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CIC Partners sells Taco Mac

Atlanta-based investment group buys 27-unit casual-dining brand

Ron Ruggless, Senior Editor

March 6, 2018

2 Min Read
TacoMacPromo.jpg
Taco Mac

Private-equity firm CIC Partners L.P. has sold the 27-unit Taco Mac sports bar-wing brand to a group of investors, an Atlanta-based investment group has announced.

Dallas-based CIC Partners first invested in Taco Mac’s parent, Tappan Street Restaurant Group Inc. of Atlanta, in July 2012 when it had 28 units. Taco Mac restaurants are in Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina.

The new investors are led by Harold Martin Jr. of Atlanta as managing partner and include three of his associates in Nashville, Tenn.-based Fresh Hospitality LLC: Michael Bodnar, John Michael Bodnar and Mike Tidwill. Fresh Hospitality owns and operates restaurants as well as provides a broad range of consulting services.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed. “They are not providing information on purchasing entity or terms,” a spokesperson said.

Taco Mac, founded in 1979, is a casual-dining brand known for its Buffalo chicken wings and selection of draft craft beers in a sports-viewing atmosphere.

Martin said in a statement that “we are long-term owners who understand and enjoy the unique legacy of Taco Mac as an enduring restaurant that offers quality food, family fun, sports viewing and craft beer education.”

Martin and the other new owners said they plan to spend the next few months on a “listening tour” to gain feedback from loyal customers and employees.

“The team also plans to continue investing in the popular Brewniversity program, which rewards loyal guests as their beer knowledge expands,” the company said.

Arlington Capital Advisors LLC, which consulted on the original 2012 CIC deal, acted as the financial advisor to Taco Mac on the transaction.

CIC Partners, a middle-market private-equity firm, last August invested in the Dallas-based East Hampton Sandwich Co. in August 2017. CIC’s other foodservice investments include Granite City Food & Brewery, Willie’s Grill & Icehouse and the cookie delivery company Tiff’s Treats.

Contact Ron Ruggless at [email protected]
Follow him on Twitter: @RonRuggless

About the Author

Ron Ruggless

Senior Editor, Nation’s Restaurant News / Restaurant Hospitality

Ron Ruggless serves as a senior editor for Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News (NRN.com) and Restaurant Hospitality (Restaurant-Hospitality.com) online and print platforms. He joined NRN in 1992 after working 10 years in various roles at the Dallas Times Herald newspaper, including restaurant critic, assistant business editor, food editor and lifestyle editor. He also edited several printings of the Zagat Dining Guide for Dallas-Fort Worth, and his articles and photographs have appeared in Food & Wine, Food Network and Self magazines. 

Ron Ruggless’ areas of expertise include foodservice mergers, acquisitions, operations, supply chain, research and development and marketing. 

Ron Ruggless is a frequent moderator and panelist at industry events ranging from the Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators (MUFSO) conference to RestaurantSpaces, the Council of Hospitality and Restaurant Trainers, the National Restaurant Association’s Marketing Executives Group, local restaurant associations and the Horeca Professional Expo in Madrid, Spain.

Ron Ruggless’ experience:

Regional and Senior Editor, Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality (1992 to present)

Features Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1989-1991)

Restaurant Critic and Food Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1987-1988)

Editing Roles – Dallas Times Herald (1982-1987)

Editing Roles – Charlotte (N.C.) Observer (1980-1982)

Editing Roles – Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald (1978-1980)

Email: [email protected]

Social media:

Twitter@RonRuggless

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ronruggless

Instagram: @RonRuggless

TikTok: @RonRuggless

 

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