Episcope Hospitality

What Episcope Hospitality does

Episcope Hospitality is a Chicago-based hospitality company that develops, operates, and consults on restaurants, cafes, bars, and experiential venues across six major US markets — Chicago, New York City, Boston (upcoming), Virginia, Phoenix, and Las Vegas. The company was founded in 2009 by David Morton as DMK Restaurants, rebranding to Episcope Hospitality in 2024 to reflect its expanded role guiding the conceptualization and execution of bespoke hospitality brands for world-class partners. Its portfolio includes 20+ sub-brands spanning full-service restaurants (Marshall's Landing, The Landing, Hearsay, One Steakhouse), grab-and-go cafes and coffee shops (Office Hours, Perks, Constellation), entertainment venues (The Exchange, DJ's Great Room, Motel Bar), markets and bodegas (Layla & Ringo's, Monty's, Proper Fare), and unique formats such as Daydrift Books & Cafe and Altitude wine bar/listening lounge.

The company's revenue model combines direct food & beverage operations, catering services (powered by TripleSeat and Toast Tab), private event hosting, and an advisory services practice covering visioning, strategy, business modeling, space planning, data & analytics, and operations execution for real estate developers, investors, and lifestyle brands. Recurring consumer engagement is supported by the Friends & Family loyalty program, which awards 1 point per dollar spent (10% back in credits) across participating locations. Underlying technology is standard third-party restaurant infrastructure — Toast Tab for online ordering and loyalty, OpenTable/SevenRooms/Resy for reservations, and Stripe for payments — with no proprietary AI/ML capabilities disclosed. Strategic positioning is anchored in trophy-class real estate developments with marquee partners including Vornado Realty Trust, JBG Smith, Hines, Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, and Morgan Stanley, supported by a management team spanning culinary, operations, revenue, strategy, and finance functions.

Name

Episcope Hospitality

Legal name

Episcope Hospitality

Website

https://episcopehospitality.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Episcope Hospitality is a Chicago-based hospitality company that develops, operates, and consults on restaurants, cafes, bars, and experiential venues across six major US markets, serving individual diners, corporate clients, and real estate developer partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Restaurant and Hospitality Services

NAICS

Management of Companies and Enterprises (55111), Traveler Accommodation (7211)

SIC

Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531)

akta.pro primary industry

Hospitality (Hotels & Resorts) Asset Management (BPAJAMAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialty & Entertainment Venue Property Management (BPAJAGAO), Luxury Hospitality & VIP Hosting (Tables, Bottle Service, Concierge Hosts) (HSACAMAH)

Keywords

• Restaurant operations
• Hospitality consulting
• Private event venues
• Catering services
• Cafe and bar management

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

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 revenue from food and beverage sales across their portfolio of restaurants, cafes, bars, and experiential venues in Chicago, New York City, Boston, Virginia, Phoenix, and Las Vegas.
2. Catering Services: Corporate and private event catering services offered across their restaurant locations, including drop-off and full-service catering options.
3. Private Event Hosting: Revenue from hosting private events, corporate dining, meetings, birthdays, and weddings at their entertainment venues across multiple cities.
4. Advisory Services: Consulting and management advisory services provided to investors, real estate developers, and lifestyle brands, including visioning, strategy, business modeling, space planning, data & analytics, and operations & execution.
5. Loyalty Program: Friends & Family loyalty program that tracks points, tiers, rewards, and redemptions across participating Episcope locations. Earn 1 point per dollar spent with 10% back in credits.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Episcope Hospitality develops, owns, and operates a portfolio of more than 20 restaurant, café, bar, and experiential venue brands across six major US markets. Beyond operating its own venues, the company provides advisory and consulting services to real estate developers, investors, and lifestyle brands covering concept visioning, strategy, business modeling, space planning, data and analytics, and end-to-end operations execution. It also generates revenue from catering, private events, and a multi-venue loyalty program.

