOR EMPLOYMENT.

>> Ted: THE FEDERAL BENEFITS, RESTAURANTS DEFINITELY HELP BY THESE BENEFITS.

TALK TO US HOW MUCH THEY WERE HELPED.

>> YOU SAW THE PPE LOANS AND ARRAY GIVEN TO MANY BUSINESSES AND IT HELPS AND WE SAW A THOUSAND DOORS CLOSED.

THIS AMOUNTED TO 2.75 BILLION IN LOSSES AND OUR DAILY PAYROLL WENT FROM 14 MILLION A DAY TO TWO MILLION A DAY DURING COVID.

YOU CAN SEE THAT RECOVERY TOOK SOME TIME, BUT WE'RE GETTING INTO MUCH BETTER TERRAIN.

>> Ted: THE RECOVERY IS THERE, BUT THERE'S CONCERN AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS IN A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT WAYS THAT THE JOBLESS BENEFITS, WE HEARD IN THE PAST, THEY'RE KEEPING PEOPLE FROM WORKING BECAUSE THEY THINK THEY CAN GET FREE MONEY.

IS THAT A REAL THING?

>> YOU KNOW I SERVED TIME IN PUBLIC OFFICE AND WE CAN GIVE THESE ONE ANSWERS AND THROW THINGS ABOUT BUREAUCRACY.

WITHOUT QUESTION, WE DID HAVE A PROBLEM WHERE PEOPLE WERE GETTING SO MUCH MONEY IN BENEFITS THAT IT KEPT THEM ON THEIR COUCHES AND AT HOME AND OUT OF THE WORKFORCE.

THAT CORRECTED AND TOOK SIX MONTHS POST-COVID AND LATE 2020 AND INTO '21.

IT WAS A REAL FACTOR AS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> Ted: WHERE RESTAURANTS HAD TO LOOK HOW THEY TREATED, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORK, WORK ENVIRONMENTS AND DID WORK ENVIRONMENTS CHANGE FOR THE BETTER BECAUSE OF THIS?

>> FOR THE BETTER AND I WILL TELL YOU THIS, AS MONEY SOMEONE AS A PART OF THIS INDUSTRY FOR 20 YEARS, OUR EMPLOYEES ARE A FAMILY AND SOME TOOK THEIR EMPLOYEES FOR GRANTED.

THAT'S EASY TO DO IN GENERAL AND POST COVID, WE HAVE A WHOLE NEW APPRECIATION FOR THE VALUE AND YOU'RE TOUCHING A GOOD POINT IN THAT WE SEE EVEN MORE SO THE VALUE THAT THESE GREAT INDIVIDUALS BROUGHT TO OUR RESTAURANTS AND WORKFORCE EVERY DAY.

>> Ted: I KNOW FROM OUR DINING HABITS, POST COVID, A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO SEE TAKEOUT AND A DIFFERENT TYPE OF SERVICE, OUTDOOR SEATING AND ALL OF THESE THING AND HOW MUCH THAT DID THAT CHANGE THE NATURE OF RESTAURANTS IN ARIZONA?

>> REMARKABLY, YOUR TOTAL SALES TO GO WERE 5% PRE-COVID AND DURING AND POST COVID, THEY'VE RISEN TO 25% AND THEY STAYED THERE.

I EXPECTED THEM TO RACHET BACK AND THEY HAVEN'T.

THEY'VE BEEN 20 TO 25% AND THE UNIQUE THING FOR RESTAURANTS, HAVE TO HAVE GOOD TO-GO PACKAGING, AND IT'S GOING WELL.

>> Ted: ARE RESTAURANTS SEE THAT?

YOU CAN BE STUBBORN BUT YOU HAVE TO CHANGE.

CONCERNS GOING FORWARD, THERE'S A CLOUD OF A RECESSION, IT SEEMS LIKE ALL YEAR LONG AND WE HAVE INFLATION CONCERNS AS WELL.

HOW DOES THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY SEE THESE CHALLENGES, PERHAPS CHALLENGES, AHEAD?

>> THEY'RE VERY REAL.

I WILL SAY THAT.

WE ARE THE BENEFICIARY OF DISCRETIONARY INCOME.

IN GAS PRICES GO UP, YOU WON'T GO OUT TO EAT AS OFTEN.

HERE IS AN INTERESTING STATISTICS, LAST YEAR FOR THE FIRST TIME, RESTAURANT SALES OUTPERFORMED GROCERY STORE SALES BY 20%.

>> Ted: WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> THINK ABOUT THAT ON A SOCIOECONOMIC LEVEL.

TWO ECONOMICAL THINGS, PEOPLE WANT TO BE OUT THERE IN THE ACTION, IF YOU WILL, IN A DINING ROOM.

SECONDLY, BECAUSE OF THE COST RATIO, IT'S COST ECONOMICAL OF GOING TO A RESTAURANT.

>> Ted: IF I WANT TO OPEN A RESTAURANT RIGHT NOW, WHAT'S OF THE BEST ADVICE?

>> DO YOUR HOMEWORK AND UNDERSTAND THE NUANCES OF THE INDUSTRY FROM BACK OF THE HOUSE TO FRONT OF THE HOUSE AND MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE MONEY AND LONGEVITY TO DO IT.

>> Ted: THE FAILURE RATE IS STILL HIGH?

>> IT'S STILL HIGH AND A TOUGH HAUL AND MAKE SURE YOU GO IN WITH BOTH EYES OPEN.

>> Ted: STEVE CHUCRI, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Ted: AND THAT'S IT FOR NOW AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING!

♪♪