Big Fish Restaurant Group merges with Baltimore-area firm

Baltimore-based hospitality company Atlas Restaurant Group announced June 17 that it has merged with Rehoboth Beach-based hospitality company Big Fish Restaurant Group.

“This partnership represents a pivotal moment in our collective history, marking a significant milestone for Atlas and Big Fish,” said Alex Smith, Atlas Restaurant Group founder and CEO, in a prepared statement. Smith founded Atlas Restaurant Group in 2012.

According to a June 17 press release announcing the merger, current Big Fish concepts will remain the same, and employees at these locations will be retained to ensure continuity.

"We are thrilled to embark on this transformative journey with Atlas Restaurant Group," said Eric Sugrue, Big Fish co-founder and managing partner, in a prepared statement. "Together, we will continue to innovate, inspire and delight our guests, while keeping standards of excellence across various properties in our operations.”

When reached for comment after the announcement, Sugrue said the press release said everything.

“Nothing else to reveal or explain,” said Sugrue via email June 18. “As stated, nothing is changing. We now have a partner that can help us grow, and for the Big Fish Restaurant Group to continue to do what we do.”

Holly Monaco, Big Fish Restaurant Group president, said she’s excited about the new partnership, which promises growth and endless opportunities for team members.

“With added resources, sharing the same values and goals, we can continue to build and develop a bright future for our team and further enrich the Big Fish experience for our guests and the communities in which we live,” said Monaco in a prepared statement.

Norm and Eric Sugrue opened the first Big Fish Grill restaurant in 1997. The company now has restaurants in northern and southern Delaware. In addition to the Big Fish Grill, other restaurants include Striper Bites, Dockside Marina Bar, Salt Air, Crab House, Stingray Sushi Bar, Obie’s By the Sea and Sazio.

With the addition of Big Fish’s hospitality portfolio, Atlas will now operate more than 50 restaurants and have 3,000 employees across Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Texas and Florida. The move makes it the largest multi-concept operator in the Mid-Atlantic and one of the top 10 largest in the United States.