Articles on companies that have grown by building an impressive portfolio of restaurant concepts.
Operating high-profile venues but remaining employer of choice
The 2018 class of Restaurant Hospitality's annual RH 25 looks at bold moves made by multiconcept operators — the companies that are crossing segments, shifting operations, building big or pivoting in some way. There is no ranking. These are companies to watch. See all concepts >>
HQ: Boston
Leadership: Founders Ed Kane, Joe Kane and Randy Greenstein
Systemwide sales FY2017: “We are in the $80 million range with projection of crossing $100 million next year.”
Concepts: CBS Sporting Club, Empire, Explorateur, Grand, Guy Fieri’s Foxwoods, High Rollers, Red Lantern (2), Scorpion Bar (3) and Shrine
Grand
This 12-year-old company was founded by nightclub veterans Ed and Joe Kane and marketing-and-entertainment specialist Randy Greenstein. They started by opening nightclubs, first in Boston and then at the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Conn., as well as clubby, design-forward restaurants such as pan-Asian venues Red Lantern and, more recently, Empire, as well as Gothic-Mexican concept Scorpion Bar.
Last year they opened Explorateur, facing Boston Common, a mixed-use concept with a coffee-and-pastry counter, a dining room, a large bar and private room, and in July they partnered with New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and CBS to take over management of gastropub-cum-sports bar CBS Sporting Club in Foxborough, Mass., home of the Patriots.
Despite their high-concept venues, the Kanes, whose father owned an Irish pub, remain grounded in the straightforward hospitality of serving people by treating their staff well. The Boston Globe named Big Night the top place to work in 2016, citing the company’s approach of paying people well and making sure that all staff members can be heard.
Next: Rise & Shine Restaurant Group
Previous: Front Burner Restaurants L.P.
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