Looking to expand, Cafe Patachou owner partners with private equity firm

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15 thoughts on “Looking to expand, Cafe Patachou owner partners with private equity firm

  1. Hoping for the best, but we all know what happens when private equity gets involved. PE wants higher returns->more restaurants-> higher prices->decrease in quality.

  2. Martha has always tried to portray herself as a leading advocate for locally owned, independent restaurants yet you would see her at Ruth’s Chris and other massive chain restaurants all the time. This only confirms what a lot of people have known for years about Martha… there’s a reason she spends so much money on her PR team!

  3. I stopped patronizing her eateries after the second time watching someone scoop Smucker’s jelly from a tub into a tiny side container that they bill as their “house made jam”.

  4. Our community has been very fortunate to experience the Cafe Patachou restaurants and sister restaurants for so many years. Martha was a pioneer in offering healthy fresh food options. I trust they will do their best to continue their positive legacy in whichever lucky market they enter.

  5. Sounds like Martha is cashing out. Can’t blame her, but I don’t see why PE is needed for long term growth of a company that has been around for 30 years? You’ve proven you can grow the business, why give a PE firm equity to do something you’ve already done unless you want out? Again, nothing wrong with what she’s doing, but the communication strategy here seems disingenuous. Just admit you want to get some cash out of the business.

    1. She has had multiple failed concepts and locations so maybe someone else driving the bus isn’t a bad thing.

  6. Cafe Patachou is a pricey offering but delivers what people want, quality food, excellent service with a caring staff, and attractive facilities. Martha has contributed greatly to Indy’s restaurant offerings.

  7. Martha changed the landscape and raised the cafe bar in Indianapolis. The Patachou foundation does amazing work in the inner city using fresh foods as a way to rebuild communities. After 35 years, taking some cash off the table and having a long term vision, for the well being of the company and its employees is what a CEO gets paid to do. It’s hard to understand why a choice in restaurants you dine at makes you a bad person but that’s just a personal view. Yes PE can destroy companies but it’s hard to argue what Birkshire has done for so many companies including keeping leadership in place and expanding reach and growing success.

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