The new chief executive of California Pizza Kitchen Inc. has an opportunity to revive sales at the casual-dining chain, but the brand’s future may require rethinking real estate and its approach to a key demographic of moms at the mall with their kids, observers say.
Chief executive, president and executive chairman G.J. Hart officially started the job at CPK last week, but a company spokeswoman said he is not ready for interviews with the press.
Formerly chief executive of Texas Roadhouse, Hart was brought in by private-equity firm Golden Gate Capital, which acquired Los Angeles-based CPK in July for $470 million. Hart replaces CPK co-founders Larry Flax and Rick Rosenfield, who remain on the chain’s board of directors.
CPK observers hailed the arrival of Hart, saying they wouldn’t be surprised if the 10-year veteran of Texas Roadhouse brought some of his former management team to Los Angeles as well.
It remains unclear what role Flax and Rosenfield will play, and they did not respond to calls at press time.
Outsiders said they expect the two to remain active in the brand.
“You don’t walk away from your baby,” said restaurant consultant John Gordon, principal of Pacific Management Consulting Group in San Diego. “The founder issue is very sensitive, and I expect Golden Gate will be smart enough to keep the founders involved.”
Hart, however, faces challenges ahead.
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We ate at the Scarsdale NY unit Sunday night. Our favorite casual place. Liked the small plate options like the iceberg salad. Prices went up 10% but hey this is Scarsdale. When I asked for a glass of water waiter tried to jack me into a bottle of Pellegrino. WTF this is not Mario Batali's! It's a family place full of kids. The water in Westchester County is better than Pellegrino anyway. If I wanted that BS I would go to Serafinas or Za' Za' for $22.00 mini pizzas.