Bar & Restaurant Expo 2022

Mark Gray
Chief Operating Officer & President
Bottleneck Management Restaurant Group


Mark Gray is the President and Chief Operating Officer of Bottleneck Management, the parent company of City Works, Old Town Pour House, Sweetwater and South Branch. He joined the Bottleneck Management team in June of 2019 after being the former CEO of Barfly Ventures.

His 24-year career in the restaurant industry began in the kitchen after attending culinary school at The Art Institute of Atlanta.

Soon after, Mark stepped into management roles at Brinker International, working at both On the Border and Chills. Here, he worked his way from Executive Kitchen Manager to General Manager and eventually to Managing Partner. Mark later joined Yard House where he served a variety of management roles over nine years including, General Manager, Regional Manager and Director of Operations.
Mark has opened over 30 restaurants in his career and is leading Bottleneck’s ongoing expansion including innovative virtual brands like Rebel’s Hot Chicken and Secret Sauce Barbeque.

In addition to overseeing new initiatives and the strategic goals of the organization, Mark continues to support the restaurant industry as a Board Member for Live.Eat.Surf. Restaurant Group.

Outside of work, Mark enjoys spending time with his wife of over 20 years and their three beautiful children.

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