1 9
1 9
Portland, Ore.-based Salt & Straw caught the eye of actor Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and business partner Dany Garcia. Earlier in 2019, the chain also won a $4.2 million infusion from Oregon Venture Fund, along with individual investors as a sidecar.
The original investor group behind Blaze Pizza took a partnership stake in Dave’s Hot Chicken in Los Angeles, with plans to franchise.
Seattle multiconcept operator Ethan Stowell won a strategic investment from Seattle Hospitality Group with the goal of growing beyond the Pacific Northwest region.
Colorado-based Fat Shack saw a $250,000 investment from Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban after appearing on an episode of “Shark Tank.”
The New York-based fast-casual chain Dig received a $15 million investment from Enlightened Hospitality Investments, affiliated with Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group. Mark Leavitt, Union Square’s chief investment officer, took a seat on the vegetable-forward chain’s board.
Raleigh, N.C.-based Hargett Hunter Capital Management took a minority stake in Marugame Udon USA LLC, the U.S. arm of a Japan-based noodle concept by Toridoll Holdings Co. Ltd.
Paul Fleming, prolific restaurant creator of brands such as P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, Flemings Prime Steakhouse and Paul Martin’s American Grill, took a minority stake in the New York-based Spanish concept Boqueria in August.
Fleming also invested in the three-unit Tex-Mex casual-dining concept Tacos & Tequila Cantina, based in Florida.
San Diego-based superfood and smoothie chain Everbowl secured $3 million in funding from Toronto-based private-equity group International Franchise Inc., or IFI, a subsidiary of Serruya Private Equity.
![](https://www.restaurant-hospitality.com/sites/restaurant-hospitality.com/files/styles/gal_landscape_main_1_standard/public/salt-and-straw-co-founders-promo-Leela-Cydross_0_1.png?itok=d54ALqMD)