PopUp Bagels has appointed Mike Smith as Chief Operating Officer. In this role, he will lead the teams responsible for executing and supporting the brand experience across the company’s growing system. His mandate includes strengthening people, processes, and operational foundations so the brand can maintain product quality and guest experience as it expands.
Smith brings more than 20 years of restaurant leadership experience to PopUp Bagels. Before joining the company, he served as Chief Brand Officer at Moe’s Southwest Grill after previously serving as Vice President of Operations. Earlier, he was Chief Operating Officer at Taziki’s Mediterranean Café and spent more than a decade in restaurant operations leadership at Hooters.
Why this matters: PopUp Bagels’ appointment of Smith signals a stronger focus on operational consistency as the brand scales through a growing restaurant system. His background across Moe’s Southwest Grill, Taziki’s Mediterranean Café, and Hooters gives the company an operator with experience in brand execution, franchise support, and multi-unit restaurant operations.
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