Original Founders Rebuild Salad and Go After Bankruptcy Sale
The Salad and Go brand will be revived by its original founders after they reclaimed its intellectual property in a nearly $16 million bankruptcy sale, with plans to reopen Arizona locations swiftly and expand nationally.
A bankruptcy court has approved the sale of Salad and Go’s assets, including its intellectual property and over 30 restaurant units, in a non-bulk auction. The sales totaled nearly $16 million, with the chain’s locations divided among beverage brands Dutch Bros, 7 Brew, and Swig, as well as rival salad chain Just Salad. Salad and Go filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection earlier this year.
Most of the physical locations were acquired by Dutch Bros and 7 Brew through the court procedure. A smaller number of units went to Swig and Just Salad. The Wednesday hearing finalized the dispersal of the chain's former footprint.
Original founders reclaim intellectual property
The intellectual property essential for reviving the Salad and Go brand-including its recipes, trademarks, and logos-has been acquired by some of its original creators. The buyers are the Arizona-based multi-concept group Hospitality First Concepts, co-founded by Mike Myers and Tom Misitano, along with Daniel Patino, the salad chain's original chef and co-founder.
Tom Misitano was an original investor in Salad and Go. Mike Myers is a business partner to both Misitano and Patino in this rebuilding effort. The group secured these assets to lead the brand's comeback.
Plans for Arizona reopening and national growth
Hospitality First Concepts intends to reopen several Salad and Go locations in Arizona rapidly. Mike Myers announced the plan to reopen in Gilbert, Arizona, in a Facebook post on Wednesday, the day of the bankruptcy hearing. The group's immediate goal is to operate corporate-owned restaurants before making franchising available across the country.
Mike Myers said: "When I saw the opportunity to rebuild Salad and Go, I couldn’t pass it up." He elaborated on the partnership, noting Misitano's history as an original investor and Patino's infectious passion for his work. Bringing the trio together to rebuild the brand made sense, he explained. Daniel Patino declined to offer specific details but indicated more information would be revealed soon. The new owners expect to grow the chain and eventually offer nationwide franchising opportunities.
Hospitality First Concepts plans to reopen several Arizona locations "as quickly as possible."
