MICHAEL VANN BIO

For over 20 years, Urban Acres founder Michael Vann has been on a personal mission to build an integrated retail foodservice company. The Company's multi-brand retail development in Newark's Teacher's Village and Halsey Street will lay the foundation for the company's national model and mandate .."Building Brands that Build Communities".

Mr. Vann’s entrepreneurial career and expertise are rooted in the development, ownership, and management of several New York landmark restaurants.

As co-founder and developer of the world-renowned Shark Bar restaurant, his vision and expertise secured the Shark Bar as one of the premiere restaurants serving upscale soul food in America during the 1990s. His additional restaurateur credits include co-founder of national restaurant company, Soul food Concepts, developer and co-founder of New York’s Soul Café, lead consultant for Sean “Puffy” Comb’s Justin’s in New York and one of the key managers of the landmark restaurant B. Smith’s, from February 1987 to August 1990.

As a consultant, Mr. Vann was instrumental in helping Carl Redding, founder of Amy Ruth’s, transform his restaurant into a nationally recognized brand and one of the best restaurants in its niche category. In 2004, he successfully spearheaded and negotiated a license agreement between Amy Ruth’s and Foxwoods Resort Casino. In 2007, he was hired by Abyssinian Development Corporation to assess the feasibility and operational efficiency of the IHOP restaurant on 135th & ACP in Harlem.

In addition to his career as an entrepreneur, Vann has successfully navigated the retail industry as well. In 1979, he served as an executive with New York retail giant Lord & Taylor. Over the span of 7 years, Vann advanced within the company to hold several executive merchandising positions in their Menswear and Boy's divisions.

In 1986, he joined Northwear Fashions of Canada as Vice-President of Sales & Merchandising of Boy’s Outerwear.