Restaurant-focused private-equity firm Hargett Hunter has created a new full-service restaurant group and tapped an industry veteran as its leader.
Former Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux CEO Scott Taylor is now CEO of Cherry Bounce Hospitality, which includes regional concepts Trudy’s Authentic Tex-Mex, Cajun Steamer Bar & Grill and Live.Eat.Surf Restaurants.
Cherry Bounce is looking to add to that roster and is in talks with several brands now, according to a press release.
Organizing its full-service holdings into a distinct group will allow Hargett Hunter to pool its resources behind them and give them a single leader in Taylor, who has more than three decades of hospitality experience.
Most recently, he spent nearly 13 years at Walk-On’s, first as president and COO and then briefly as CEO. Before that, he had long tenures at Beef ‘O’ Brady’s and Shells Seafood in operations and development roles.
Scott Taylor. | Photo courtesy of Hargett Hunter
“I’m excited to join the Hargett Hunter family in this important leadership role as we focus on strategic expansion with our newly created restaurant platform,” Taylor said in a statement.
He added that he quickly aligned with the firm on its vision and strategy for Cherry Bounce. “They operate with an offense vs. defense mindset and invest the appropriate time and resources to drive success across each brand,” he said.
Raleigh, North Carolina-based Hargett Hunter has a history of investing in growth chains that have gone on to become national brands, such as Bojangles and Chopt. It plans to do the same for the concepts within Cherry Bounce.
“The opportunity to successfully scale authentic, differentiated and approachable restaurant brands has never been greater,” said founding partner and Managing Director Jeff Brock in a statement.
Cherry Bounce’s three inaugural concepts are concentrated in the South and Southeast. Trudy’s has one location, in Austin, Texas; Cajun Steamer has seven in Alabama and Tennessee; and Live.Eat.Surf has four in Wilmington, North Carolina, under the K38, Tower 7 and kBueno Mexi-Q Grill banners.
Hargett invested in Cajun Steamer in 2019 and the other two in 2020. The firm currently has one other restaurant holding, the fast-casual Asian brand Marugame Udon.
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