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Building successful restaurant & retail brands is an Art... and a Science.
Concept Consulting is a full-service consulting and advisory firm which has earned national distinction for providing insightful, innovative and results-oriented counsel to our world class clientele across the Eastern U.S. and Caribbean. We execute our clients' growth strategies with deep market knowledge, experience and the discipline of powerful third party predictive data analytics.
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Meet our Co-Founder and Principal
Michael Pacini
A consummate professional with an unparalleled passion for and commitment to excellence, Michael is responsible for hundreds of expansion initiatives for a who's who of national restaurant and retail brands, including J. Alexander Restaurant Group, Ideal Image, Uncle Julio's, Primanti Bros., Anthony's Coal Fire Pizza, Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen, First Watch Restaurants and Baja Fresh, among other popular dining destinations.
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A sought-after expert on new market strategic planning, site selection, lease negotiations and architectural, construction and facilities management, Michael's 'modus operandi' is rooted in a disciplined, highly personalized approach to meeting and exceeding each client's expectations and unique growth and right-sizing objectives.
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What Clients Say
Andrew Taub
Managing Partner, L Catterton
The World's Leading
Consumer Growth Investor
Reporting to the CEO or CDO as an outsourced real estate executive, Michael has handled expansion assignments for L Catterton over a remarkable span of our investments including Baja Fresh, First Watch, Noodles & Company, Cheddar’s, Uncle Julio’s, Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza, Ideal Image and Primanti Bros. Michael is a dedicated executive consultant providing strategic market planning, site selection and exceptional contract negotiation skills with a constant EBITDA focus that has contributed towards enterprise growth. He is a trusted member of the senior management teams we have assembled. His investment diligence, emphasis on concept branding, legal and construction oversite, has been a notable value add for L Catterton investments.
Steven Harter, Chairman
Notre Capital
Founder of 8 NYSE Companies
We have known Michael Pacini since the fall of 1997 when we were in the process of taking Home USA public. Michael worked diligently to assemble over $300 million of potential acquisitions for the Company and went on to become SVP of Real Estate and Construction for the successor company, Fleetwood Retail. Michael's dedication and tenacious negotiation style made a significant contribution to the senior management team we had assembled for this venture. While we were in negotiations to sell Home USA to Fleetwood Industries, Michael devised an ingenious and cost effective plan that helped close the transaction.
Greg Dollarhyde
Dollarhyde Enterprise Group
Director, ExThera Medical
Director, Blaze Pizza
Director and Former CEO, Veggiegrill
Former Exec Chairman and
CEO of Zoes Kitchen
Former CEO, Baja Fresh
Catterton made an investment in Baja Fresh in 1999 and Michael handled market planning and site selection in the eastern U.S. as a consultant for both corporate and franchised Baja Fresh locations, significantly adding to the store count and revenues. He has been very dependable with ideas outside the norm, providing that extra advantage securing prime locations; and his strong negotiations skills have notably lowered occupancy costs and capital invested.
Phil deMena
Co-Founder and Chairman Emeritus, Concept Consulting
Former Chief Development Officer, Blockbuster Video
Former Chief Development Officer, Papa Johns
Former Chief Development Officer, Home USA
SVP of Development, Kenny Rogers Roasters
I first met Michael in the summer of 1995 while I was SVP of Development at Kenny Roger’s Roasters. Michael was hired as the Director of Franchise Development organizing the department in such a way that franchise development accelerated across the US helping to push the brand past 300 open locations. In 1997, I hired Michael as VP of Real Estate & Construction at Home USA. Subsequently, the Company was acquired by Fleetwood Enterprises, where Michael was promoted to SVP of Real Estate and Construction at my recommendation.
Michael’s management style threads the various disciplines required for a successful multi-unit retail or restaurant roll-out in a way that team members not only work better together, but more productive individually. His site selection diligence, attention to branding implications and construction management prowess is seamless.