Private Equity-Backed Restaurants & Hospitality Acquisitions

Expedition:Earth, a new Texas-based multi-brand operator, announced a strategic investment to acquire EXPLORE, Inc., a Steamboat Springs, Colorado-based luxury tour operator specializing in custom travel throughout Africa and select global destinations. Providence Investment Partners provided debt and equity financing to support the transaction, which serves as Expedition:Earth's inaugural platform acquisition under its buy-and-build growth strategy to expand capabilities, distribution and technology while preserving EXPLORE's founder-led culture.

4x4 Capital has acquired Bob Evans Restaurants, LLC from Golden Gate Capital in a transaction intended to drive long-term growth and operational enhancements for the family-style restaurant chain. Bob Evans operates roughly 400+ locations across 18 states with more than 15,000 employees; CEO Mickey Mills will remain in place while 4x4's Gustavo Assumpção will serve as Executive Board Chair.

Crestview Partners has acquired Tailwind Hospitality, an airport concessions operator, from Palladin Consumer Retail Partners. Crestview is investing alongside AltitudeX Aviation Group and members of Tailwind’s management; Tailwind will remain led by CEO Jeff Switzer and will pursue further organic and acquisition-driven expansion across U.S. airports.

StayTerra, a vacation rental platform backed by Garnett Station Partners and Bessemer Venture Partners, announced an investment in Vacation Homes of Hilton Head (VHHH), a luxury property management and vacation rental operator on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. The deal expands StayTerra's portfolio into the southeastern Atlantic coast and positions VHHH for growth leveraging StayTerra's technology, customer service capabilities and growth capital.

A consortium led by TriArtisan Capital Advisors, alongside Treville Capital Group and franchisee Yadav Enterprises, completed the all‑cash acquisition of Denny's Corporation on January 16, 2026. Shareholders received $6.25 per share (approximately $620 million enterprise value), Denny's common stock ceased trading on Nasdaq, and the new owners said they will invest in the brands, support franchisees and accelerate growth initiatives.

Kasa has acquired Mint House in an all-equity transaction, integrating Mint House's portfolio (roughly 22 properties / nearly 1,000 residential hospitality units) into Kasa's platform to create the largest U.S. operator of apartment-style and traditional hotels. The deal follows a $40 million investment from Silver Lake Waterman backing Kasa and is intended to drive scale, cost efficiencies and improved commercial performance across distribution, revenue management and guest engagement.

Private equity funds managed by Leonard Green & Partners acquired a 60% stake in Topgolf and Toptracer from Topgolf Callaway Brands, valuing the Topgolf unit at approximately $1.1 billion. Topgolf Callaway Brands received about $800 million in net cash proceeds, retained a 40% stake, and used proceeds to repay $1 billion of term loan debt while announcing a corporate name change back to Callaway Golf Company.

Wedgewood Weddings & Events has acquired five Atlanta-area venues — Primrose Cottage (Roswell), Flint Hill (Norcross), The Atrium (Norcross), Vinewood Stables (Newnan) and Natalie House (Lawrenceville) — from Magic Moments and is integrating the A Divine Event design studio into its model. The deal expands Wedgewood’s portfolio to more than 80 venues across nine states and brings local design and catering capabilities into its all-inclusive wedding venue offering.

H.I.G. Capital, through an affiliate, has completed the acquisition of Shore Excursions Group, the world's largest independent provider of onshore tours and excursions for cruise passengers. Founded in 2008 and headquartered near Fort Lauderdale, Shore Excursions Group coordinates over 4,000 tours across roughly 350 ports and has delivered more than five million tours via travel-agency and direct channels. Marathon Asset Management and Webster Bank arranged a senior-secured credit facility to support H.I.G.'s acquisition and future growth plans.

Atlanta-based Proof of the Pudding has acquired RS3 Strategic Hospitality, a Round Rock, Texas–based provider of food and beverage services for sports, entertainment and event venues. The deal expands Proof of the Pudding's national sports and entertainment footprint, strengthens its partnerships in Texas and other key markets, and preserves RS3's brand and leadership team.

Bain Capital has invested in Concert Golf Partners as Clearlake Capital completes its exit; terms were not disclosed. Concert Golf, an owner-operator of 39 private golf and country clubs headquartered in Lake Mary, Florida, will be supported by Bain's Private Equity and Real Estate teams to continue platform growth and investment in club amenities.

