Garnett Station Partners, LLC (“Garnett Station”), a New York-based principal investment firm, today announced it has partnered with founder Bob Platzer, CEO Jim Fris and the management team to recapitalize and provide growth capital for PJW Restaurant Group (“PJW” or the “Company”), the parent company of P.J. Whelihan’s, the largest neighborhood pub and restaurant chain in the Greater Delaware Valley. Financial terms were not disclosed.
PJW was founded in 1983 by Bob Platzer. Over the last 38 years, Bob and his wife Donna, with the support from their team, have grown the business significantly and now operate 26 locations throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
“We’re extremely excited to announce our investment in P.J. Whelihan’s, an iconic brand in one of America’s greatest sports markets,” said Matt Perelman, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Garnett Station. “Over the last three years, we’ve worked closely with Bob and Jim to thoughtfully develop a strategic growth plan to extend the P.J. Whelihan’s magic to additional communities in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. We are grateful to Bob and Jim for the opportunity to further invest in this incredible brand.”
“Matt and Alex are aligned entrepreneur investors with a very strong track record of success,” said Bob Platzer, Founder and Executive Chairman of PJW. “I founded the first P.J. Whelihan’s in 1983 to not only fulfill my own entrepreneurial and culinary dreams, but to create an authentic dining atmosphere with deep ties to the community. In partnership with Garnett Station, PJW will be able to build upon it’s already impressive growth and achieve new goals.”
Garnett Station’s investment in PJW includes all 26 units under the PJW umbrella, including its namesake P.J. Whelihan’s, in addition to The PourHouse, a high-end gastro-pub, The Chophouse, a legacy high-end steakhouse, The Chophouse Grille, a casual steakhouse, Treno, a casual Italian and pizza concept, and Central, a taco and tequila bar.
About PJW Restaurant Group
Founded in 1983 by Bob Platzer, with the help and support of his wife Donna, PJW Restaurant Group has grown from one restaurant to 26 with six different dining concepts throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Though Bob’s first restaurant, Platz’s, eventually became the regionally renowned P.J. Whelihan’s, his original commitment to serving great food with good company is something that has never changed.
Today, the group’s esteemed hospitality brands include: P.J. Whelihan’s Pub and Restaurant, the casual pub and eatery which pays homage to Bob’s grandfather’s name; The Pour House, the neighborhood favorite for the best to offer in craft beer and unique pub grub; Treno Pizza Bar, a wood and brick-fired pizza bar offering authentic Italian fare with PJW Restaurant Group flare; The ChopHouse, a lakeside steak and seafood restaurant with an upscale yet friendly atmosphere; The ChopHouse Grille, a sophisticated, yet casual and approachable dining experience offering fresh seasonal fare, hand-crafted cocktails, and a well curated wine selection; and Central Taco and Tequila, a modern Mexican restaurant with traditional flavors and more than 90 varieties of tequila.
About Garnett Station Partners
Garnett Station Partners is a principal investment firm founded in 2013 by Matt Perelman and Alex Sloane. Garnett Station partners with experienced and entrepreneurial management teams and strategic investors to build value for its portfolio of growth platforms. The firm draws on its global relationships, operational experience and rigorous diligence process to source, underwrite and manage investments. Core sectors include food & beverage, health & wellness, automotive and business services. Garnett Station's culture is based on the principles of entrepreneurship, collaboration, analytical rigor and accountability. For more information, please visit www.garnettstation.com.
