Shula’s Restaurant Group Names Dave Shula as President
The leadership appointment signals a new phase of national growth for the restaurant group's six concepts.
Updated on Oct. 25, 2026 in People
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Shula’s Restaurant Group has appointed Dave Shula as President, tasking him with overseeing the company’s portfolio of six restaurant concepts. The group currently operates more than 30 locations across the country.
Why it matters
The leadership appointment signals a strategic pivot toward nationwide expansion for the 37-year-old brand. The group intends to leverage this management shift to scale its existing concepts and enter new markets.
Shula’s Restaurant Group manages six distinct restaurant concepts across more than 30 locations. The company, which has been in business for 37 years, is now focusing on increasing its national footprint.
The players
Dave Shula
The newly appointed President of Shula’s Restaurant Group and a veteran of the family business with nearly 20 years of prior executive experience.
Shula’s Restaurant Group
A restaurant operator managing six concepts and over 30 locations across the country.
The details
Dave Shula returns to lead the organization, building on his previous 20-year tenure as president. The group's operational strategy centers on supporting current franchisees while aggressively pursuing new site acquisitions for its six concepts, including an upcoming opening in Palm Beach Gardens.
Timeline
1989: Shula’s Steak House was founded.
1997: Dave Shula joined the family restaurant business.
Winter 2026: Shula’s American Kitchen opens in Palm Beach Gardens.
2027: The brand plans to enter the Thomasville, Georgia market.
Market Landscape
The leadership change marks a new phase for Shula’s Restaurant Group as it scales its brand beyond its foundational 1989 roots. This move follows a period of consolidation, positioning the group to compete for footprint in new regional markets.
Operators in the restaurant sector should monitor the group's expansion pace as it enters new markets in 2027. Increased brand activity in Palm Beach Gardens this winter will serve as a bellwether for the efficacy of the group’s updated growth strategy.
The takeaway
The appointment of a long-tenured leader to drive expansion highlights the importance of institutional knowledge when scaling multi-concept portfolios. Operators should track the group's performance in the upcoming 2027 Georgia market entry to identify shifts in their franchise development model.
Further reading
For more on executive leadership trends in the regional hospitality sector, visit People.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Thomasville Times-Enterprise.
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