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Tavistock
Restaurants Upscale
Collection
Welcomes John T. Bettin as CEO
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Orlando,
FL – April 2014 / Newsmaker Alert / Tavistock
Restaurants is pleased to announce John T. Bettin as Chief Executive
Officer of its Upscale Collection of restaurants. Bettin will oversee Tavistock’s
numerous award-winning Upscale Collection concepts, including Abe &
Louie’s, AquaKnox, Napa Valley Grille, California Cafe, Atlantic Fish,
Coach Grill, ZED451, Joe’s American Bar & Grill, Blackhawk Grille,
Timpano Italian Chophouse, Cafe del Rey, Taqueria Canonita and Sapporo.
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With
more than 30 years of restaurant industry experience, Bettin has worked
with some of the most well-known hospitality dining brands, notably The
Palm and Morton’s of Chicago, where he led both companies as CEO and President
respectively. Along with his diverse range of expertise, spanning from
the back and front of the house to the corporate office, Bettin is well
positioned to strengthen and grow Tavistock’s collection of award-winning
brands.
“I
am thrilled to welcome John to our company,” said Charles B. Lewis, Chairman
of Tavistock Restaurants. “He has the depth and breadth of experience to
lead our upscale portfolio of restaurants today and to help us find new
avenues of growth going forward. John brings the proper temperament and
commitment to further our goal of making Tavistock Restaurants one of the
most desired restaurant collections for professionals to build careers
and for patrons to enjoy special dining experiences.”
Most
recently serving as the CEO of the 88-year-old, iconic Palm Restaurant
Group, Bettin’s operational discipline and entrepreneurial vision for 29
restaurants successfully guided the company through the recent recession
with a repositioned brand and new prototype designs, producing an organization
poised for future growth.
Bettin’s
passion for the industry started in the kitchen. He began his distinguished
career on the culinary side as an Executive Chef for Houlihan’s and eventually
rose to become Senior Vice President of Concept Development at Gilbert/Robinson.
Bettin spent several years as Executive Vice President of Operations for
Capital Restaurant Concepts and nearly a decade as President of Morton’s
of Chicago, where he led the restaurant through a vibrant expansion phase
including development of the successful Bar 12-21 concept. After a short
time at Potbelly Sandwich Works as COO and Senior Vice President. Bettin
later joined Buca as President and COO, eventually becoming the company’s
Chief Executive Officer.
“Tavistock
Restaurants has fantastic brands, is entrepreneurial and well capitalized
for future growth,” said Bettin. “Charlie has charged me with strengthening
our company, maximizing the potential of our existing brands, and tasked
me to look for additional growth opportunities within Tavistock Group’s
portfolio as well as outside acquisitions.”
Bettin
will be located in Orlando, Fla., the new headquarter location for Tavistock
Restaurants Upscale Collection. This strategic move coincides with Tavistock’s
fast casual burrito concept Freebirds World Burrito’s move to Austin, Texas.
For more information on Tavistock Restaurants, visit www.tavistockrestaurants.com.
About
Tavistock Restaurants
Tavistock
Restaurants Upscale Collection Welcomes John T. Bettin as CEOTavistock
Restaurants is a privately held company operating award-winning restaurant
concepts from the fast casual Freebirds World Burrito restaurants to its
Upscale Collection of restaurants including Abe & Louie’s, AquaKnox,
Napa Valley Grille, California Cafe, Atlantic Fish, Coach Grill, ZED451,
Joe’s American Bar & Grill, Blackhawk Grille, Timpano Italian Chophouse,
Cafe del Rey, Taqueria Canonita, Sapporo and Papa Razzi. Tavistock Restaurants
lives by the same mission as its parent company, Tavistock Group, which
is committed to excellence in everything it does. For more information,
visit www.tavistockrestaurants.com.
About
Tavistock Group
Tavistock
Group is an international private investment organization founded by
Joe Lewis more than 35 years ago. With investments in more than 200 companies
across 15 countries, Tavistock Group’s investment portfolio includes: life
sciences, sports teams and sporting events, manufacturing and distribution,
oil, gas and energy, financial services, restaurants, commercial properties,
private luxury residential properties, resort properties and large-scale,
master-planned real estate developments including Albany, a luxury resort
community nestled along approximately 600 oceanfront acres on the island
of New Providence in The Bahamas, and the innovative, 7,000-acre city of
Lake Nona in Orlando, Fla., located next to one of the world’s busiest
airports.
Lake
Nona is a model 21st century city driving more than $7 billion in economic
activity in Central Florida. Highlighted by a life sciences cluster known
as Medical City, Lake Nona will feature more than five million square feet
of commercial space, 2,200 hotel rooms, 30,000 residents and over 100 shops
and restaurants.
For
more information, visit www.tavistock.com.
Contact:
Jessi
Blakley, APR
Tavistock
Group
407-909-7030 |