Restaurant Brokers & Developers, Inc. was started by Joe Spinelli & Jim McGinnis in 1994. Combining Joe's experience in restaurant architecture, kitchen design, construction management and permit expediting, along with Jim's expertise in commercial real estate, property appraising, business valuation and brokerage, the two formed a company that covered everything concerning a restaurant from construction to resale valuation. Everyone that works for Restaurant Brokers & Developers, Inc. comes from the restaurant industry. With over 200 years of experience, the staff of Restaurant Brokers & Developers, Inc. offers a complete brokerage to service all of your needs in the restaurant industry. Whether it is selling, buying, or starting a restaurant from scratch, we are the team with a wide range of experience to guide you through all facets of the restaurant process. We have provided assistance to small operations (300-2500 square feet) and large operations (3,000-60,000 square feet). Our basic area of coverage is the Maryland, Washington D.C. and Virginia markets. Feel free to contact us with any questions regarding your restaurant needs.

About Our Staff:

Jim McGinnis
Joe Spinelli
Mike Meliker
Paul Zielinski
Brian Kotzker
Jim Alberts
Mala Belli
Troy Clayton
Garrett Glover

Jim McGinnis
Jim McGinnis has been in the commercial real estate business for 25 years, specializing in the restaurant industry. He graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in Communications. He went into real estate, selling businesses for a Business Broker in Bethesda, MD. From there, he began selling sites to fast food operations, gas/convenience store chains and retail development sites. His working knowledge of the Washington D.C., Maryland and Virginia area had his services in demand, especially for restaurant chains looking to expand into this market area.

Jim is a certified Real Estate appraiser licensed in the state of Maryland. Jim is on the Prince Georges County Financial Loan Services loan review committee reviewing business loans in the County. He has done extensive consulting for the Southern Maryland Small Business Development Center working with their restaurant clients developing business plans and sales projections. In addition, he is a recurring guest speaker at SBA seminars in the restaurant industry. He is also a NCAA basketball official and a high school basketball official in the Maryland, Washington D.C and Virginia area.

His knowlege of construction costs have been beneficial to his clients, especially for regional market rental rates and land costs. Some of the clients he has done work for include: Three Brothers Italian Restaurants, Hardees, Checker's Hamburgers, Canyon Creek Steakhouse, Jasper's Restaurant, Rip's Country Inn, Maggie Moo's Ice Cream Shoppes, Southern Maryland Oil/Dash-In Convenience Stores, Mongolian Grill, Cottonwood Cafe, Schlotzsky's Deli, Armand's Pizza, Kaufmann's Restaurant, Atlanta Bread, The Greene Turtle Sports Bar & Restaurant, Manhattan Bagel, T.J. Elliot's Bar & Grill, Flanagan's Irish Restaurant, Ledo's, Heroes American Pub, Mariners Landing Waterfront Restaurant, Galardi South Enterprises, McDonald's, Roy Rogers, Pusser's Pub, Chester's Steakhouse, Langway's Sports Bar, Delta's Soul Food Restaurant, Willie K's Steakhouse, Bennigan's, Rudy's 2900, Mrs. Simpson's , Callahan's Irish Pub, Henry's Soul Café, Irish Channel, Chef's Secret, Fast Eddie's Billiards & Restaurant, Raulin's Bakery, Red Ginger, Yin Yankee, Safari Steakhouse, Berk Motley's Sirloin Room, Waterfront Hotel in Fells Point, Dunkin' Donuts, Cheeburger,Cheeburger and Steak Escape.

Restaurant Brokers & Developers, Inc. believes that servicing only the restaurant industry benefits their clients by saving time and money. This premise provides the best use of Jim's experience, expertise and skills.
Click here to contact Jim McGinnis   [Page Top]

Joe Spinelli
Joe Spinelli has been in the restaurant industry for 31 years. After graduating from the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in Architecture Engineering, Spinelli opened his own business. As president and CEO, he developed the company into a multi-faceted business that included design/planning, sales, and consulting. He expanded the business by including a custom millwork company that manufactured bars and interiors; a refrigeration sales and service company, and electrical contract service company specializing in electrical contracting to restaurants and commercial businesses.

