Josh SapienzaFounder | Managing Partner

Josh Sapienza

Founder | Managing Partner

Prior to starting The Hawser, Josh worked as a hospitality professional and commercial real estate broker providing support services such as: comprehensive organizational development, process improvement, service excellence management, deal structuring, capital acquisitions and the creation of scaleable platforms for both individual and multi-unit restaurant operators.

As former Director of the Philadelphia based advisory firm Llenrock Group, LLC and Commercial Agent with affiliate Linden Lane / LLA Realty, Josh provided a myriad of restaurant development and commercial real estate advisory services for clients in the Mid-Atlantic Region.

Prior to joining The Llenrock Group in 2011, Josh assisted in the formation of the Hospitality Division at Legend Properties Inc. There, he specialized in Retail Tenant Representation and Business Brokerage for local and regional hoteliers, restaurant owners, chefs and operators.

Josh has over 20 years of experience in restaurant operations as senior management. He has held positions with prominent high-concept celebrity chef driven groups like Philadelphia-based STARR Restaurants and California-based Grill Concepts Inc..

Josh also successfully managed multiple locations and the market expansions for industry-leading casual restaurant chains including Chipotle Mexican Grill and Tiffin Indian Cuisine in the Northeast.  

Since realizing the similarities between hospitality and charity, he has committed himself to delivering guest-centered service to the non-profit and digital media sectors.

He still works as a hospitality project manager and manages a number of free multi-market restaurant advisory channels including HospitalityHelpline.com and the facebook group: Restaurant & Bar Owners, Operators & Managers.