Founder Nicholas Stone to step aside and take the role of executive chairman
Nicholas Stone, founder and chief executive of Bluestone Lane, an Australian-inspired coffeehouse chain that operates some 65 restaurants nationwide, is stepping aside.
He is taking the position of founder and executive chairman and handing the CEO reins to Edie Ames, who has a track record of overseeing the sale of foodservice companies, and who will assume her position at the end of October.
Stone founded Bluestone Lane in New York City in 2012. At the time he was an investment banker who missed the warm everyone-knows-your-name style of coffeehouses in his native Australia and wanted a similar experience in his adopted home.
Ames most recently was CEO of Tastes on the Fly, which operates food & beverage venues in airports. She led its sale to retail and restaurant company Paradies Lagardère in July.
Prior to that she was president and chief operating officer of casual-dining burger concept The Counter, and oversaw its sale to MTY Food Group in November of 2017.
She also has held executive roles for Wolfgang Puck Catering, Del Frisco’s Restaurant Group, and Morton’s The Steakhouse, and spent 11 years with California Pizza Kitchen, according to a release announcing her appointment.
Stone declared the creation of his coffeehouse a success.
“It has been an immense joy to witness the growth and accomplishments of our brand, working alongside a dedicated and inspiring team, and seeing them thrive within our culture,” he said in the release. “From our humble beginnings as an idea to bring Australian-style coffee and café culture to the USA, we have expanded into 10 markets with 65 locations, with 700 teammates, best-in-class partnerships including with Hilton, 1 Hotels and NY Fashion Week, facilitating human connection and making a positive impact on the daily lives of over 150,000 locals who walk through our doors each week.”
He added, “Attracting someone of Edie’s caliber, expertise and success, is validation of what we have built and is a major milestone for Bluestone Lane. She is a best-in-class leader and operator, and her skills will complement our existing strengths while building upon our exciting brand positioning and platform for future growth.”
Ames will remain on the board of directors of The Cheesecake Factory, and said she was looking forward to her new role.
“I am incredibly honored to join Bluestone Lane, a brand that has not only pioneered a new standard in café culture but has also built an enduring connection with its locals,” she said. “I’m excited to work alongside the exceptional team to continue elevating the locals’ experience while driving the brand forward in this next chapter of growth.”
Stone said Ames was well suited to shepherd Bluestone Lane in its next stage of growth.
“With Edie joining, we are putting in place a structure that will enable us to accelerate our business for many years to come,” he said. “I’m excited to collaborate with Edie while continuing to lead many of our strategic growth initiatives including partnerships and international, while also taking the opportunity to explore some of my other business interests. I greatly look forward to working with Edie and the team over the years to come.”
Contact Bret Thorn at [email protected]