Product overview

Episcope Hospitality is a hospitality management and development company operating a diverse portfolio of restaurant, café, bar, and experiential venue brands across multiple U.S. cities. The portfolio includes full-service restaurants (The Landing, Marshall's Landing, Hearsay, One Steakhouse), grab-and-go cafes and coffee shops (Office Hours, Perks, Constellation), entertainment venues (The Exchange, DJ's Great Room, Motel Bar), markets and bodegas (Layla & Ringo's, Monty's, Proper Fare), and unique concepts like Daydrift Books & Cafe. Beyond operating owned brands, the company provides advisory and consulting services for investors, real estate developers, and lifestyle brands. The company also operates a Friends & Family loyalty program across participating locations, offers catering services, and manages private dining and event spaces. The company was rebranded from DMK Restaurants to Episcope Hospitality in 2024 to reflect its expanding scope.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Marshall's Landing Vibrant dining hub on the second level of THE MART in Chicago featuring premium seasonal ingredients for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with craft cocktails and river views.
• The Landing Full-service dining, cocktailing, and coworking destination at Penn 1 in New York City, featuring seasonal menus and both private and public dining spaces.
• One Steakhouse Luxury steakhouse brand inside Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, led by brothers Michael Morton and David Morton, featuring three generations of quality in an upscale steakhouse experience.
• The Exchange Unique dining and entertainment venue in Chicago's Loop with a casual gourmet American menu, comprising four distinct spaces for dining, cocktailing, and private gatherings.
• Hearsay Multi-purpose dining, cocktailing, and socializing destination in The Esplanade in Phoenix's Biltmore neighborhood offering work lunch, private dining, and happy hour.
• DJ's Great Room All-day dining venue at 920 North Wells in Chicago serving breakfast through late night across River North, Old Town, and Gold Coast neighborhoods.
• Layla & Ringo's Modern bodega in Chicago's River North offering coffee, freshly made meals, pantry essentials, and bespoke gifts serving as café, market, and corner store.
• Motel Bar Classic Wisconsin supper club-inspired bar in Chicago's River North serving nostalgic Midwestern classics and timeless cocktails.
• Monty's Neighborhood kitchen in Chicago featuring coffee to cocktails bar, made-to-order deli and grill, gourmet salad bar, and market with grab-and-go meals.
• The Founder's Room Elegant private event space behind Marshall's Landing at The Mart with bar, private viewing screen, and Chicago River vistas for meetings and social gatherings.
• Office Hours Gourmet grab-and-go fare and coffee shop at Penn 1 and Penn 2 in New York City, offering hot and cold beverages, soups, sandwiches, salads, and snacks.
• The Perch Elevated urban oasis atop Penn 2 in New York City with weatherproof pavilion lounge, cocktail bar, and panoramic Manhattan skyline views.
• Water Bar Casual fine dining destination atop Water Park in Arlington's National Landing with seafood dishes, craft cocktails, and views of the infinity fountain.
• Water Park Community hub in Arlington's National Landing with two full-service restaurants, grab-and-go food stalls, and dynamic calendar of community events.
• Altitude Italian-inspired wine bar and listening lounge in Virginia with handmade pastas, regional specialties, curated wine cellar, and classic cocktails.
• Constellation Café and market in Virginia blending neighborhood café comfort with convenience of a well-stocked market, offering specialty coffee, made-to-order meals, and curated pantry staples.
• Daydrift Books & Cafe Combined café, market, and bookstore in Arlington offering fresh salads, wholesome bowls, artful tartines, smoothies, and book-lined seating.
• Perks Coffee shop in Phoenix's Biltmore neighborhood offering premium coffee from fine roasters and gourmet grab-and-go menu.
• Advisory Services Hospitality management and consulting services for investors, real estate developers, and lifestyle brands covering visioning, strategy, business modeling, space planning, data and analytics, and operations execution.
• Catering Services Catering services for meetings, celebrations, and events across multiple venue brands with fresh, thoughtfully curated menus designed for sharing.
• Private Dining & Events Private event hosting across entertainment venues for corporate dining, meetings, birthdays, and weddings with full sales and culinary team management.
• Friends & Family Loyalty Program Rewards program offering 1 point per dollar spent (10% back), 25-point sign-up bonus, with automatic redemption when paying in-store with linked credit card.

