Buffalo, N.Y. (August 29, 2019) – Delaware North today announced that Nick Valenti has decided to step down as CEO of its Patina Restaurant Group (Patina) and will serve as an external advisor to the global hospitality company through his company Simple Hospitality LLC.
In this role, Valenti will continue to oversee the completion of the space-themed restaurant that Patina is set to open this fall in Florida, along with assisting in contract extensions, identifying growth opportunities, working on special projects for Delaware North and Patina.
As part of Patina’s continued integration into Delaware North, the Patina CEO position is being retired and no successor being named.
A legendary innovator and entrepreneur in the restaurant industry, Valenti is acclaimed for creating groundbreaking new restaurant concepts. He brought fine dining to sports venues such as the U.S. Open, the Olympics and Grand Slam golf events, and raised the level of food service and catering at cultural institutions such as the Metropolitan Opera House and Brooklyn Botanic Garden. He developed the industry's most prestigious list of B&I (business and industry) clients.
Since being named CEO of Patina’s predecessor, Restaurant Associates, in 1994, Valenti has been responsible for guiding Patina through successive stages of ownership and helping create Patina as it exists today as part of Delaware North. Valenti had served as Patina CEO since he and Chef Joachim Splichal purchased its predecessor company in 2006.
He is Chairman Emeritus at the Culinary Institute of America, where he serves on the Chairman’s Strategic Advisory Council. He is on the executive committee of NYC & Company – the Convention & Visitors Bureau – and serves on the executive committee of Citymeals-on-Wheels (a relief organization to feed the homebound elderly in New York).
In 1995, Valenti was awarded the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association’s (IFMA) Silver Plate Award, the industry's premier accolade, for his achievements as an independent restaurateur. In 2007, he was awarded the prestigious TY Award by the New York State Restaurant Association. In 2011, he was inducted into the James Beard Foundation's Who's Who of Food and Beverage in America. And in 2013, he received a lifetime achievement award from Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE).
"I want to thank Nick and acknowledge the great job he has done as CEO to build Patina Restaurant Group into a world class organization," said Jim Houser, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Delaware North. "His hard work and years of service have made Patina what it is today – a leader in the premium restaurant and catering sector. I look forward to working with Nick in his new role and leveraging his wealth of knowledge and expertise."
About Patina Restaurant Group
Patina Restaurant Group is a bicoastal collection of 60+ boutique restaurants, catering and food service operations in the premium segment of the hospitality industry. The group is known for its unique and impeccable market-driven menus, exemplary service culture and outstanding beverage program across all locations. It offers distinctive, one-of-a-kind dining destinations in celebrated cultural institutions. The company has locations in New York, California, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Florida. Its portfolio includes the iconic four star Patina Restaurant, Patina Catering, Nick + Stef’s Steakhouse, Lincoln Ristorante, The Sea Grill, Morimoto Asia, and Via Napoli at the Epcot World Showcase. Patina Restaurant Group is a subsidiary of global hospitality company Delaware North. patinagroup.com
About Delaware North
Delaware North is one of the largest privately held hospitality companies in the world. Founded in 1915 and owned by the Jacobs family for more than 100 years, Delaware North has global operations at high-profile places such as sports and entertainment venues, national and state parks, destination resorts and restaurants, airports, and regional casinos. Our 55,000 employee associates are dedicated to creating special experiences one guest at a time in serving more than a half-billion guests annually. Delaware North operates in the sports, travel hospitality, restaurant and catering, parks, resorts, gaming, and specialty retail industries and has annual revenue of about $3 billion. Learn more about Delaware North at www.DelawareNorth.com.