Through a series of strategic alignments and
business deals, multiple brands within the portfolio of
restaurants, concepted by Chef Jose
Garces, will see national expansions
PHILADELPHIA, July 31,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- 3BM1, operating as Ideation
Hospitality, is thrilled to announce that its Amada and Village
Whiskey brands have been acquired by SPB Hospitality, a portfolio
company owned by affiliates of Fortress Investment Group that has
gained national recognition as an industry-leading operator and
franchisor of casual, and upscale restaurants.
In today's modern and evolving restaurant and culinary
landscape, Amada and Village Whiskey were identified for their
strength of concept, outstanding culinary offerings and vibrant
environments that offer authentic and culturally diverse offerings
to SPB Hospitality's growing portfolio of over 500 restaurants
across 37 states.
Through the acquisition, SPB Hospitality gains ownership of
Amada's three locations in Philadelphia, Radnor, and Atlantic
City; Village Whiskey's exclusive location in Philadelphia; and leadership and restaurant
employees. Chef Jose Garces will
continue to serve as the face of the brands and a culinary and
concept development creative. Scott
Campanella, COO of Ideation Hospitality, will become SVP at
SPB Hospitality over the Garces products and growth opportunities
for SPB.
"What Chef Garces and the Ideation Hospitality team have built
at Amada is impressive. From the moment you walk through the door,
the ambiance transports you to the south of Spain. The creative, culturally rich cuisine
prepared by a talented team of culinary leaders gives consumers
exactly what they seek in a high-quality dining experience," said
SPB Hospitality CEO Josh Kern.
"Amada is a restaurant concept that has the potential to grow
exponentially, and I'm thrilled to welcome the Amada and Village
Whiskey brands, as well as Chef Garces and the Ideation Hospitality
team, to our growing portfolio."
SPB Hospitality plans to open two to three Amada restaurants
annually in key markets with a focus on the Sun Belt region of
the United States, where the warm
weather will complement Amada's iconic Spanish cuisine.
"Amada will always be an incredibly special restaurant concept
to me. Not only was it the first restaurant I ever opened, but it
was also inspired by my grandmother, Mamita
Amada," said Chef Jose
Garces. "I could not be more proud to work with SPB
Hospitality to help grow the Amada brand in such a significant way.
I look forward to bringing the incredible flavors and taste of
Spain that Amada offers to cities
across the country."
"We're excited about the acquisition of Amada and Village
Whiskey by SPB Hospitality," said Paul, Steven and Scott Ballard, brothers and owners of
Ballard Brands, in a joint
statement. "They are highly regarded in the industry and are
perfectly suited to take these outstanding brands to new heights.
The timing could not be better as we experience significant growth
of our PJ's Coffee brand requiring a great deal of our focus. We're
proud of the work we've done through Ideation Hospitality and are
very happy with this acquisition."
"I've had the pleasure of operating these outstanding brands,
concepted by Chef Garces, for the last few years, and we have
worked hard to create excitement, stability, and proof of concept
for each brand," said Scott
Campanella, an incoming SVP at SPB Hospitality. "It's an
exciting turning point as we successfully look to the next chapter
for each of these brands, knowing that they are in the hands of
partners and leaders best suited to maximize their potential and
reach through strategic, well-backed growth plans. I'm grateful for
the opportunity to maintain involvement in guiding Amada and
Village Whiskey, along with other Garces concepts, through my new
role at SPB Hospitality, and I'm excited for what the future
holds."
For Amada, Village Whiskey and Garces brand business
opportunities, please contact Scott
Campanella at Scott.Campanella@SPBHospitality.com. For new
business opportunities, and partnerships with Chef Garces, contact
Noelle McHugh at
noelle.mchugh@chefgarces.com.
About SPB Hospitality
SPB Hospitality is a leading operator and franchisor of
full-service dining restaurants, spanning a national footprint of
hundreds of restaurants and breweries in 37 states. The Company's
diverse portfolio of restaurant brands includes Krystal Restaurants
LLC, Logan's Roadhouse, Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom, and a
collection of high-end restaurant brands including J. Alexander's
and Stoney River Steakhouse and Grill. SPB Hospitality is also one
of the largest operators of craft brewery restaurants in the
country, including Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery, Gordon
Biersch Brewery Restaurant, ChopHouse & Brewery, Ragtime Tavern
Seafood & Grill, and Seven Bridges Grille & Brewery.
About Fortress Investment Group LLC
Fortress Investment Group LLC is a leading, highly
diversified global investment manager. Founded in 1998, Fortress
manages $49 billion of assets under
management as of March 31, 2024, on
behalf of over 2,000 institutional clients and private investors
worldwide across a range of credit and real estate, private equity,
and permanent capital investment strategies.
About Chef Jose Garces
Iron Chef, father, husband, James
Beard Award-winner, entrepreneur, and food innovator, Chef
Jose Garces is known as a leading
culinary authority of Spanish and Latin-American food. From the
Spanish tapas at Amada, his first restaurant, to the award-winning
snacks and burger concept, Village Whiskey, Chef Garces continually
pushes the boundaries of culinary excellence. While he maintains
his successful career owning and operating full-service
restaurants, Chef Garces is also looking toward the future, with an
increased focus on bringing restaurant-quality experiences to the
homes and businesses of culinary enthusiasts in new and interesting
ways. From enhanced home delivery options and virtual online
cooking demos, to live online cooking classes, Chef Garces is
excited to connect with both fans of his work on television, as
well as the home cook who'd like to experience "chef life" in their
own kitchen.
About Ballard Brands
Ballard Brands is a privately
held hospitality and food service company formed by brothers Paul,
Steven and Scott Ballard to deliver
their New Orleans passion for
eating, drinking and living to the world. After achieving success
as franchisees for PJ's Coffee, the brothers reunited in their
home state to expand their footprint and open the first WOW Cafe
(now WOW American Eats) in 2001. Ballard Brands acquired PJ's Coffee in 2008,
growing the brand known for better beans, superior roasting
techniques, and pure passion for the art of coffee-making to 180
locations with more in the pipeline. In addition to restaurant
operations, management and franchising, the company has a large
catering and special events business and a coffee and tea business.
These four primary lines of business are managed from their
headquarters in Mandeville,
Louisiana — just north of New
Orleans — and offices in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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SOURCE SPB Hospitality