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• HinescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHines is listed as a collaborator on Episcope's advisory services page, indicating a strategic relationship for hospitality management and consulting engagements in real estate developments.
• Vornado Realty TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVornado Realty Trust is listed as a collaborator on Episcope's advisory services page. The Landing at Penn 1 and Penn 2 locations are operated in partnership with Vornado, demonstrating an ongoing strategic real estate relationship.
• Chicago BearsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChicago Bears is listed as a collaborator on Episcope's advisory services page, indicating a hospitality consulting or branding relationship.
• JBG SmithcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJBG Smith is listed as a collaborator on Episcope's advisory services page. Virginia locations in National Landing are operated in partnership with JBG Smith, demonstrating a strategic real estate relationship.
• TourmalineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTourmaline is listed as a collaborator on Episcope's advisory services page, indicating a hospitality consulting or branding relationship.
• Ritz Carlton ResidencescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRitz Carlton Residences is listed as a collaborator on Episcope's advisory services page, indicating a high-end hospitality branding or management relationship.
• JDLminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJDL is listed as a collaborator on Episcope's advisory services page, indicating a real estate or development partnership.
• Stream RealtyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStream Realty is listed as a collaborator on Episcope's advisory services page, indicating a real estate services partnership.
• 3 EdgewoodminorStrategic or Co-development Partner3 Edgewood is listed as a collaborator on Episcope's advisory services page, indicating a real estate or development partnership.
• Toast TabcoreTechnology or IntegrationToast Tab is the technology platform powering online ordering, loyalty programs, and gift cards for participating Episcope locations including Marshall's Landing, The Exchange, The Landing, Office Hours, Crush Pizza & Wine, Water Bar, Perks, and Daydrift.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Landry's Inc. Tilman Fertitta's diversified hospitality empire operating 500+ restaurants, hotels, casinos, and entertainment venues. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the multi-concept hospitality space, though much larger and more diversified than Episcope.
• Darden Restaurants: Public, large-cap multi-concept full-service restaurant operator (Olive Garden, Capital Grille, LongHorn). Comparable as a broad incumbent in multi-concept casual/upscale dining, but operates at far greater scale than Episcope.

Direct peers

• Tao Group Hospitality: Multi-concept hospitality operator of restaurants, lounges, and event venues in flagship real estate including hotels and casinos. Comparable to Episcope in combining high-end dining, nightlife, and event venues inside premium commercial developments.
• Boka Restaurant Group: Chicago-based independent restaurant group operating multiple acclaimed concepts (Boka, Girl & the Goat, Swift & Sons) with co-founder-driven brand portfolio. Comparable to Episcope in operating multiple chef-driven brands within a single hospitality platform.
• BR Guest Hospitality: NYC-based independent restaurant group operating multiple brands in mixed-use and hospitality real estate. Comparable to Episcope's multi-brand urban operating model with real estate partner relationships.
• Union Square Hospitality Group: Danny Meyer's NYC-based hospitality group operating Union Square Cafe, Gramercy Tavern, and event venues alongside a consulting/advisory arm (Enlightened Hospitality). Directly mirrors Episcope's combination of operating brands and providing hospitality advisory services.
• Major Food Group: NYC-based hospitality group operating Carbone, Dirty French, The Grill and other experiential restaurants often developed in partnership with major landlords. Closely comparable to Episcope's trophy-real-estate, multi-concept operating model.
• Patina Restaurant Group: Multi-concept restaurant operator specializing in venues inside cultural institutions, arenas, and high-traffic real estate (Lincoln Center, Barclays Center). Comparable to Episcope's model of building hospitality into trophy commercial and residential developments.
• Hillstone Restaurant Group: Multi-concept upscale-casual restaurant operator with locations across major US markets including NYC, Chicago, and Las Vegas. Comparable to Episcope in portfolio breadth across major US metros and premium positioning.
• Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises: Chicago-founded, privately held multi-concept restaurant group operating 60+ venues across multiple US markets with deep real estate developer relationships. Highly comparable to Episcope's model of operating diverse owned brands in trophy real estate developments.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/episcope-hospitality

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries24 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 Episcope Hospitality