Stephen Starr

Stephen Starr is a restaurateur and head of the Starr Restaurant Organization. His honors include “Restaurateur of the Year” accolades from both Bon Appétit and Zagat. Travel + Leisure noted that “Starr creates complete environments with an artistic, almost cerebral approach.” USA Today identified him as “the ‘It’ guy of the city’s food scene,” while Restaurant Hospitality praised his “ability to take something ordinary and morph it into something so extraordinary that you’re dared not to stand in line for a look and a taste.”

A lifelong devotee of music and pop culture, Starr began his career at the age of 21 with Grandmom Minnie’s, a converted diner serving food by day and comedy by night, in Philadelphia’s Old City. He next opened Starr’s, a cabaret that featured then-emerging acts such as Jerry Seinfeld and Pat Benatar, and later Ripley Music Hall, a venue that showcased acts like U2, The Eurythmics, Cyndi Lauper and Bruce Springsteen. He founded The Concert Company to bring large-scale stadium acts to Philadelphia, and was responsible for many memorable shows in the city, including Madonna, Lionel Ritchie and George Michael. His company was purchased by Electric Factory Concerts in 1990, giving Starr the opportunity to explore the hospitality industry full-time. Early on, he opened Shake, Burger and Roll, a kitschy American diner; The Bank, a trendy dance club; and Cafe Republic, a Russian-themed caviar and vodka bar.

Stephen is the owner of several restaurants in Philadelphia, New York City, Fort Lauderdale and Atlantic City. All of these restaurants are part of the Starr Restaurant Organization.