Sorges leave Hospitality Democracy restaurant group to start consulting business
Joe and Angie Sorge, co-founders with Marcus Investments of the Hospitality Democracy restaurant group, have sold their interest in the group to Marcus and have started a restaurant consulting business.
Hospitality Democracy has six brands — burger bar AJ Bombers, barbecue restaurant Smoke Shack, doughnut shop Holey Moley, Italian restaurant Onesto, contemporary-American spot Swig and the new Mexican-ish restaurant Blue Bat Kitchen.
The restaurants are in nine locations, with most having a presence in the Third Ward, plus two seasonal locations for AJ Bombers, at Miller Park and the Summerfest grounds.
David Marcus, chief executive officer of Marcus Investments, said the restaurants will continue to operate as usual. The Sorges are helping in the transition, he said, and Hospitality Democracy has brought on John Walch to run the restaurants. Walch previously was with Panera; his family operated the late Boder's on the River in Mequon, Marcus said.
The terms of the sale were undisclosed.
The Sorges' new project is Sidework Hospitality Consulting, advising new and existing restaurants.