Bar & Restaurant Expo 2022

Mickey Bakst
Co-Founder and Executive Director
Ben's Friends


Maître D, foodie, fundraiser, philanthropist, career restaurateur, mentor, and Charleston ambassador –these are just a few titles bestowed upon Mickey Bakst. Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Mickey became interested in the hospitality industry after helping a friend check IDs at a restaurant in Newport Beach, California. By the end of his first shift, he knew that the industry–where he could focus his energy on hospitality and making people smile –was where he belonged. Mickey’s earlier career included time at Studio Café in Newport Beach; at Tapawingo, Pete and Mickey’s, and Tribute Restaurant in Michigan; and most recently and notably, at Charleston Grill in Charleston, South Carolina. As General Manager of Charleston Grill at Belmond Charleston Place from 2004–2020, he played an essential role in helping the restaurant become one of the most acclaimed fine dining destinations in the nation. Mickey’s passions extend far beyond the dining room. In 2016, he and fellow restaurateur Steve Palmer founded Ben’s Friends, a support group for members of the food and beverage industry battling substance abuse and addiction. The mission of Ben’s Friends is to offer hope, fellowship, and a path forward to anyone who struggles with substance abuse and addiction. The organization is named in honor of Ben Murray, a chef who took his own life in 2016 after struggling with alcoholism. With decades of sobriety under his belt, Mickey believes that there are countless members of the restaurant industry in need of help combating the effects of alcohol and drugs. Since announcing his departure from Charleston Grill in early 2020, Mickey has dedicated himself to Ben’s Friends and, in his new role as Executive Director, is focused on spreading the word about Ben’s Friends to existing and emerging chapters across the country

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