The Venture Codex

Led · Equity · Nov 2016

Luna Grill operates a luxe-casual Mediterranean restaurant concept offering freshly cooked kabobs, falafel, salads, hummus, wraps, desserts and wine served in a higher-end fast-casual setting. The company emphasizes made-to-order food, daily-crafted sauces and marinades, and table service with genuine cutlery and tableware. Luna is positioned between fast-casual and full-service models, targeting consumers seeking convenient, authentic high-end Mediterranean cuisine. Founded in 2004 by Sean and Maria Pourteymour and headquartered in San Diego, the company operates 38 company-owned units across Southern California and the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area, with additional sites under construction. Management says the investment will support continued rapid yet measured growth and geographic expansion. Financial terms of the recent investment were not disclosed in the announcement. Luna Grill is a San Diego-headquartered fast-casual restaurant operator serving Mediterranean-style cuisine including kabobs, salads and wraps. The company operates 29 locations with another 18 in the pipeline for 2017. Luna Grill was founded in 2004 by Sean and Maria Pourteymour, with Sean serving as CEO. The company recently secured nearly $30 million in financing from CapitalSpring to support its growth strategy, with W Partners advising. Luna Grill relocated to a new 10,500-square-foot headquarters in Carmel Mountain Ranch after outgrowing its prior office. Nearly 40 employees are based at the new headquarters, supporting about 700 restaurant employees across San Diego, Orange, Riverside and Los Angeles counties and the Dallas–Fort Worth metro area. Luna Grill is a fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant concept headquartered in San Diego that serves wholesome, Mediterranean-inspired dishes in an upscale, inviting environment. The concept was founded by Sean and Maria Pourteymour about ten years ago with its first restaurant in Northern San Diego County. Luna Grill owns and operates 15 restaurants across Southern California and Dallas, Texas, and was ranked as one of the top national restaurant concepts in 2014 by Fast Casual Magazine. The company completed an over-subscribed round of financing from private sources to fund expansion over the next two years. Management says the new capital provides financial flexibility to expand methodically into new geographies while maintaining the brand's focus on fresh, healthy Mediterranean cuisine and quality customer care. Luna Grill is owned by Premier Food Concepts LLC and has an active pipeline with plans to reach approximately 30 locations by the end of 2015.