LA JOLLA Calif. The 16-unit Sammy’s Woodfired Pizza chain said it has hired former Houlihan’s president Dan Clay as chief operating officer.
Clay also has served in executive positions at Houston’s Restaurants Inc., Cooker Restaurant Corp., S&A Restaurant Corp. and Catawba Corp., an operator of casual Tex-Mex restaurants in Massachusetts and New Jersey. According to Sammy’s, Clay has spent more than 35 years in the restaurant business, starting at age 15 in a St. Louis independent establishment.
As COO, Clay will be responsible not only for the day-to-day operations of Sammy’s, but also its sister concept, Roppongi Restaurant & Sushi Bar, and a catering business, Mosaic Catering. All are owned by the Ladeki Restaurant Group, also based here.
Clay apparently reports to Sam Ladeki, the chief executive and founder of Sammy’s.
Sammy’s operates casual pizza restaurants in Southern California and Nevada.
