2018 RH 25: Tao Group

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: New York City

Leadership: Founding partners Marc Parker, Rich Wolf, Noah Tepperberg and Jason Strauss

Systemwide sales FY2017: Not disclosed

Concepts: 18 different concepts across the country, including Avenue, Beauty & Essex, Lavo Italian Restaurant, Tao Asian Bistro Uptown and Marquee

The Tao Group is known for its glitzy and lavish high-grossing restaurants and nightclubs — what some have called “clubstaurants” — many of them in hotels in New York, Las Vegas and Los Angeles. Last year, the group unveiled four new concepts at Moxy Times Square, including the fast-casual Egghead, which offers breakfast all day and late into the night.

Bread is baked in-house daily and Egghead only uses eggs and cheese from an upstate New York farm. With this latest venture, they join the trend of all-day breakfast offerings and take a step toward a more food-focused operation, at least one without a DJ.

Last year, Madison Square Garden Co. acquired a majority stake in Tao Group and it appears plans go beyond creating opulent lounges at sports venues.

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