SquareOne Holdings

What SquareOne Holdings does

SquareOne Holding Company is a privately-held restaurant holding and operating company headquartered in Chattanooga, Tennessee, that owns, operates, and designs a portfolio of more than 11 distinct restaurant and brewery brands across nine U.S. states (Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Missouri, Iowa, Colorado, Vermont). Founded in 2013 by Allen Corey — formerly CEO of CraftWorks Restaurants & Breweries Inc. and co-founder/CEO of Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant Group — the company employs more than 2,000 team members and emphasizes authentic, made-from-scratch cuisine paired with elevated bar and craft cocktail programs, including a proprietary in-house artisanal ice program using 300lb purified ice blocks.

The portfolio spans multiple culinary concepts and price points: STIR (craft cocktail bars in five cities), State of Confusion (Peruvian/Argentinian/low-country cuisine), Massey's Kitchen (Mediterranean), Balter Beerworks (brewpub), Blue Fish Restaurant and Oyster Bar (high-end seafood in Jacksonville, FL), Carolina Brewery (one of North Carolina's oldest craft breweries, acquired), Strawberry Alley Ale Works, Top of the Rock (mountaintop brewpub), Riverdance (700-seat destination restaurant at River Gorge Ranch), The Mailroom, and Old Glory Restaurant & Silo Park. The company also operates the SquareUp Foundation, a nonprofit supporting community charities and a team-member Hope Fund.

SquareOne generates revenue through two primary streams: direct ownership and operation of its restaurant and brewery brands (one-time consumer transactions across dine-in and delivery channels, including a DoorDash partnership) and managed food-and-beverage services for hospitality partners such as Embassy Suites by Hilton Chattanooga and River Gorge Ranch. Pricing is set at the individual restaurant level and is not publicly disclosed. Marketing is conducted primarily through brand-specific websites, organic social media, and the DoorDash marketplace. The company is privately held, has not disclosed any external funding rounds, and is led by CEO Allen Corey alongside a team including CFO James Holland (joined 2017) and CBDO Jamie Walton (joined 2015).

Name

SquareOne Holdings

Legal name

SquareOne Holding Company

Website

https://squareoneholding.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Restaurant Operations and Hospitality Management

NAICS

Full-Service Restaurants (722511), Food Services and Drinking Places (722), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (722410), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (445320)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Retail-Eating Places (5812), Beverages (2080), Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)

akta.pro primary industry

Farm-to-Table & Contemporary American Restaurants (THAFACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Regional & National Breweries (THAFALAD), Packaging & Production Breweries (Limited/No On-site Service) (THAFALAB), Chef’s Table & Tasting Menu Restaurants (THAFACAG)

Keywords

• Restaurant operations
• Craft brewery
• Hospitality management
• Food and beverage
• Multi-brand restaurants

Headquarters

HQ city

Chattanooga

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Restaurant Operations: Direct ownership and operation of multiple restaurant and brewery concepts generating revenue through food and beverage sales to consumers
2. Food & Beverage Management Contracts: Operating food and beverage services for hotel partners such as Embassy Suites by Hilton Chattanooga, providing management services for their restaurants and bars

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

SquareOne owns, operates, and designs unique restaurants and breweries under a multi-brand portfolio strategy, focusing on authentic, made-from-scratch food and elevated bar programs. The company generates the majority of its revenue through direct food and beverage sales at its 11+ owned restaurant brands across multiple U.S. states, and additionally provides professional food and beverage management services to hotel and resort partners such as Embassy Suites by Hilton Chattanooga.

Product overview

SquareOne Holdings operates as a hospitality management company owning, operating, and designing restaurants and breweries. The portfolio consists of 11 distinct restaurant brands: STIR (craft cocktail bars in 5 cities), State of Confusion (cultural cuisine blending Peruvian, low-country, and New Orleans influences in 2 cities), Massey's Kitchen (Mediterranean dining on Lookout Mountain), Balter Beerworks (Knoxville brewery), Blue Fish Restaurant and Oyster Bar (Jacksonville FL), Carolina Brewery (craft brewery in NC since 1997), Strawberry Alley Ale Works (Clarksville TN), Top of the Rock (mountaintop brewery in Jasper TN), Riverdance (large-capacity venue at River Gorge Ranch), The Mailroom (historic building Clarksville), and Old Glory Restaurant & Silo Park (outdoor venue Clarksville). The company also operates the SquareUp Foundation nonprofit supporting community charities and team member crisis assistance. All brands emphasize authentic, made-from-scratch food and elevated bar programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• STIR: Craft cocktail bar and restaurant featuring in-house frozen ice program (300lb blocks), fresh oysters, housemade syrups and tonics, and made-from-scratch dishes. Locations in Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
• State of Confusion
• Massey's Kitchen
• Balter Beerworks
• Blue Fish Restaurant and Oyster Bar
• Carolina Brewery
• Strawberry Alley Ale Works
• Top of the Rock
• Riverdance
• The Mailroom
• Old Glory Restaurant & Silo Park
• SquareUp Foundation

