REEL
Direct Link to Video Reel: Raymond Haldeman IS The Restaurant Designer
LOGLINE
This hybrid show follows the exploits of enthusiastic Restaurant Designer Raymond Haldeman from behind the gates of the magical Haldeman Estate capturing all the activities, ongoing renovations and lavish party preparations there, to his meetings with contractors, restaurant owner clients and the featuring of the “before and after” when he reveals the WOW-FACTOR of his restaurant designs.
A Comprehensive Hybrid: Parties & Home Improvement Haldeman Estate / Makeover Restaurant Design
SYNOPSIS & FORMAT OUTLINE
Opening Segment
At The Haldeman Estate
The gates open to the magical Haldeman Estate on the Delaware River Bay where Restaurant Designer Raymond Haldeman is finishing up a few phone calls, working on his trademark 3D “WOW-FACTOR” restaurant designs and planning his day. There is always something going on at the estate, ie, exotic wildlife, upgrades, plantings, storms, family, house guests, crab boats, giant ships and pleasure craft cruising by. Often there’s a lavish party being planned at the estate and before Haldeman leaves for his design consultations, the former Society Caterer sets the preparation in motion and shares his secrets for a successful party including tips and recipes with quick and easy demonstrations from the estates separate catering kitchen. (Haldeman’s career as a caterer/restaurateur is well documented in the press. (Bon Appetit, Gourmet, The Hollywood Reporter, The NY Times, Money Magazine, The Robb Report, Town & Country…)
Segment 2
On the Job Site
Haldeman brings the viewers with him to the job site “behind the scenes” so they can enjoy his energetic and often humorous interactions with the contractors and craftsmen and see first hand the design process in action, witnessing the creative challenges that arise on every job. Together Haldeman and the construction crew work out issues and problems and if there’s a problem, Haldeman says, “it’s no problem because every problem is a design opportunity!”
During the segment the designer will instinctively seize on opportunities to weave a mini master class into the banter by associating the same tips and techniques for restaurant designing that can also be applied to any home. Haldeman always makes that connection and enrolls viewers into the project with information and tips that are useful to THEM.
Segment 3
Before & After Interview with the Restaurant Owners
Viewers accompany the enthusiastic designer on his meets/interviews with restaurant owners that include a look back on the original inspiration for their restaurant and how the dream became a reality. The restaurant owners share the “before” of the space prior to the renovation and together with Raymond explain how the finished design came together. Then the WOW-FACTOR “after” is revealed with a guided tour where Raymond highlights the most impressive and notable design elements.
Closing Segment
Back at The Haldeman Estate
At the end of his day the veteran designer returns back to the beauty and privacy of The Haldeman Estate, wrapping up any unresolved estate issues and updating viewers by reconnecting with any house guests or visitors from the episode’s opening segment. The audience has a front row seat whenever Haldeman throws a lavish party at the estate. The show closes when an elated Raymond shares with viewers some of the most spectacularly visual scenes on earth, the magical sunsets over the Delaware River Bay.
CHARACTERS
-Raymond Haldeman, Bi0 The former well publicized Society Caterer, Restaurateur and Nightclub owner turned Restaurant Designer
shares his multi-faceted skill-set with charismatic enthusiasm.
-Restaurant Owners and Contractors (see brief introduction below under episodes)
-Raymond’s Assistant, tbd
-Dolores Haldeman, Raymond’s 85 year old mother who is a technical genius (literally) with over 200 apps on her iPhone who comes to visit occasionally on weekends and loves talking about terabytes, ram and new apps.
-Joanna Gardner, Lifelong friend and recording artist who is often Raymond’s house guest when she’s in town to do a show.
-Bill & Christine Hauser, next door neighbors who are building a house and built-in pool adjacent to the estate and always consult Raymond for his opinion on their project..
-Kathleen Palella & Gary Mariotti, Raymond’s sister and her partner often stop by to help with landscaping and unsolicited advice
-Les Lehotay, Raymond’s friend who comes from Miami several times a year with “Bella” his English bulldog, to do work on the estate
-Mike Bercute, retired business man and politically active neighbor (a 25 year old trapped in a 75 year old’s body)
-Nick Martinelli, record producer and lifelong friend, and occasional house guest
-Mark Murphy crew, who expedite the ongoing improvements at the estate, i.e., bathroom renovation, and kitchen island addition.