After 15 years in the restaurant-related business, Spinelli broadened his knowledge at a custom stainless steel manufacturing company, manufacturer of hoods and ventilation systems, in Washington, D.C. There he was responsible for sales, marketing, design, administrative management of corporation assets, accounting, NSF certification,

At Restaurant Consultants, Inc., where he is president and CEO, Joe renders a broad scale of services to clients in the restaurant and related business. Restaurant Consultants, Inc, -- an all inclusive business - provides expertise in food service consulting, architectural plans and designs, cost analysis, construction management, lease negotiations, site development and evaluation, business evaluation, permit processing, liquor licensing, and feasibility studies. Joe has completed over 8,900 restaurant related projects.

Clients include the small operations to the national chains: California Pizza Kitchen, Boston Markets, Starbucks Coffee, Hannibal's, Bertucci's, Chevy's, Fuzzio's, Cosi Sandwich Bar, Pudgies Chicken, Blockbuster Video, Benihana, Chesapeake Bagel Bakery, Wall Street Deli, Steak Around, Johnny Rockets, Armand's Pizza, The Bean Bag, Village Wharf, Tony & Joe's Seafood, Cottonwood Café, Chadwicks, Booeymongers, Kiari's Coffee, Original Pancake House, Maggiano's, Corner Bakery, Bagel Lovers, Burtucci's Pizzeria, Moctec Enterprises, Houlihan Rest. Group, Fresh Fields, Mr. Philly, Burger King, Pizza Hut, Einstein Brother's Bagels, Daily Grill, Burrito Brothers, Mt. Oak Methodist Church, Redeemer Lutheran Church, Brinker International, Ranch One, Hollywood Video, KFC/Taco Bell, Panda Express, Tony Cheng's, Fast Eddies, Fannie May Candies, Maggiano's Bakery, J. Gilberts, Baja Fresh, Buddy's Crabs, Yin Yankee, Xando's / Shiloh Church of God. Cosi, Safeway, Red Hot and Blue, Chicken Out Rotisserie, Potbelly Sandwich Works, Adat Shalom Synagogue, Sodexho Marriott, Cheesecake Factory, Jenny's Restaurant, Yellow Fin Tyson's Galleria II, James Lee Community Center, Ida Lee Park Recreation Center, YMCA, American Legion Post #177, Temple Emanuel, Wolfgang Puck Express, La Tasca.

Spinelli's affiliations in the restaurant area include: Foodservice Industry Council (FIC,), the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Potomac Valley, the Maryland Society of American Institute of Architects (MSAIA), the National Restaurant Association (NRA), the Restaurant Association of Maryland (RAM), the Metropolitan Restaurant Association (MRA), Certified Quality Assurance, National Sanitation Foundation (NSF), Certified Cook Chill Technology - Dietary Management Association (DMA), and consultant to the DCRA (Department of Consumers and Regulatory Affairs District of Columbia) review board for Health Regulations. He was selected to the Who's Who in Executives and Professionals for exemplary character 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001. Served as expert witness in various legal cases, as consultant for defendants.

References
Starbucks Coffee Company
Yum! Brands, Inc.
Cosi, Inc.
Friday's CFC Management Company
Quiznos Sub
KFC
Fogo De Chao Churrascaria
Agraria Restaurant
Armand's Pizzeria and Grille
Wasabi Modern Japanese Cuisine
Just Fresh Bakery Café Market
Chadwick's Restaurant
BLT Steak NY
Boog's Beach BBQ, Inc.
Moctec Mexican Products, Inc.
Brailsford Dunlavey
Catherine Purple Cherry Architects, P.C.
Central Michel Richard
Columbia Equity Trust
Alan Sparber, AIA Architect
The Heiserman Group, LLC
International Contractors, Inc.

Click here to contact Joe Spinelli   [Page Top]

Mike Meliker
Mike Meliker has been in the restaurant business for over 20 years as a menu designer and a licensed commercial real estate agent. His early work in the industry involved designing and producing menus for the top restaurants, hotels, country clubs and caterers in the Washington D.C./Baltimore area. They have all benefited from his sense of how to merchandise food with words and graphic design. Services provided include menu and wine list covers, menu writing, and food photography. His menus are easy to read, and go along with his philosophy that the menu is a resume of the owner/chef and should reflect the theme and mission of the restaurant. He has developed several design techniques to help lessen customer price discrimination and has increased check averages for many of his clients. Over the years, Mike's clients have included Gifford's Ice Cream, Obee's Franchise Systems Inc., Shelby's BBQ, Delta's, Hama Sushi, Anita's, Bardia's New Orleans Café, Siena's, Marcel's, Grevey's, Zanzibar, Tel Aviv Café, Faryab, Bice, Soho Café and Market, Tiberio, Tragara, Mel Krupin's, Joe and Mo's, The Occidental, Sam and Harry's, The American Café, Chardonnay, Hinode, and Matuba. Mike graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in communications.
Click here to contact Mike Meliker   [Page Top]

