Shake & Stir Hospitality Group, the parent company of more than 40 chef-driven restaurant concepts across the United States, today announced an aggressive expansion plan that will bring its full-service and fast-casual brands to 50 new markets by the end of 2027. The expansion is backed by a $220 million growth equity investment led by Crestline Partners. ## Background and mandate The company will prioritize secondary metropolitan markets in the Midwest, Mountain West, and Southeast, citing strong consumer demand and lower real estate costs compared to gateway cities. Shake & Stir said the rollout will create approximately 6,000 hospitality jobs and include investments in workforce training, kitchen automation, and sustainable sourcing. "Hospitality is in a generational transition. Guests want experiences that feel local, but operators need scale to survive the cost environment," said CEO Marisol Aguilar. "Our model brings independent-quality dining to communities that have been underserved by national chains." ## Why it matters For industry operators, this is another data point in the structural change reshaping the markets sector. Watch for follow-on moves from competitors and reactions from key channel partners in the coming quarters. The first wave of openings is scheduled for Q3 2026 in Boise, Chattanooga, and Des Moines. For more industry intelligence built for operators, explore [Food & Beverage Magazine's coverage](/markets) and [our latest industry analysis](/markets/industry-trends). Have a take on this story? Drop a comment below — we want to hear how it's playing out in your operation. Written by Michael Politz, Author of [Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1)](https://www.amazon.com/Beverage-Magazines-Guide-Restaurant-Success/dp/1119668964), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.