Mina Haque is not the most similar person to turn once food exclusivity. She is a lawyer from trade and, up a few years ago, there was none restaurant. But that did not stop him from accepting the challenge and taking over as Director General of Rome in 2023.
“I'm a very happy lawyer,” she says, “I still practice the law, but I can't remove them – their investors wanted to protect their investments, and they liked how I think and my approach and leadership skills, and they wanted someone to be tested. So here I am.”
Now, Haque is starting a return plan to turn once exclusive to prominent – and then at even greater heights.
Founded in 1972 in Miami, Florida, Toni Roma, known for her back ribs and family -friendly atmosphere, was once a popular destination for casual dining across the country. At its peak in the early 1990s, the exclusivity had 260 countries across the JSC, focused on Florida and California.
But as the consumer tastes moved and the competition in the casual dining area intensified, Tony Rome tried to maintain its foundation. In recent decades, most US countries have closed, leaving the brand with a much stronger presence internationally than at home. But in spite of her global The presence that extends from Guam to Germany to Guatemala, the brand recently tried to the edge of the disappearance in the SH.BA – home for only six of its remaining 60 places. Then Haque was involved with the company in 2021.
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No experience in the restaurant? No problem.
Tony Rome initially hired Haque to work lawful The issue she assumed it would be a typical case: Come, do the job and then move on to another. Soon, unpleasant investors, seeing the importance of the brand disappearing, saw something in it as well. They soon offered her the work of the general external councilors, leading them legal department. Haque took on the role enthusiastically.
“Immediately, I was reviewing their contracts, I would recover the money they owed and advised board members and shareholders, to the point that I have developed trust -based relationships,” she says. Then, they did an action that she says she never saw that she was coming: “They offered me the role of CEO in the summer of 2023.”
Tony Rome 2.0
Despite the brand's inner fall, Haque was introduced with an optimistic and unique view of the company. “I take the brand's past as a lesson that can inform my decisions,” she says. “Here comes my legal experience, because analytical skills are what lawyers do best – we don't ignore the precedent, we learn from it.”
After taking over as CEO, Haque immediately began working on a plan to revitalize Tony Roma, called Tony Roma's 2.0, which has an expected full start at the end of 2026. At the heart of this initiative is a new, effective concept of shops smaller than with traditional full size restaurant -They in optimizing efficiency and benefit, including a 3000 -square -foot compact format.
“We want a smaller place,” Haque says. “Our oldest restaurants have the largest square views – 6,000 to 10,000 square meters – and this is no longer an optimized size because you add to the exclusivity of Upper costs. “Location selection and other decisions will also be affected by it, enabling the company to make smarter long -term choices.
In addition to updating its physical spaces, Tony Roma emphasizes technological innovation, including integration of it into store regulation and management. Moreover, Haque says the brand will use robotics in areas such as inventory management and meal preparation. She sees these advances not as substitutions for human touch but as means of increasing efficiencyMaintaining sustainable quality and liberation of staff.
The current American franchisees are already feeling the effects. “There have been significant changes in support of exclusivity at store level since Mina became CEO,” says Suraj Shah, who owns a Tony Rome in North Carolina. “Previously, it may have been,” Hey, here is a new menu article, use it or not. “Now, there are many more training and support.”
The strategy to restore Tony Roma's presence already seems to be gaining withdrawal. The brand is set to open its seventh place COUNTRY In Tennesses later this year.
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Looking forward
While Tony Rome Rampon, Haque says we will see more American countries, both independent and in certain countries. “Tony Rome has done extremely well inside the casinos,” she says. “We have a successful unit in Las Vegas, where people still line up for two hours. So, I would like to see more casinos inside Tony Roma.”
Franchisees are already buying in this strategic vision, seeing Haque leadership as the key to mixing the brand's preserved past with a sustainable future. “I think she and her team do an amazing job to bring that vision 2.0 as they bear the core IDENTITY For Tony Rome, “says Shah.” They are still keeping that legendary experience of legendary ribs Toni Rome is known for over 50 years – the reason I wanted to become exclusivity initially. “
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