Jeffrey K. Hoffmann has joined A&G Real Estate Partners as a senior managing director and head of the firm’s restaurant division.
“Jeff is a trusted strategic partner with broad experience and extensive relationships in the restaurant business,” said Andy Graiser, co-president of Melville, NY-headquartered A&G. “He brings strong leadership to our deep bench of experts in this industry. We are very excited to welcome Jeff to the team at A&G.”
Over the past 26 years, Hoffmann, who will be based in the firm’s Chicago office, has advised and financed hundreds of restaurant operators of all types and sizes. Those names include Dave & Buster’s, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Taco Bell, Wendy’s, Burger King, Jack In the Box, Pizza Hut, Popeyes, Denny’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, TGI Fridays and Applebee’s, to name a few. Hoffmann has also worked extensively with many regional operators in his career.
His role will include assisting A&G’s clients with store-optimization plans and occupancy-cost reductions.
Hoffmann comes to A&G after serving as vice president of the Franchise Finance Group at CIT Bank in Chicago. He previously cofounded and led the restaurant, franchise and beverage corporate banking group at Fifth Third Bank, also in Chicago, to become a premier banking partner.
Hoffmann’s professional career began in equipment leasing. In 1993 he was introduced to restaurant and franchise lending with the acceptance of a vice president role with a division of Sanwa Business Credit in Chicago. Subsequently, he held vice president roles and was instrumental in building the restaurant business with Peachtree Franchise Finance and Merrill Lynch Capital, both in Chicago. As a managing director with Green Oaks Capital, Hoffmann provided capital solutions to middle-market companies in the franchise, restaurant and c-store sectors. At PNC Bank, he held the position of vice president, Term Lead Credit Products. While in this role, he provided strategic insight, guidance and counsel to bank customers and was the bank’s restaurant industry expert.