Paul Zielinski
Paul Zielinski has been in the food service industry for 26 years. He has held positions in development, operations, and management. Paul has a unique blend of experience and accomplishments - having worked for Fortune 500 companies on the corporate side, and also as a franchisee, franchiser, and in private entrepreneurial ventures. He began his career working through high school and college for Stouffer's Restaurants. He then joined Quaker Oats Restaurant Division where he held key management positions for nine years. Paul then teamed with PepsiCo, Taco Bell Corporation as an area manager. During his seven years with this company he was responsible for development and operational accountability for the Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Richmond, and Tidewater areas. Throughout his tenure the unit volumes and rate of store openings in Paul's jurisdiction were the highest in the Taco Bell system. Zielinski became President, CEO and General Partner for Capitol Restaurant Group, L.P., where he opened and managed 15 Boston Market restaurants as an independent franchisee before merging with another group. Paul became Chief Operating Officer and partner in Burrito Brothers, a local fresh-mex restaurant chain refining and expanding the concept to 10 additional locations. His experience as a franchiser came as Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer for Maggie Moo's Ice Cream International, from 1997 to 2000, where he was instrumental in positioning the company for its current explosive national/international growth. Paul also served as Vice President East Coast for Fresh Enterprises, introducing the first five company owned Baja Fresh Mexican Grills to the Washington D.C./Baltimore area. His array of experience has developed his skills in the entire restaurant life cycle: real estate/ leasing/design& construction/permitting/pre and post opening activities and daily operations. Paul earned a degree in business from Ohio University.
Click here to contact Paul Zielinski   [Page Top]

Brian Kotzker
Brian is an experienced Attorney, C.P.A and Real Estate Broker, who specializes in the areas of commercial leasing, landlord/tenant matters, business law and commercial transactions. Brian has served as a legal counsel to a variety of businesses including retailers, restaurants, management companies and real estate developers. He is also experienced in representing restaurants with liquor license issues in Maryland.

Brian has negotiated and drafted hundreds of retail and restaurant leases on behalf of both landlords and tenants. He has helped his clients choose the appropriate entity for their enterprise, such as sole proprietorship, partnership, Limited Liability Company and corporation and then provides contract review and preparation services and other general business advice. Brian previously worked for Site Works representing many clients as a Tenant Representative. Brian became a licensed Certified Public Accountant in 1984 and has been a licensed Real Estate Broker since 1993, handling Commercial & Residential transactions. His expertise includes site selection, lease negotiation and feasibility studies for his clients. He is admitted to practice law in Maryland & the District of Columbia.

Some of his clients have included are McDonald's, Burger King, Red Lobster, Chevy's Fresh Mex, Hooters, Dunkin Donuts, Baskin Robbins, Togo Sandwiches, Cosi, Levante, Austin Grill, Mongolian BarBQ, Alladin's Eatery, Quartermaine Coffee Roasters, Tropical Smoothie Café, MegaWraps, Burrito Brothers, Three Brothers Pizza, 7 Restaurant, Julliano's Brick Oven Pizza, Steak Around & Yin Yankee.
Click here to contact Brian Kotzker   [Page Top]

Jim Alberts
Jim has been in the Restaurant Industry for over 22 years - 15 of those years in restaurant management. Jim was Vice President of Operations at Austin's Steaks & Saloon, responsible for developing growth for the Nebraska chain. Prior to that, Jim was in management with LoneStar Steakhouse in Kansas, spearheading the opening of ten new restaurants. He has designed and opened dozens of restaurants with staffs of 15 people to over 100 people. Jim's experience in strategic planning for multi unit growth led him to Poll Restaurant Group in New York as Director of Operations. Jim brings an operator's viewpoint to Restaurant Brokers & Developers, Inc., to guide chain restaurants and independent restaurants looking to grow in the Mid-Atlantic area. Jim graduated from the University of Denver with a degree in Hotel Restaurant Management.
Click here to contact Dennis Miller   [Page Top]

