Pasadena Chef Named VP of Kentucky-based Fast-Casual Restaurant Chain

Green District, a Louisville, Kentucky-based fast-casual concept with five locations, has hired Chef Rob Rice, a Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts graduate and a former chef in Old Pasadena, as vice president of operations and salad innovation. 

Rice, who served as chef-partner at Kings Row Gastropub on Colorado Boulevard, spent his early career as a corporate culinary trainer and executive chef for Wolfgang Puck Worldwide, where he worked alongside Puck, according to a company press release.

Rice, according to a report appearing at fastcasual.com, has assisted in the launch of nearly two dozen restaurants in four countries, including Alma Nove (Boston), Cha Cha’s (Los Angeles), and Yamashiro Hollywood. He has spent the last three years working as director of operations for Louisville’s Belle Noble Entertainment Group.

“Rob is joining the Green District team during a pivotal period of growth, and he’s exactly the right person to usher the brand into a new era,” Jordan Doepke, co-founder and CEO of Green District, said. “He shares our vision for Green District, and I know our restaurants will thrive under his leadership.”

Rice’s top priorities are to propel Green District’s food innovation while building the infrastructure necessary to support the company’s expansion, the result of a strategic private equity investment from The Castellan Group. The investment will bolster the restaurant’s expansion plan over the next five years, including a new Louisville location in Middletown Commons, which is slated to open its doors in November, according to the release.

Green District was founded by Doepke, Chris Furlow and Matt Petty, who met coaching soccer and share a passion for healthy living. They opened the first location four years ago in St. Matthews, and a downtown location followed later that year. The company also operates three franchised locations in the Indianapolis area.

The funding will also help it enter the Cincinnati and Nashville markets in the coming months for a total of eight locations by the first quarter of 2021.

Green District’s goal is to reach $100 million dollars in revenue by 2026.