-Restaurant Owners, contractors and craftsmen as described in episode descriptions
EPISODES
As of this moment there are 24 Restaurant Jobs sites designed by Haldeman available from which to shoot content and create 24 shows with shoots that follow format similar to the outline above. There is also enough content from the ongoing activities at the estate for those 24 shows. Estate shoots (opening and closing segments), on-the- job-site shoots where construction is currently underway, interview with the restaurant owner shoots and “the after tour” reveal shoots at the finished restaurant design sites. Below is a list of completed restaurant design jobs ripe with content and ready to go. Added to the end of the list are additional jobs underway that will wrap-up in 2022.
RESTAURANT DESIGN SEGMENTS - READY TO GO NOW
-Broad Street, Souderton, PA
The Sowhanger family wonders what they would have done had they not hired Raymond but is fed up with the cost of construction, so they decide to GC the job and build it themselves…and they do a phenomenal job.
-Spain, Ocean City, MD
A groups of investors build a new high rise hotel on the water in this popular resort town and woo an experienced operator from a popular Washington DC hotspot and hire Raymond to design the indoor/outdoor restaurant on the roof!
-Beacon 70, Brick, NJ
A financier instructs his right hand man Hendrick to build a restaurant on a marina and the contractor brings Raymond in to design the space and add the WOW-FACTOR and Raymond delivers by opening the inside to the outdoors with glass walls that disappear.
-Scarborough Fair, Sea Girt, NJ
The contractor left them high and dry during the renovation of the landmark they have been operating since the 1980’s and this couple hire Raymond to re-design the place and clean-up the mess!
-Roccos, Rockaway Beach, NY
A big shot Manhattan developer wants “in” on the boom in Rockaway Beach since the addition of a Ferry from Midtown. He hires Raymond to work with his brother-in-law the contractor to turn an old Irish Pub into a stylish contemporary Italian Restaurant and also wants Raymond to turn an old dated aluminum siding facade into a glass statement building from top to bottom.
-Cuzins, Marlboro, NJ
Raymond gets off on the wrong foot with owner Charlie when creating Cuzin’s but eventually wins him over and now Charlie is his best customer
-The Fairview, Philadelphia, PA
Raymond gets it wrong when his clients don’t provide input and the 3D design he creates falls flat…but after an exchange of ideas, and some clarification Raymond starts at the beginning and creates a stunner.
-Fins, Cape May, NJ
The owners gave Raymond carte blanch when he designed this “over the top” seafood restaurant but they drew the line at the “submarine room”!
-The Goat, Philadelphia, PA
Local Philadelphia character “Fergie” who’s owned the The Irish Pub on Sansom Street for 25 years finds a spot in Rittenhouse Square and needs a quick cosmetic redo for the deal to make sense.
-Tio Pepe, Philadelphia, PA
2 brothers come from Portugal and although every conversation is an argument, they hire Raymond to add some WOW-FACTOR, he pulls it off and now they have something to agree on!
-ViaSposito, Old Bridge, NJ
Vincent, the father of an Italian family who calls Raymond for his opinion on just about everything (the running joke is that he calls Raymond in the morning before he chooses what socks to wear) asks Raymond to reincarnate todays version of his grandparents restaurant where he worked as a teenager. His children are now working in HIS family restaurant business that Raymond designed and ready to run their own places as he expands.
-ViaSposito, Red Bank, NJ (Grand Opening Pending))
Vincent’s son, Vincent Junior takes control of the new Viasposito where Raymond is giving the space a fresh new, look, both contemporary and rustic as their brand expands.
-Cuzins, New Brunswick, NJ (Grand Opening Pending))
After the phenomenal success of the original Cuzins, Charlie is expanding. He told Raymond that expectations were so high that the New Cuzins had to be “SPECTACULAR” and Raymond delivers with a unfathomable design that includes $100,000 digital waterfall that cascades over the liquor display.
-Country Donuts, Staten Island, NY
Dennis called Raymond to redo his Donut Shop on Staten Island, Raymond respectfully told Dennis that he only does large upscale dining establishments to which Dennis replied, “I know what you do, I’ve been to places you’ve designed and I want “some of that” in my donut shop!”
-Toninos, Malvern, PA
Raymond inherits a design client, Biaggo from his design mentor legendary Leslie John Koeser who designed the Raymond Haldeman Restaurant in Philadelphia years ago. Raymond expands the family’s business into the space next door.
-Westwood Golf Club, West Deptford, NJ
The restaurant at the Golf Club just isn’t cutting it, so the owners hire Raymond to breathe new life into the space and exploit the 2nd story 60” outdoor deck with fairway views for days.
UNDER CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTOR SEGMENTS:
-Kitchen, Whitehouse Station, NJ (Expected opening January 2022)
Tina & Andy sell their restaurant business and rent the building to a new operator and then retire in Florida…eight years later, the operator goes belly-up and they come out of retirement and hire Raymond to completely re-invent the old diner into a trendy eatery.