Mala Belli
Mala is one of those people that was raised in the restaurant industry. Born in Thailand and the daughter of restaurateurs, she is well versed in the back of the house as well as the front. She is a certified Chef and is knowledgeable in Asian, French, European, Thai and American cuisine. Her cooking classes are renowned throughout the Washington area. She has owned two restaurants in the Maryland area; Bangkok Delight (Thai Restaurant) and Chef's Secret (Fine dining) and has received critical acclaim for her specialty recipes. Having sold these restaurants, she has been in demand for her knowledge of the art of "Fine Dining". Mala looks forward to helping you find the right business for your specifications.
Click here to contact Mala Belli   [Page Top]

Troy Clayton
Troy Clayton has been in the restaurant business for 20 years in four countries as a chef, operations director and owner operator. Troy spent 7 years working in Italy, France, and the UK training under world-class chefs and opened four restaurants as Executive Chef with television celebrity Chef Anthony Worrall Thompson. His interest in world cuisine has led to travels in Thailand, Korea, and Central America.

In 1993 Troy Clayton moved back to the United States to work with Jean Louis Palladin as Executive Chef of Resto des Amis, Palladin's Atlanta, Georgia restaurant, which was nationally acclaimed as one of the country's top ten restaurants according to Esquire magazine. Upon his return to The Nation's Capital, he rejoined Palladin at the Watergate Hotel's Palladin restaurant.

In 1994 he stepped out from under the wings of 'celebrity chefs' to become the Executive Chef of Market Street Bar and Grill, rated by Washingtonian magazine as a "Two Star" restaurant as well as being featured on the "Top One Hundred" list. Following this position Clayton became a founding and operating partner for Steak Around, Inc., a restaurant delivery company, in 1996. Troy managed the concept development, franchisee relationships, while developing and operating company owned units.

In 1998, he returned to the kitchen as the Chef & Owner of Geranio Restaurant, a landmark restaurant on King St. in Old Town Alexandria. (www.geranio.net) Troy Clayton and Geranio have received accolades from The Washington Post, Washingtonian Magazine, Zagat Guide, Mobile Travel Guide, Washington Flyer Magazine and boasts a Wine Spectator Award Winning Wine list.

Troy brings operational skills for both the back of the house as well as the front. His expertise with menu development, implementation of restaurant design, marketing and operations put him in high demand for clients who need a complete package in starting a restaurant. His history with Franchise systems help you make the right choice in selecting a concept that works for you & your group. .
Click here to contact Troy Clayton   [Page Top]

Garrett Glover
J. Garrett Glover's career in the Restaurant/Hospitality industry consists of a spectrum of credentials, including work as a Maitre d' in formal French service, floor manager, General Manager, Corporate Director of Employee Training and Development, Corporate Operations Manager, and Independent Consultant in restaurant development, organizational structure, management systems, and customer service. During his career, Glover has overseen or consulted for a variety of concepts, including fine-dining and formal, American restaurant and bar, nightclubs, pizza/pasta sit-downs, and urban upscale dining.

Glover spent most of his career in management with the Clyde's Restaurant Group, principally as Corporate Operations Manager, and returning subsequently as a Consultant to open new CRG restaurants and evaluate operations and management practices.

As a Consultant, Glover has been contracted by numerous restaurants, country clubs and government agencies to provide assessments and consultation for start-ups and renovations, functional design and facility layout, interior decoration, organizational structure, management methods and practices, value-oriented customer service/relations procedures, service training and employee development, operations and service assessments, and Human Resource initiatives. Among Glover's past and current clients: Montgomery County Department of Economic Development, The Old Ebbitt Grill, The 1789 Restaurant, New Heights, American Cafe, Wolensky's, Army Navy Country Club, Just Lobsters (UK), Chicken Out Rotisserie and a start-up New American restaurant concept in Silver Spring, MD.

Glover has developed and written a number of operational white papers and manuals, including service and management manuals, harassment and discrimination policies and workbooks as well as strategic plans and programs for insurance and disabilities (ADA) compliance. Additionally, Glover has conducted educational and training sessions and workshops in customer service, management methods, HR-specific conflict resolution, Time Management and OMM techniques.

Glover received a Ph.D. from New York University and taught graduate and professional level courses at Columbia University, liberal arts courses at The Corcoran College of Art, and journalism at George Washington University. Not only did Glover teach these courses, but also authored their content and, at Columbia and the Corcoran, designed and implemented multi-tiered curricula for advanced academic and professional studies.
Click here to contact Garrett Glover   [Page Top]