Related Companies Hires Union Square Hospitality Exec as Restaurant Group CEO
Ron Parker, formerly the COO of Union Square Hospitality Group, joins Related to lead their continued expansion with restaurant brands.
NEW YORK CITY—As dining and food grow in importance as experiential retail, Related Companies has brought in the former COO of Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group. After more than a decade at the institution that owns and operates some of the most well-known restaurants in New York City such as Gramercy Tavern, Union Square Cafe and the Modern, Ron Parker was hired as the CEO of Related Restaurant Group, effective immediately.
It’s a newly created position. Related Restaurant Group is the restaurant and dining-focused enterprise of Related Urban, which is Related’s mixed-use properties arm. The development points to Related’s commitment to deepening its involvement in the restaurant industry.
Parker will oversee the management and curation of the real estate firm’s growing culinary-related businesses. These cross Related’s vast, mixed-use properties including the Time Warner Center and Hudson Yards, in New York; CityPlace in West Palm Beach; The Grand in Los Angeles; and Related Santa Clara, in Santa Clara, California.
Parker will also direct the company’s restaurant investment portolio, identifying investment opportunities and expanding restaurants both within and beyond Related properties.
“Restaurants are a key ingredient in the heart and soul of our properties—the cornerstones of daily routines, gathering places for milestone celebrations, and often the first introduction to visitors,” says Stephen M. Ross, chairman of Related Companies. He notes Parker’s new role solely dedicated to culinary experiences supports Related’s investments in this area.
“Related properties are synonymous with great dining experiences—restaurants from the world’s leading culinary talent that consistently deliver outstanding food and service,” says Kenneth A. Himmel, restaurateur, president and CEO of Related Urban. “Ron’s background managing and developing top restaurants from launch through geographic and category expansions will position us to continuously grow the brands in our portfolio and more advantageously support our culinary partners.”
Thomas Keller, David Chang, Masa Takayama, Michael Lomonaco, José Andrés and Costas Spiliadis are well-known chefs with restaurants in Related’s developments.
“The collection of chefs, restaurateurs and dining experiences that Related has curated across their properties is unrivaled anywhere in the world,” says Parker. “I am inspired by their commitment to community building in every aspect of the destinations they create and look forward to working with them to identify new opportunities to amplify and complement their hospitality brands.”
At Union Square Hospitality Group, Parker led the expansion of restaurants and businesses. He also oversaw restaurant operations, business development, facilities management, construction and catering. Previously, he was the director of operations for the Restaurant Associates’ Sports & Entertainment division, overseeing the US Open, Indian Wells Tennis and Breeders Cup Racing events.