ST. JOHN The restaurant business is a cruel mistress. She has swallowed and spit out more entrepreneurial dreamers than anyone cares to count. I have survived more than 38 years – 30 as an owner – due to a large amount of luck, good timing, willingness to work hard and do what it takes, the assistance of several friends along the way, the support, hard work, passion, and dedication of great managers and employees, and a sizable bucketload of God’s grace. I have learned a lot over the years.