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: Miami
Leadership: Ignacio Garcia-Menocal, co-founder and CEO; Francesco Balli, co-founder and CEO; Eddie Acevedo, chief operating officer
Systemwide sales FY2017: $30 million
Concepts: Glass & Vine, American Harvest (2), Big Easy Winebar & Grill, Stubborn Seed, Stiltsville Fish Bar and Shula’s 347 Grill
The Big Easy
Grove Bay Hospitality Group has been on a roll since it opened Glass & Vine on picturesque Peacock Park in Coconut Grove, Fla., in 2016, with partnerships and successful restaurants with celebrity chefs Jeremy Ford, Janine Booth and Jeff McInnis and South African golfing legend Ernie Els.
Now the group is taking on its biggest project, a two-story waterfront project on seven acres next to Coconut Grove’s city hall. They’ve been granted an 80-year lease to run restaurants in historical airplane hangars and a functioning marina. Slated to open in early 2019, The Harbour in Coconut Grove will feature a second restaurant by Ford, a steakhouse concept with a yet-to-be-named celebrity chef, an event space and a casual restaurant to serve the marina community.
“It’s a very, very highly visible location,” said Ignacio Garcia-Menocal, who founded the group with high school friend Francesco Balli.
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