Products and services

• STIR Craft cocktail bar and restaurant concept featuring made-from-scratch dishes, complete oyster program with variety and seasonal specials from around the world, housemade syrups and tonics, and an artisanal ice program using 300lb blocks frozen in-house and cut in multiple styles to complement cocktails. Locations in Chattanooga TN, Raleigh NC, Charlotte NC, Knoxville TN, and Greenville SC.
• State of Confusion Dining concept with open layouts, open-air patios, and multiple bars serving authentic made-from-scratch preparations blending Peruvian ceviche, Argentinian wood-fire parilla grills, and low-country fare. Cocktails feature draft margaritas and house-expelled sugarcane mojitos. Suitable for parties and group events. Locations in Chattanooga TN and Charlotte NC.
• Massey's Kitchen Mediterranean-inspired restaurant on Lookout Mountain serving lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. Features a made-from-scratch menu with artisan breads, full bar, chef's table, expansive outdoor patio with a large artisan oven, and delivery service to the Lookout Mountain community. Located in Chattanooga, TN.
• Balter Beerworks Brewery restaurant in Knoxville, TN where every bite and sip is crafted daily from scratch using the freshest seasonal ingredients. Space weaves urban aesthetics with the history of an old service station. Constantly refreshing food and beer menus to highlight seasonal delicacies.
• Blue Fish Restaurant and Oyster Bar High-end seafood restaurant and oyster bar in Jacksonville, FL (Avondale area). Serves fresh seafood and steaks with indoor and outdoor seating and two banquet rooms for special events.
• Carolina Brewery One of North Carolina's oldest remaining craft breweries since 1997, rooted in Chapel Hill. Expanded to Pittsboro in 2007. Distributes cans and kegs throughout the Carolinas with strong presence in major metropolitan and coastal markets. Restaurants serve brewery and classic Carolina dishes. Locations in Chapel Hill and Pittsboro, NC.
• Strawberry Alley Ale Works Craft brewery restaurant in historic downtown Clarksville, TN featuring chef-inspired food paired with expertly made craft beer. Mission to be a locally owned gathering place for friends to enjoy great food, beer, and times.
• Top of the Rock Mountaintop brewery restaurant in Jasper, TN (dba Jasper Highlands Brewery) with breathtaking views. Brews onsite and offers classic made-from-scratch fare and woodfire pizzas. Committed to brewing quality, well-balanced beers that are true to style.
• Riverdance Restaurant at River Gorge Ranch seating over 700 guests with menu including artisan pizzas, fresh salads, steaks, Dover sole, and chicken piccata. Located approximately 25 minutes from Chattanooga, TN with views of the Tennessee River and distant mountains.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2,000 team members employed across operations
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2004SquareOne invested and partnered with Gordon Biersch management team in 2004, working closely with Allen and his team over seven years. Despite negative market cycles, the Gordon Biersch team delivered excellent operating results which facilitated a profitable exit. Founder Allen Corey previously co-founded and served as CEO of Gordon Biersch.
• Embassy Suites by Hilton ChattanoogamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSquareOne operates food and beverage services for Embassy Suites by Hilton Chattanooga including happy hour, room service, breakfast on the 7th floor, with plans for rooftop bar and full-service restaurant in 2026.
• Carolina BrewerymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSquareOne acquired Carolina Brewery and provided customized training and operational systems. The partnership helped grow sales and profitability significantly within 6 months according to owner Robert Poitras.
• Von Trapp Bier HallminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSquareOne client operating a restaurant at Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vermont, serving fresh lager beers and Austrian lunch and dinner selections.
• Budweiser Brew HouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSquareOne client located in Cardinals' stadium in St. Louis, Missouri. Voted Open Table Diners' Choice Award in March 2015, features menu designed to pair with beer.
• Fox Sports Midwest Live!minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSquareOne client providing central gathering spot for Ballpark Village in St. Louis with 200-seat restaurant, VIP lounge, performance stage, and giant screens.
• Tengo HambreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSquareOne client in St. Louis Cardinals ballpark area offering Tex Mex fare with quality street tacos and on-the-go margaritas.
• Mondo's ReUnion BreweryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSquareOne client in Coralville, Iowa offering casual dining with beer, food and basketball in a casual yet fancy atmosphere.
• Von Trapp BreweryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSquareOne client in Stowe, Vermont with brewery opened in 2010 offering draught lagers for lodge visitors year-round.
• Uturn BBQminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSquareOne client in Lafayette, Colorado offering BBQ originals made in-house with handcrafted beer brewed and canned on premise, featuring drive-thru convenience.
• First Key ConsultantsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSquareOne client providing brewery consulting and malting expertise with independent evaluations and comprehensive solutions for brewery business operations.
• SquareUp FoundationminorOthersNonprofit operated by SquareOne that aids the hungry, homeless, and disenfranchised. Each restaurant establishes partnerships with local charities. Runs fundraising campaigns and offers Hope Fund grants to team members during times of crisis.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Texas Roadhouse: Texas Roadhouse is a large full-service casual dining chain with made-from-scratch food and a strong beverage program, similar conceptually to several SquareOne brands (Mailroom, Old Glory, Massey's Kitchen) that emphasize scratch cooking and craft cocktails.
• Darden Restaurants: Darden is a large multi-brand full-service restaurant holding company (Olive Garden, LongHorn, Capital Grille, etc.) and provides a public-market benchmark for a multi-concept restaurant management platform of similar scale to SquareOne's portfolio approach.
• Ruth's Hospitality Group: Ruth's Chris Steak House is a high-end full-service steakhouse brand directly comparable to Blue Fish Restaurant and Oyster Bar, and Ruth's Hospitality operates as a specialty full-service restaurant holding company analogous to SquareOne's upscale concepts.
• Bloomin' Brands: Bloomin' Brands operates Outback, Carrabba's, Bonefish Grill, and Fleming's — a multi-brand full-service restaurant portfolio including a seafood/oyster concept (Bonefish) that closely mirrors Blue Fish and an upscale steakhouse (Fleming's) that mirrors parts of SquareOne's portfolio.

