Dave Shula Returns as President of Shula’s Restaurant Group

The veteran executive and current local official resumes his leadership role to oversee the company’s national expansion.

Updated on Oct. 25, 2026 in People

Shula’s Restaurant Group has appointed Dave Shula as president, tasking the executive with guiding the organization's national expansion strategy. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Shula’s Restaurant Group has appointed Dave Shula as its new president. He rejoins the company to guide its six distinct restaurant concepts across its more than 30 locations.

Why it matters

The leadership transition comes as the organization prepares for a new phase of growth. The group is aiming to support its current franchise operations while expanding its national footprint.

The company maintains more than 30 locations nationwide and operates six unique restaurant concepts. The group has been in business for 37 years since its 1989 founding.

The players

Dave Shula

He is the newly appointed president of Shula's Restaurant Group who previously led the organization for nearly two decades.

The details

Dave Shula previously served as the president of the company for nearly 20 years before taking a role in college athletics. He will now focus on scaling the brand as it adds a new location in Palm Beach Gardens and prepares for a 2027 expansion into Thomasville, Georgia.

1989: Shula's Steak House was founded.
1997: Dave Shula joined the family restaurant business.
2018-2023: Dave Shula served as the Wide Receivers coach at Dartmouth College.
Winter 2026: Shula's American Kitchen opens in Palm Beach Gardens.
2027: The brand plans to enter the Thomasville, Georgia market.

Market Landscape

This leadership appointment continues the long-term corporate trajectory established by the founding of Shula's Steak House in 1989. It reaffirms the company's commitment to internal executive stability as it faces increased competition in the steakhouse sector.

Customers can expect continued operations across the company's 30 locations as the group focuses on its six distinct concepts. Diners in Palm Beach Gardens and Thomasville will see new locations opening under the company's expanded footprint.

The takeaway

Effective executive leadership is essential for balancing established brand standards with aggressive new market expansion. Consistency in management can provide the stability needed to successfully navigate multi-year growth plans.

What happens next

Shula's American Kitchen is scheduled to open at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Palm Beach Gardens this winter, followed by a market entry in Thomasville, Georgia, in 2027.