-Hilltop Crab House, Avondale, PA
Business is going “OK” but Sean Hanrahan wants his Crab House to be a hot spot so he hires Raymond to bring the excitement and add the WOW-FACTOR so he can relaunch the business.
-The Alley, Eatentown, NJ
The US government is selling off the properties at the old Fort Monmouth Army base and Raymond’s client Greg Milano and his daughter Mikaela buy the bowling alley where he is charged with designing a new 28,000 SF bowling alley, game room arcade, restaurant and nightclub.
-ViaSposito, Colts Neck, NJ
Vincent expands again into the ritzy town of Colts Neck, NJ…although there are many mansions there are few restaurants and Vincent wants Raymond to make the new VisSposito “theee place” to go in upscale enclave.
-Cuzins Upper Deck, New Brunswick, NJ
The New Cuzins has a 7,000 SF second floor and owner Charlie wants an outrageous Bar-type Lounge on the “Upper Deck”. Raymond rises to the occasion by removing all the windows? ….well, you’ll see.
-Privilege, Cleveland, OH
Ray Mitchell is a busy guy and after purchasing his first house at age 19, made his fortune flipping houses. Now he has his hands on all kinds of things including restaurants and nightclubs. Raymond flew out to Cleveland for a consultation and it turned into a major design job with the total gut and rebuild of nightclub “Privilege”.
-Biryani City, Hillsboro, NJ
Siva and his brother came from India and opened 2 successful restaurants. Now they want to go the next level so they hired Raymond to build a showplace with a Ballroom. In Design & Development, construction imminent
-Hookah Lounge, Laurel, MD
Design & Development awaiting construction
-Pazzo, Red Bank, NJ
Design & Development
HALDEMAN ESTATE SEGMENTS
Most of these opening segments will begin at the estate and be wrapped up in the closing segment.
-Party Prep…getting ready for an event at The Estate, Haldeman show’s viewers how to make hors d’oeuvres for a party
-Mark and his crew tackle the Tub & Shower Renovation before & after
-Cooking dinner at the estate, Raymond shares his coveted restaurant recipes in the estates separate catering kitchen
-A Party @ The Estate (Family Reunion, Haldeman’s Annual Party, Private dinners on the water)
-Raymond adds a kitchen island to the everyday kitchen and the craftsmen add a Macauba quartz waterfall countertop
-Dolores, Raymond’s 85 year old mother the technical wiz with 200 apps on her iPhone helps Raymond set up his new Mac Pro
-New neighbors Bill & Christine Hauser are building a new house next door
-Raymond designs a concrete pathway to the promenade
-Setting up the riverside promenade and patio for the summer
-The spring plantings and landscaping
-Mark and his crew build a secret door to the secret room
-Bill & Christine partner with Raymond on replacing the fence that separates their properties
-Les Lehotay, comes from Florida to do maintenance on the property
-Fishing off the seawall
-Cocktails on the Riverfront Promenade
-Recording artist Joanna Gardner comes to visit and rehearse for a performance
-Raymond prepares food for a Family Affair
-A photo shoot is going on at the estate
-Raymond hosts a meeting with the Mayor and City Council members
-The estate is getting a new built in swimming pool
RESTAURANT OWNER INTERVIEW SEGMENTS
Restaurant owner interview segments will take place at a completed design restaurant job site location that most likely is already operating. Raymond will engage the owner by asking questions, then conducting a tour. The tour will be edited with cuts to previously filmed pans of perfectly staged shots of the space as they do in the home makeover shows. There will always be a focus on the “wow-factor” design element.
Interview questions will be tailored to the jobs history, but standard questions may include:
-What was your original inspiration for opening a restaurant?
-How long did you hold on to that dream before you did something about it and what was the catalyst for taking action?
-How did you find the space?
-What was your original design idea and how different is that now from the reality?
-Whats your favorite design element?
-What was the turnaround time from the time you got the space, hired the designer, the contractor, the architect and actually opened the restaurant?
-Shall we take the tour?:
BACK AT THE HALDEMAN ESTATE SEGMENTS
These segments include:
-Checking in on the progress of any renovations a the estate that were highlighted in the opening segment
-Touching base with any house guests at the estate
-Raymond will also be throwing “Influencer Parties” for Restaurant, Food & Design Influencers which make for a good closing segment
-Smaller parties showcasing the meal and the setting
-All closing segments will end with either a crowd of party goers watching the magnificent sunset or simply close with a sunset.
