Founder of Harlan Scott Hospitality. Owner Industry Restaurants, Meat & Drink Templetons.
Harlan moved to Austin in 2010 at the beginning of Austin’s explosive food scene. As director of operations, he opened and managed five unique concepts with over 150 employees. In 2016, he founded Harlan Scott Hospitality, a full-service consultancy that has since worked with over 50 clients, many well-known bars and restaurant groups in central Texas and beyond, helping open new concepts, creating beverage programs, building operations and training systems, and advising on marketing, technology and vendor relationships.
Today many of his clients are looking for a partner to help them realize open their first bar or restaurant. These engagements can last several years starting with developing a business plan, site selection, and lease negotiation and ultimately finishing with hiring the team and opening the restaurant.
In 2018 harlan founded Industry in San Marcos, Texas, a beer garden style, all-day restaurant focusing on healthy and everyday cuisine with native Texan influence shines equally with its expansive bar. In 2022 he opened its second location in East Austin. The concept is a subtle homage to life in the service Industry where they champion 40-hour work weeks, fair wages, comprehensive benefits and mental healthcare, and even tip share for the kitchen. Industry was recently featured on Diners Drive-ins, and Dives in 2025.
In 2022 he and his former business partner restored a 40-year-old iconic pizzeria and bar, Valentino’s, down the street from Industry in San Marcos that opened to acclaim and local buzz as some of the best New York style pizza in Texas. In the fall of 2024, Harlan opened small outpost on the square in Wimberley, “Meat & Drink,” which features smoked meats, live music, and to-go cocktails.
Areas of Expertise:
- Operations: SOP’s, cost controls, vendor relationships
- Technology maximization: POS, CRM, HR and payroll, inventory management, etc.
- Concept development: business plan, lease negotiation and site selection, architect, design, and contractor vetting.
- Financials: P&L scrutiny, fundraising
- Beverage programs
- HR: Recruiting, training, organizational charts, and job descriptions
- Marketing: social media, PR, customer retention and communication