Florida-based Artistry Restaurants has acquired Hickory Tavern, a 20-unit casual dining restaurant chain that opened its first restaurant in 1997 in the Catawba County town where it got its name. The restaurant expanded across North Carolina and South Carolina and had been based in Charlotte.
Artistry Restaurants manages seven brands and a total of 50 restaurants. The acquisition of Hickory Tavern marks its entry into the Carolinas.
“Hickory Tavern has a long history of serving the community, with each location a cherished gathering spot for locals,” said Artistry Restaurants CEO Bryan Lockwood in a release. “Hickory’s concept and its reputation for uncompromising service make it a perfect fit within our portfolio of brands.”
Lockwood lives in Rutherfordton. He has been with Artistry since 2014.
Paul Zito will lead the Hickory Tavern group. He joined Hickory Tavern in November and is based in Charlotte, according to his LinkedIn profile. He will report to Artistry Restaurants’ chief operating officer, Jason Brooks, who is based at the company’s headquarters in Winter Park, Florida.
“Paul Zito’s best-in-class approach and impressive track record revitalizing and building establishments and cultivating high-performance teams will help elevate Hickory Tavern’s position in the market,” says Brooks in a release.
Zito was president of Z Team Consulting, a Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, hospitality consulting firm. He also served as director of operations of Mandola’s Italian restaurant and catering chain and was a director of food and beverage operations at Founders Group International, a golf management company with 21 golf courses and six banquet facilities in South Carolina. He also founded Z’s Amazing Kitchen, a premium fast-casual restaurant.
This month, Artistry Restaurants is planning to open The Chapman, an original dining concept located in Winter Park. Its other brands are Oak & Stone; Shrimp Basket; Boca; Atlantic Beer & Oyster; and Sandbar Amelia Island.