TSG Consumer (TSG Consumer Partners) has made a strategic minority growth investment in Pura Vida Miami to accelerate the premium health-and-wellness café's nationwide expansion. Co‑founders Omer and Jennifer Horev retain majority ownership and will continue to lead the business as it scales from more than 40 locations across Florida, New York City and Southern California.

Chicago-based private investment firm Uncommon Equity LLC has acquired Grand Rapids-based Project BarFly, LLC, which does business as HopCat, a regional casual dining and craft-beer restaurant group operating 12 Michigan locations and one in Lincoln, Nebraska. Financial terms were not disclosed; senior debt was provided by OakNorth Bank PLC and Rob Selati will participate as a strategic investor through Saxonwold Capital as part of the new ownership group.

Wonder Franchises, the franchisor platform of Tucker's Farm Corporation, has acquired Soccer 5, a small-sided soccer facility brand founded by Alan and Scott Georgeson. The Georgesons retain meaningful ownership and will remain in leadership while Wonder aims to expand Soccer 5's corporate-unit footprint and franchise system across the U.S., with a focus on municipal expansion and Southeast growth.

Proof of the Pudding, an Atlanta-based premium catering and hospitality operator, has expanded into the Dallas market by acquiring Gil's Elegant Catering. The deal brings Gil's off‑premise corporate and social event catering capabilities into Proof of the Pudding's national platform as the company continues geographic expansion following prior investments and acquisitions.

Eyas Capital has acquired BOJ of WNC LLC, the largest Bojangles franchisee group led by Jeff Rigsby, in a deal that includes a portfolio of 120 locations across six states. Eyas plans to expand the Bojangles footprint in the Cincinnati and Columbus markets and integrate the brand into its hospitality investment portfolio.

Birmingham-based Tacala acquired nine 7 Brew drive-thru cafes from Brew Team TN in Tennessee, increasing its 7 Brew portfolio to 31 locations. Tacala, a portfolio company of Altamont Capital Partners and the largest Taco Bell franchisee in the U.S., continues to expand its quick-service footprint while focusing on managing its Taco Bell and 7 Brew businesses.

Larsen MacColl Partners (LMP) acquired Mac & Bob's, a full-service restaurant headquartered in Salem, Virginia; the transaction closed on August 6, 2025. LMP partnered with long-time restaurant operator Dave Magrogan to manage and grow the business, and Generational Group served as lead advisor to Mac & Bob's.

Investment funds affiliated with Rhône have acquired Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers from Thompson Street Capital Partners. Freddy's— a fast-casual franchise with more than 550 locations and over $1 billion in system-wide sales—will keep its existing leadership as Rhône supports continued market expansion and guest-experience improvements.

McWin Capital Partners' McWin Foodservice Fund and TriSpan's Rising Stars Programme have jointly secured a co-control majority investment in FI Holdings Limited (Flat Iron), a UK steak restaurant chain with 18 locations. Piper, the prior specialist investor, is exiting; Flat Iron CEO Tom Byng will remain to lead the business as the new investors back expansion across the UK and the start of international growth.

Five Iron Golf has acquired the indoor golf business Golf the Green in Bucktown, Chicago and reopened the venue under the Five Iron brand, marking the company’s fourth Chicago location. The acquisition expands Five Iron’s local footprint and integrates a nine-simulator venue into its technology-driven, hospitality-focused indoor golf network.

Salt Creek Capital, a San Francisco Bay Area private equity firm, has acquired Infinity RRGB Ventures, Inc., the exclusive Canadian franchisee and operator of Red Robin restaurants in British Columbia. The transaction transfers ownership from longtime owner Sudhir Santos while keeping CEO Jamie Reeves and the existing management team in place to drive future growth across Infinity's 11 locations.

Breakwater, through an affiliate, partnered with BR Investments to acquire the 175-room Ramada Hotel in downtown Augusta, Georgia. The buyers plan a comprehensive renovation and rebrand into a premium soft-branded hotel, led by The Gettys Group (branding/interior) and Rabun Architects (architecture).

L Catterton has made a minority growth investment in UK restaurant group Dishoom, marking the business’s first outside capital. The funding will support Dishoom’s continued UK expansion and its planned US opening in 2026 while leaving day-to-day operations and the current leadership team unchanged.

