Veggie Grill, one of the first fast-casual restaurant chains in Southern California to launch a vegan menu, has been gobbled up by a competitor.
Next Level Burger, a plant-based burger chain headquartered in Portland, Ore., bought the Santa Monica-based chain for undisclosed terms.
NLB’s co-founder and CEO Matt de Gruyter will also be chief executive at Veggie Grill.
“We’re not just writing a new chapter for Veggie Grill – we’re starting a new book,” de Gruyter said in a statement. “Veggie Grill by Next Level will mean all sorts of changes: organic produce, non-GMO ingredients and ensuring living wages for our many team members across the country.”
Veggie Grill got its start in 2006 in Irvine. With investors eager to support a new concept that leaned into Southern California’s health-conscious diners, it would expand to 37 locations at its height.
But new work-from-home habits created by the pandemic crippled the chain, which relied heavily on the lunchtime crowd. Veggie Grill contracted swiftly last year when CEO T.K. Pillan closed 12 locations, according to the industry website RestaurantDive.com. The chain, at the time of the sale, had 17 locations.
“Instead of trying to continue to manage units that, without office traffic, would not be profitable, we determined it would be a better long-term move to right-size our fleet of restaurants,” he told the magazine last September.
Pillan got help last year from VegInvest, an investment fund that saved the chain brand from bankruptcy in 2023.
Also see: Veggie Grill near UC Irvine replaced by Breakfast Republic
VegInvest has since joined NLB as “a mission-aligned shareholder and partner,” according to the company.
The acquisition means Next Level Burger expands to 27 plant-based restaurants from 10 in the U.S. The company has an auspicious goal to expand to 1,000 locations nationwide.
Pizza Guys opens in Laguna Woods
The Sacramento-based Pizza Guys has its soft opening Jan. 11 in Laguna Woods.
The local franchise at 23582 Moulton Parkway is run by Hooman Horbakht, his fourth Pizza Guys restaurant.
Horbakht got his start with Pizza Guys 21 years as a delivery driver.
“Pizza Guys has helped me achieve so much in the past 21 years,” he said. “I am so proud to be able to provide job opportunities and fund-raising opportunities to the hyper local communities of California.”
Pizza Guys has 85 locations in three states.
Volunteer mentors needed for Dragon Kim Fellowship
Adult volunteers are needed as mentors for the Dragon Kim Fellowship, an annual program that works with youth to help them pursue their passions.
The seven-month social entrepreneurship program awards community service grants to motivated high school students throughout Arizona, Californiaand Nevada. Since the program began in 2015, the projects of nearly 340 teens have collectively helped more than 35,000 people.
To apply to become a Dragon Kim Fellowship mentor, go to shorturl.at/hsIJ8
For more information, contact program director Amber Serafin at amber@dragonkimfoundation.org or 702.672.2059.
Jobs available with Project Independence
Project Independence is hiring. The Costa Mesa-based nonprofit works with the disabled and is looking for employees with a broad range of work experiences, including social services, education and finance.
Employment opportunities at PI include full and part-time positions with a flexible work schedule, a competitive salary, stable work environment, and a family-friendly culture. Openings are available in independent living, day programs and supported employment.
Find out more at https://www.proindependence.org/employment-opportunities
New collaborative space debuts
Orange County United Way on Jan. 10 opened its Varanasi Equity Workspace.
This facility will provide opportunities for organizations to meet, free of charge, to work on projects that advance their purpose in the community.
This year, OC United Way is celebrating its 100-year anniversary.
Nonprofit fundraisers merge
Orange County Grantmakers and Orange County Nonprofit Professionals Network have merged.
The union will help the combined nonprofit “leverage resources and align strategies to improve equity outcomes throughout the county,” according to OCG.
OCNPN has become part of OCG, joining a regional association of fundraisers who working to effect positive change in disadvantaged communities.
On the move
Financial adviser Steve Nassau and senior registered client associate Kristin Landis have joined UBS Wealth Management USA in its Irvine office. Nassau has 40 years experience in the wealth management industry. He previously was at Morgan Stanley where he spent 30 years as a financial adviser. Landis also joins UBS from Morgan Stanley with more than 10 years of experience.
Kelsey Morgan has been appointed chief executive officer for EverFree. The San Juan Capistrano-based nonprofit’s mission is to end human trafficking. Morgan previously was EverFree’s chief program officer. Her appointment as CEO means EverFree is now an all women-led organization.
Paul Tobin has joined the law firm Haynes Boone as a corporate partner in the firm’s Costa Mesa office. He previously was at Buchalter and is the third partner to join Haynes Boone’s Orange County office since September, joining litigators Elizabeth Weldon and Kevin Crisp.
Desiree Thomas has joined Irvine-based Be Well OC as chief operating officer. She has more than two decades of healthcare leadership experience spanning several prominent organizations across Southern California.
On board
Casey Riggs, Dr. Jorge Saucedo-Daniel and John Chiu have been appointed to the board of directors at Garden Grove-based nonprofit Vital Link. It works with youth on career and educational development in Orange County.
OC Grantmakers has appointed to its board of directors Julie Tomanpos, associate vice president of philanthropy and community impact at Wells Fargo, and Shirish Dayal, executive vice president of Tarsadia Foundation.
Status Update is compiled from press releases by contributing writer Karen Levin and edited by Business Editor Samantha Gowen. Submit items and high-resolution photos to sgowen@scng.com. Allow at least one week for publication. Items are edited for length and clarity.
