Restaurant and hospitality leader The Briad Group announced September 26 that it has named former Palm Restaurant Group veteran Michelle McGuire as vice president of operations for Zinburger Wine & Burger Bar and CUPS Frozen Yogurt – That’s Hot.
“We are excited to add Michelle to the Briad Group’s executive team. Her primary role will be to build a management team that will successfully facilitate rapid growth with outstanding qualitative and quantitative results,” says Rick Barbrick, president and COO of The Briad Group. “Both Zinburger and CUPS brands are poised for extensive growth and her background and experience will help us build the infrastructure necessary to be successful.”
A 1992 graduate of the School of Hospitality at Cornell University, McGuire has worked in various positions with the Palm Restaurant Group for nearly 20 years. Starting as an assistant manager at the Palm Los Angeles location, McGuire quickly moved up the ranks.
In 1999, McGuire was promoted to general manager at the Tysons Corner Palm – the first female GM in the 73 years history of the company. Under McGuire’s leadership, Tysons Corner became a training store for the rapidly growing company.
Later in her tenure, Michelle was promoted to regional director for the Southeast, then regional director for the Northeast where she opened eight Palm restaurants. In 2009, McGuire was named vice president of European operations and opened the London Palm.
CUPS Frozen Yogurt – That’s Hot will open its tenth company location next month in Yonkers, N.Y. Additionally, CUPS announced in July the signing of eight new area development agreements representing 18 franchise units in New Jersey and Florida. CUPS plans to build as many as 50 company owned stores with an aggressive goal of 100 units within five years.
Earlier this year, The Briad Group announced a licensing agreement with Fox Restaurant Concepts to expand Zinburger. The Briad Group has the rights to develop Zinburger in all 23 states east of the Mississippi. With one location in Clifton, N.J., additional Zinburger locations will open in Paramus, N.J. and Cherry Hill, N.J. by the end of the year.
