Craveable Hospitality Group, the restaurant group behind successful concepts such as fabrick, David Burke Kitchen, and JIMMY in New York City, David Burke’s Primehouse in Chicago, Aspen Kitchen in Aspen, Colorado, and many more, announced a new chief financial officer, Gary Heller, to lead their financial operations as the group embarks on a myriad of new business opportunities. 

Heller joins the team with over 20 years of operational, financial management, investment banking, and restructuring experience. Before joining Craveable Hospitality Group, he was president of Heathcote Capital LLC, a boutique consulting and financial advisory firm specializing in the restaurant, food and beverage, retail, and consumer product sectors. Clients of his included Il Buco, Good Times Restaurants Inc., Il Mulino New York, and Charlie Brown’s Restaurants Inc. 

“Gary is an incredible addition to our Craveable Hospitality Group team, especially as we expand our brand,” says Stephen Goglia, president and CEO. “Our growth plans include two new restaurants in the next year, further development of our quick service concepts at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, and in the form of Craveable Markets, and the launch of our first-ever shippable holiday dessert, the Piecaken. The insight Gary has to offer is invaluable.”

Before his involvement in the restaurant industry, Heller worked as an investment banker and restructuring advisor for 15 years. While serving as managing director at FTI Capital Advisors, LLC executing mergers and acquisitions, financial restructurings and other corporate finance engagements, he began working with restaurant groups. After advising on the acquisition of a 23-unit pub chain, Heller took on the position of Executive Vice President, Mergers & Acquisitions and Corporate Development at Terra Nova Pub Group Ltd. There, he initiated and executed the add-on of a 13-unit regional pub chain, developed, financed, and launched a new high-end pub concept in Canada, raised over $35 million in senior and mezzanine financing, and advised senior operations teams on strategic and financial matters.

Heller received a BA in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA in Finance from New York University’s Leonard N. Stern School of Business.