Award-winning Denver based restaurant group, Punch Bowl Social, founded by entrepreneur Robert Thompson, announced it has hired local chef Matt Selby to oversee the Denver culinary operations at both the Baker neighborhood and upcoming Stapleton location, and train new executive chefs from around the country as the Punch Bowl Social concept continues to expand nationally.
Contributing his leadership to the Denver locations and staff, Selby, a long-time, respected Denver chef, will work with the Punch Bowl Social culinary team to help open new locations of the restaurant. The hire comes as Punch Bowl Social continues to expand on a national level. With current locations in Denver, Portland, Austin, Detroit, Cleveland, and Schaumburg, Illinois, new locations of Punch Bowl Social will open in Indianapolis and Minneapolis later this year with five more locations in Sacramento, San Diego, Rancho Cucamonga, Chicago, and Dallas scheduled to open in 2017 and a Brooklyn location in early 2018.
"I've known Matty for many years and have always admired his creativity and ability to motivate his teams," says Thompson. “The timing of this strategic hire is perfect based on where Matty is in his career and where Punch Bowl Social is in our company's growth plan. Matty will play a key role as we actively expand our culinary organization."
"I'm thrilled to be joining the dynamic Punch Bowl Social team," adds Selby. "I've been looking for a 'work home' for a long time now and I know I've found it among the team at Punch Bowl Social. I'm looking forward to the tremendous opportunities and growth with Robert and his team."
Selby is best know for his nearly 15 years of leadership in the kitchen at Vesta Dipping Grill and as the opening chef at popular Denver restaurants, Steuben's and Ace. With the expansion of its team, Punch Bowl Social has also promoted former culinary director Sergio Romero, who joined Thompson in 2009, to regional operations director.
"When you're growing at Punch Bowl Social's pace, reorganizing is a bi-annual process," Thompson says. "We need Sergio's culinary knowledge disseminating throughout the company. Moving Sergio to the front-of-the-house is a statement to our culinary commitment, which will continue to grow with more exciting news later this summer."
Conceived just four years ago by founder and CEO Robert Thompson, Punch Bowl Social has quickly transformed the dining and entertainment experience. With an approach that focuses equally on food, beverages and games in a large-format, design forward environment, Punch Bowl Social seamlessly blends an upscale diner-inspired menu and fun, fresh bar offerings with a vintage gaming experience.
