Article originally posted in the Phoenix Business Journal on Nov. 5, 2026.

Sam Fox, the eponymous founder of Phoenix-based Fox Restaurant Concepts⁠, has left the company.

Fox, who departed on Oct. 30, plans on focusing his attention on his other hospitality and restaurant company, Author & Edit Hospitality, which is the brand he used to develop and run the Global Ambassador hotel in Phoenix.

Fox’s departure comes seven years after Fox Restaurant Concepts (FRC⁠) was sold to The Cheesecake Factory for more than $350 million. In an interview with the Business Journal, Fox said he knew that some point after the transaction he would have to depart, but he actually stayed a bit longer because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“It’s time for me to focus on things that I own 100% of and work on some growth of the hotels and maybe a few restaurants,” Fox said. “Also, its time for the team at Fox Restaurants to take the reins and show us what they can do.”

Fox started FRC nearly 30 years ago and grew it to 22 brands, with 170 restaurants across the country and had a team of more than 9,000 employees. While he has played a critical role in the development of the company, he said he’s confident in FRC’s future.

“I think there’s a really bright future for what’s happening at Fox Restaurants, but also at Cheesecake and all the brands that they’re going to own and control,” Fox said.

In his final years at FRC, Fox said he worked closely with leaders at the Cheesecake Factory around his succession. He feels like his brand will continue to be successful even with him not at the helm.

“We’ve put leaders in brands along the way,” Fox said. “We have a leader that’s been with us for over a year and a half now that is going to run the Fox side of the business.”

Earlier this year, a Cheesecake executive referred to the FRC deal as “one of the most successful restaurant acquisitions.”

What’s next? Plans in Phoenix, Texas and New York City

Even after the big payday with Cheesecake, Fox stayed busy with that job, but also with his outside ventures.

Author & Edit has grown a portfolio that includes the Global Ambassador, The Twelve Thirty Club⁠ in Nashville, and a location of Au Cheval in Nashville in collaboration with Brendan Sodikoff of Hogsalt, which just opend this week. Fox is also working on a new location of Théa Mediterranean Rooftop, the restaurant in the Global Ambassador, in Dallas, as well as another Twelve Thirty Club in Austin.

Find Complete Article Here: https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2026/11/05/sam-fox-steps-away-from-fox-restaurant-concepts.html