Food People Restaurant Group was founded in 1994 by Chris “Sully” Sullivan. What began with a single Alpine Bagel in Knoxville, TN has grown into a diverse portfolio of quick-service, fast-casual, and casual dining restaurants. Originally focused on non-traditional locations, the company expanded to operate a variety of brands across the country, including Freshens, Dunkin’, and Villa Pizza. The addition of Carolina Ale House in 2004 marked a new era for the company, with an increased focus on traditional restaurant development. That momentum continued with the additions of Crave in 2021, TakoSushi in 2022, and most recently, RJ Rockers and Streaking Birdies in 2026. Today we are based out of Columbia, SC, with a footprint that spans South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia. We continue to grow our family of brands and locations while remaining committed to the highest operational standards and creating meaningful opportunities for our people.

TEAMWORK MEANS EVERYTHING TO US.

We are a family and believe that we can accomplish great things by working together.

WE’RE ROOTED IN INTEGRITY.

We stay true to our core values — fostering trust and loyalty among our staff and customers.

CAROLINA HOSPITALITY RUNS THROUGH OUR VEINS.

We live and breathe Carolina hospitality. We build and nurture environments where everyone feels at home and welcome.

FOUNDER

Hailing from a lineage of entrepreneurs, “doers” and Irish Catholics, Chris was born in South Bend, Indiana, to the son of a Notre Dame football player. Both of his grandfathers were successful in the hospitality business, and spending time behind the scenes in their establishments as a youth motivated him to seriously entertain the prospect of ultimately entering the same industry. While pursuing a degree from Towson University in Maryland, Chris gleaned valuable experience working in food and beverage establishments. Following graduation and a brief tenure in the financial services business, he joined two friends, his college roommate and roommate’s brother and endeavored to create a viable concept in the food space. Together they launched Alpine Bagels, which they developed into a highly successful business enterprise with locations on college campuses from Boston to Austin. Building on that success, in the early 2000’s Chris linked up with LM Restaurants, the owners of Carolina Ale House in North Carolina, and secured the rights to develop restaurants and real estate in South Carolina and Georgia.

PRESIDENT

James was born into the restaurant industry, growing up in Columbia, South Carolina, at his family’s Lizard’s Thicket restaurants. He attended college at Washington and Lee University in Virginia, where he majored in business and accounting. After college, he accepted a fellowship from Princeton’s Alumni Corps to work in the nonprofit sector in Washington, D.C. Two years later, driven by a commitment to service, he joined the United States Peace Corps and served as a volunteer in Costa Rica, working primarily in the microfinance industry with Grameen Bank. Upon his return to the U.S., he began work toward his MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, during which he began his M&A career with an internship at Moelis & Company in New York. After graduation he joined Hargett Hunter, a restaurant-focused private equity firm in Raleigh, N.C. There, he contributed to the successful acquisition and subsequent management of multiple restaurant brands around the country. After returning to Columbia, James teamed up with Chris and orchestrated the TakoSushi acquisition.