Big Bad Breakfast, a from-scratch elevated southern breakfast joint created by James Beard Award-winning chef John Currence, announced the addition of Travis Grappo as Chief Executive Officer of the restaurant group. Grappo joins the group with over 20 years of experience in the restaurant industry, most recently serving as Director of Operations for Metro Diner, overseeing more 60 locations within the United States. Grappo will be responsible for managing the continued and sustained growth of the successful restaurant group and expanding the Big Bad Breakfast brand into more locations nationwide.
“Watching Big Bad Breakfast grow and seeing neighborhoods fall in love with it has been nothing but pure joy for me,” says Currence, founder of Big Bad Breakfast. “We’re at the stage now where we need someone to really oversee the whole operation and add consistency and an operational advantage to the group, and the moment we met Travis we knew he was the guy for us. He’s got the patience, the experience, the creativity, and the drive to be perfect for Big Bad Breakfast growth, and we couldn’t be happier to have him as part of the team.”
Grappo is an entrepreneur and restaurateur specializing in executive leadership of cross-state multi-unit operations, with expertise in managing companies and joint venture operations. Most recently he was Director of Operations for Metro Diner, where he was responsible for expanding the restaurant from 27 locations to 60 locations in just two years. In addition to his role at Metro Dinner, Grappo has experience from various nationwide dining establishments including Bloomin’ Brands (Outback Steakhouse & Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar), PDQ Restaurants, and RA Sushi Bar Restaurant. His work with Fleming’s earned him Wine Spectator Magazine’s “Award of Excellence” from 2007 to 2013.
“Helping to grow a brand with the quality and concept that Big Bad Breakfast has, at this stage of its development, is the exact type of opportunity I was looking for,” says Grappo. “I was already a fan of the brand and the culture the restaurant presents, but after being introduced to Chef John Currence and his Board of Directors, I knew now was the perfect time to successfully scale and amplify Big Bad Breakfast to expand beyond current locations.”
James Beard Award Winner, Chef John Currence, is the owner of City Grocery Restaurant Group consisting of City Grocery Catering Company which includes Main Event, Bouré, Snackbar, and the multi-outpost breakfast behemoth, Big Bad Breakfast. Big Bad Breakfast launched in 2008, with the rapid success prompting expansion of the chain in 2013, currently in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee.
