AUSTIN, Texas and COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Hopdoddy Burger Bar, the popular Austin-born burger joint, announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Grub Burger Bar, the Bryan, Texas-based brand known for its signature burgers, hand-spun shakes, scratch kitchen, and craft cocktail bar, to bring a shared vision and craveable menus to more burger lovers across the nation. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
The two high-performing brands intend to capitalize on many complementary capabilities while rapidly expanding into new markets. The new combined company, HiBar Hospitality Group, is backed by L Catterton and will be led by Hopdoddy CEO Jeff Chandler. Grub founder and CEO Jimmy Loup will retain a stake in the combined business and join the company’s board of directors.
Hopdoddy, which has been part of the L Catterton family since 2014, is recognized as an award-winning burger bar and a unique, creative industry leader in the better burger space, creating fanatical followers nationwide. With its unique and compelling brand positioning, menu offerings, and superior, category-leading financial results, Hopdoddy is ramping up development and expanding in its core markets at a continued pace of 8-12 units per year. Hopdoddy currently owns and operates 32 restaurants across five states and is growing rapidly.
“We’re thrilled to join forces with Grub, a high quality and complementary brand that we have admired for years,” said Chandler. “We have much in common, from our team-centric cultures and commitment to people, to exciting menus and a tireless focus on the guest experience. We think very much alike and share a long-term vision, which will serve us well as we come together and embark on our next stage of growth.”
Founded in 2012 by Jimmy Loup, Grub currently owns and operates 18 restaurants across four states. Grub has built a successful brand around its scratch kitchen, featuring chef-driven burgers and sandwiches, handcrafted shakes, and full-service bar with craft cocktails and a wide selection of draft beer and wine. With its best-in-category guest satisfaction scores and online review ratings, Grub’s dedication to the guest experience has created a loyal customer base that has helped the brand grow to where it is today and positioned it for continued growth.
“As Jeff and I quickly learned after spending time together, we have shared values, objectives, and nearly identical operating philosophies,” Loup said. “For Grub, this is all about adding talent and expertise to our team, benefiting from new shared opportunities, rewarding our loyal investors, and moving back into growth mode again. It’s going to be a lot of fun growing together and bringing the best of both brands to our mutual guests as well as reaching a whole new group of burger fans.”
Hopdoddy and Grub now operate 50 restaurants combined, with 31 restaurants in Texas alone and plans for immediate, continued growth both in the Lone Star State and in other key markets. With Grub locations stretching as far east as Georgia and Florida, the transaction extends the company’s combined geographic footprint into an area of the country that is ripe for expansion. The combined company will focus on building up its team to support its aggressive growth plans, both organically and through M&A.
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