BarFly Appoints Craig Stage as CEO

Craig Stage,CEO, BarFly ● Photo Credit: BarFly via Newswire

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., June 5, 2024 (VSNewsNetwork.com) - BarFly, the parent company of popular eateries HopCat and Stella’s Lounge, has promoted Craig Stage to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Andrew Woodruff to Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Both individuals have held senior roles within the company for over two years and their elevation to these key positions is intended to support BarFly’s ongoing growth and expansion.

Craig Stage has been with BarFly for a decade, starting as an assistant restaurant manager and progressing through various leadership roles, including General Manager and Vice President of Operations. Stage's experience includes managing several HopCat locations and serving as an Area Director before his latest promotion. He expressed enthusiasm for his new role, stating, "I am excited and grateful for this new opportunity. Throughout my career, there has been one constant — being surrounded by great people. Our success will continue to come from a people-focused approach and open-door decision-making. I’m thrilled to be working alongside our incredibly talented teams and provide the best bars and restaurants we possibly can for both employees and guests.”

Andrew Woodruff joined BarFly in 2018 from a background in public accounting and has risen through the company ranks to become Controller before the pandemic and later Vice President of Finance. He has been instrumental in guiding BarFly through financial challenges, leading to greater stability and growth. Woodruff remarked, “BarFly has always been a special company to be a part of. When first moving to Grand Rapids, I always hoped to get an opportunity to work for BarFly and have enjoyed every minute since. We have a tremendous culture — full of bright, hardworking individuals. I’m humbled by the opportunity and eager to continue to foster the growth of our brands.”

Former CEO Ned Lidvall will continue with the company as Executive Chairman. Lidvall has a long history in the hospitality industry, having worked with brands like Old Chicago and Rock Bottom. Travis Baldwin, Founder of Congruent Investment Partners, praised Lidvall's leadership, saying, "There is no chance we would be where we are right now without Ned Lidvall’s leadership the last four years. His steady hand helped us navigate a pandemic, multiple restaurant shutdowns, capacity restrictions, an incredibly difficult labor market, and extreme commodity inflation — and he handled it all with a calmness and professionalism that radiated across the Company. I can’t say enough about the positive impact Ned has had to get us to this point, and I look forward to continuing to work with him at the Board level."

For more information, visit www.wearebarfly.com.

Source: BarFly via Newswire