Pacific General led a single-asset continuation vehicle (CV) for Naya Group LLC (NAYA), co-led by Kline Hill Partners with a meaningful reinvestment from TriSpan. The CV provides liquidity to existing TriSpan investors while supplying growth capital to scale the fast-casual Mediterranean brand nationally from its New York base (35 stores across multiple states).

Primetime Fitness, a leading Crunch Fitness franchisee backed by investor CapitalSpring, acquired 13 Crunch gym locations across New York and New Jersey from franchisees Carey Ave Development LLC (PacFit) and AD Fitness LLC. The deal expands Primetime's portfolio to 36 locations nationwide; the acquired clubs will continue operating under the Crunch brand and will receive upgrades and renovations to enhance member experience.

Fitness Ventures LLC has acquired three existing Crunch Fitness locations in Portland, Oregon and plans a $75 million investment to build 15 new Crunch 3.0 locations across the market over the next several years. The deal is part of Fitness Ventures' broader expansion strategy to upgrade or relocate smaller-format clubs into larger Crunch 3.0 facilities and grow its footprint in the region.

L Catterton, a global consumer-focused private equity firm, has acquired Kisshokichi, the world's largest Kobe beef restaurant chain, which operates around 50 restaurants across Japan. The firm will partner with founder and chairman Kiyomi Akagi and management to accelerate domestic expansion and explore potential overseas growth while leveraging Kisshokichi's centralized processing capabilities and strong unit economics.

Levine Leichtman Capital Partners (LLCP) has partnered with Shipley Do-Nuts management to acquire the Houston-based franchisor from Peak Rock Capital. Shipley, founded in 1936, operates over 375 company-owned and franchised locations across 14 states; financial terms were not disclosed and the company will continue to be led by CEO Flynn Dekker as LLCP pursues accelerated unit growth and geographic expansion.

Bain Capital North American Private Equity has acquired Sizzling Platter, LLC — a Salt Lake City–based restaurant franchise growth platform — from CapitalSpring. The transaction will support Sizzling Platter's expansion of its multi-brand fast-casual and quick-service portfolio (including Little Caesars, Wingstop, Jersey Mike's, Dunkin', and Jamba) and accelerate unit growth and operational capabilities; financial terms were not disclosed.

TJC, L.P. (via an affiliate of The Resolute Fund VI, L.P.) has acquired Wedgewood Hospitality Group, Inc. (Wedgewood Weddings) from Prospect Partners. Wedgewood, a Temecula, California–based operator of over 75 wedding venues across eight states with ~2,000 employees, will remain led by CEO Bill Zaruka and will use the new investor resources to support organic growth, new venue openings and operational improvements.

Thompson Street Capital Partners (TSCP), a St. Louis-based private equity firm, has acquired Bubbakoo's Burritos, a New Jersey-based fast-casual Mexican-fusion franchisor with more than 130 locations across 15 states. TSCP plans to support the brand's next phase of growth by investing in technology, brand development, infrastructure, and franchisee support systems; terms were not disclosed.

Therme Group and CVC Capital Partners announced a strategic joint venture, Therme Horizon, in a deal valued at over €1 billion that will see the partners become equal owners of a new holding company anchored by Therme Erding (Germany) and Therme Bucharest (Romania). CVC will also co-invest in the development of Therme Manchester, with closing expected in the second half of 2025 subject to regulatory approvals.

Orangewood Partners completed an additional growth investment in Motley 7 Brew, a leading 7 Brew franchisee and member of the Anchor Point Management Group family. The proceeds will support Motley 7 Brew’s acceleration of growth through acquisitions and new unit development across Ohio, Georgia and Texas; terms were not disclosed.

Roark Capital Group has acquired a majority stake in Los Angeles-based fast-casual chain Dave's Hot Chicken in a deal reported at roughly $1 billion. The founders and senior leadership will remain in place as Roark positions the brand for accelerated domestic and international franchised growth leveraging its restaurant portfolio and supply-chain capabilities.

Phoenix3 Holdings has acquired a controlling interest in Infuse Hospitality, a Chicago-based operator of workplace dining and amenity services. As part of the transaction Phoenix3 named industry veteran Paul Fairhead as CEO and plans to scale Infuse’s culinary-led, technology-enabled workplace hospitality offerings across its portfolio.

An affiliate of KSL Capital Partners has converted securities to acquire a majority interest in Soneva Group, the sustainable ultra-luxury resort operator. The move builds on KSL's initial minority investment in 2019; Neil Gallagher has been appointed CEO as KSL positions Soneva for its next phase of growth. Financial terms were not disclosed.

