Ex-Hooters Execs To Buy Twin Peaks

La Cima Restaurants, the Twin Peaks franchisee founded by former executives of the rival Hooters chain, is acquiring a majority interest in the casual-dining sports bar chain. Dallas-based Twin Peaks owns or franchises 78 restaurants in 25 states. Atlanta-based La Cima owns and operates 15 Twin Peaks locations across six states.

Terms of the deal, announced October 10, have not been disclosed. Twin Peaks CEO Starlette Johnson, who has held the role for less than a year, will step down following a brief transition. Joe Hummel, La Cima’s chief operating officer, will take over the top spot and report to Twin Peaks’ board of directors, which includes Twin Peaks founder Randy DeWitt and La Cima managing partner Coby Brooks.

Johnson will retain a seat on the board of Front Burner Restaurant Group, which owns Twin Peaks, as well as The Ranch at Las Colinas, Whiskey Cake, Mexican Sugar, Ida Claire and Sixty Vines.

Twin Peaks is the second Front Burner concept to sell a stake in the last couple of months. In September, Velvet Taco received a “significant growth investment” from Connecticut private equity firm L Catterton. Terms of that transaction were not disclosed.