Emerging players

• Kona Grill: Kona Grill is a multi-unit upscale casual restaurant and bar concept with a strong craft cocktail program, directly comparable to STIR's positioning around craft cocktails, oyster programs, and made-from-scratch food.
• PF Chang's: PF Chang's is a chef-driven full-service Asian restaurant brand where SquareOne Director of Operations Dennis Korn previously served as a multi-unit leader. It serves as a comparison point for upscale, chef-driven ethnic-cuisine restaurants like State of Confusion and Massey's Kitchen.

Direct peers

• CraftWorks Restaurants & Breweries: CraftWorks is the most direct peer: a holding company of brewery-restaurant concepts (Gordon Biersch, Rock Bottom, etc.) previously led by SquareOne founder Allen Corey as CEO. It is the operational model and scale benchmark against which SquareOne is most often compared.
• Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant Group: Gordon Biersch is a craft brewery and restaurant brand directly comparable to several SquareOne brands (Balter Beerworks, Strawberry Alley, Top of the Rock). It was co-founded by Allen Corey and is closely tied to SquareOne through a 2004 partnership with Hancock Park Associates.
• Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery: Rock Bottom is a brewery-restaurant concept formerly under the same CraftWorks (and prior Gordon Biersch) umbrella where SquareOne's CEO and culinary/training leaders previously worked. Multiple SquareOne brands (brewery restaurants with chef-driven food) mirror the Rock Bottom model.

Others

• New Belgium Brewing Company: New Belgium is a craft brewery with branded taproom/restaurant experiences and a wholesale distribution business analogous to Carolina Brewery's wholesale cans and kegs distribution throughout the Carolinas. Useful for benchmarking brewery economics and brand extension.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sq1holding

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Subsidiaries12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SquareOne Holdings