StayTerra, a vacation rental collection backed by Garnett Station Partners, has made an investment in Moving Mountains, a luxury vacation rental and property management company operating in the Colorado Rockies. Moving Mountains will join the StayTerra collection and receive growth capital, technology and service capabilities to scale its luxury property and yacht charter offerings while retaining its brand and leadership.

Dynamic City Capital, a Provo, Utah–based real estate investment firm, has acquired The Wilde Resort and Spa in Sedona, Arizona. The 137-room luxury spa resort expands DCC's portfolio into the lifestyle/destination hospitality segment and strengthens its presence in Arizona.

Jerry Pugh, the largest Workout Anytime franchisee, acquired a majority stake in the 200-unit Workout Anytime brand from founders Steve Strickland and John Quattrocchi and became CEO. The deal was financed with minority investments from private equity firms Skyline Global Partners and Peninsula Capital Partners, plus minority stakes held by Peter Stipher (Private Capital Advisors) and Workout Anytime EVP Randy Trotter; Strickland retained a minority interest and will help with the transition.

Castle Peak Holdings, the investment firm behind the Trailborn hospitality brand, has acquired Snow King Resort in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The 203-room full-service resort will be renovated and repositioned as Trailborn Jackson Hole to expand Castle Peak's outdoor hospitality portfolio and enter the Jackson Hole market.

Under Canvas, the upscale outdoor hospitality operator, has acquired The Fields of Michigan, a 30-acre blueberry farm near South Haven, MI, with 23 guest accommodations. The property is the first closed acquisition in Under Canvas’s new Outdoor Collection (which also highlights existing properties such as Bar N Ranch) and is accepting reservations for the 2025 season.

Tailwind Hospitality (dba Tailwind Concessions) acquired the Panera Bread concession at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport from Kind Hospitality, making Tailwind the majority owner and primary operator of all food & beverage concessions at the airport. The deal expands Tailwind's airport footprint and follows a 2021 recapitalization of Tailwind by Palladin Consumer Retail Partners, which has supported the company's broader growth and M&A activity.

An affiliate of H.I.G. Capital completed a strategic investment in 360 Destination Group and CSI DMC to facilitate a merger of the two destination management companies. The combined business will expand geographic reach and capabilities across approximately 46 destinations to better serve enterprise clients with end-to-end event, incentive travel and conference services.

Calera Capital (through an affiliate) acquired a majority stake in Nocturne Luxury Villas from Gladstone Investment Corporation; financial terms were not disclosed. Nocturne is a luxury vacation rental management platform with operations in St. Barth's, Grand Cayman, Telluride (CO), Cabo San Lucas (Mexico), Santa Barbara (CA) and Florida's Emerald Coast and is headquartered in Newport, Rhode Island.

Authentic Restaurant Brands (ARB), a Garnett Station Partners portfolio platform, has added Tavern in the Square through the recapitalization of its parent, Broadway Hospitality Group (BHG). The deal expands ARB's regional restaurant portfolio, bringing the platform to roughly $1 billion in annual revenue; financial terms were not disclosed.

Private-equity firm BroadPeak Capital (launched by Tariq Farid) acquired Rōti Modern Mediterranean out of bankruptcy in February and is transitioning the roughly 17-unit chain into a newly created platform, Edible Brands. The buyer plans to franchise Rōti aggressively, leverage cross-brand synergies with Edible Arrangements and Edible.com, and scale the concept nationally.

Funds managed by affiliates of Fortress Investment Group completed the acquisition of Loungers for £354.4 million, taking the company private. Fortress said the purchase will support Loungers’ growth plans across the UK; shareholders representing over 35.9% of prior share capital elected to retain equity in the new structure.

Direct equity investor Dolphin Capital has taken a majority stake in UK adventure park operator Zip World (valued at more than £100m), with Zip World founder Sean Taylor investing alongside. The deal marks an exit for LDC and will provide funding and operational support for Zip World's planned site openings and further expansion across the UK in 2025 and beyond.

Barry's, the global boutique fitness franchisor, has received a strategic investment from Princeton Equity Group to accelerate studio growth and support consolidation in the UK and Canadian markets. The funding will back expansion of Barry's studio pipeline, investment in product and operations, and continued development of its franchise and digital offerings.