SPB Hospitality, formerly Craftworks Holdings, has named Jim Mazany as CEOSPB Hospitality, formerly Craftworks Holdings, has named Jim Mazany as CEO

SPB Hospitality, formerly Craftworks Holdings, has named Jim Mazany as CEO. 

The former Joe’s Crab Shack and TGI Fridays executive replaces Marc Buehler, making him the third to run the company, which owns Logan’s Roadhouse, Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom, Rock Bottom Brewery, Gordon Biersch, ChopHouse & Brewery, Big River Grille & Brewing Works, AIA Ale Works Restaurant & Taproom, Ragtime Tavern Seafood & Grill, and Seven Bridges Grille & Brewery.

SPB Hospitality, an affiliate of Fortress Investment Group LLC, became the new owner of the 10 restaurant brands formerly operated by Craftworks Holdings earlier this summer.

Fortress was a stalking-horse bidder when Craftworks filed for bankruptcy in March. Hazem Ouf, who had been CEO of Craftworks since 2018, was replaced by Buehler.

SPB did not provide a reason for the departure Buehler, who previously served as the company president before becoming CEO.  

“SPB Hospitality has an expansive portfolio of well-known brands that have huge potential,” Mazany said in a statement. “We will build off the strong foundation of these brands and turn them into the industry leaders they deserve to be. I’m honored and thrilled to join the SPB family and I look forward to leading this company into the future.”

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