After five years, Kind Hospitality, the restaurant group specializing in presenting elevated dining experiences with a portfolio of 52 locations across well-recognized favorites such as Macayo’s Mexican Food, Panera Bread, O.H.S.O. Brewery, Native Grill & Wings, Fazoli’s and more, has sold the Macayo’s Mexican Food brand to Horizon Hospitality on behalf of the family trust.
“It has been five years since the torch of culinary tradition was passed from the family of Woody Johnson to Kind Hospitality. Now, we are thrilled to pass the torch to another family-owned restaurant group, Horizon Hospitality, led by Lucas Farnham,” said Nava Singam, owner and CEO of Kind Hospitality. “It has been an honor to build the brand over the past five years and we believe the continued growth and success of Macayo’s is in the best of hands with Horizon Hospitality. We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our amazing team, loyal guests and the communities that have helped Macayo’s thrive and continue to be an Arizona tradition. We are excited for the future of Macayo’s and can’t wait to share it with our neighboring states.”
During its years of operation, Kind Hospitality dedicated itself to respecting the Macayo’s name while evolving and growing the brand, opening additional locations in new developing communities, creating programs to develop the team and introducing new ways for guests to experience Macayo’s in-store, throughout the community and in the comfort of their own homes.
Kind Hospitality opened eight new Macayo’s locations; the first airport location at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, five remodels of existing restaurants in ASU Tempe, Avondale, Chandler, Mesa and Scottsdale and the brand’s first new builds in more than 20 years in Litchfield Park and Queen Creek.
Kind Hospitality also increased Macayo’s workforce from approximately 200 to more than 600, created upper management position opportunities where key teammates were promoted to vice president and director levels and implemented an all-encompassing training program with aspects of cross-training, development and emphasis on consistency, service and excellence.
Macayo’s achieved some incredible accomplishments over the past five years including the declaration of its anniversary, Sept. 26, as National Chimichanga Day in 2020, earning a Guinness World Records title by making a 25-foot, seven-inch chimichanga in a 30-foot custom-built fryer in 2021 and being recognized by the Arizona Restaurant Association as the most “Uniquely Arizona” restaurant in the state at the 2022 Foodist Awards.
Most recently, in October 2023, Macayo’s celebrated Cultura, the brand’s inaugural Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration to honor, recognize, support and celebrate the vibrant Hispanic community and raised more than $45,000 for Xico, a local non-profit organization.
Horizon Hospitality has committed to keeping on every employee and maintaining the Macayo’s brand and menu while expanding the brand into Colorado.
Kind Hospitality will continue to own and operate the Macayo’s Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport location.
“We are excited to be part of the Macayo’s history, and are looking forward to nurturing the brand to greater heights, and can’t wait to have our Horizon Hospitality team share this great brand with residents in the Colorado market,” said Lucas Farnham, owner of Horizon Hospitality.
For more about Kind Hospitality, visit kindhospitality.com.
The Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport Macayo’s is located at 6033 S. Sossaman Road and the new Queen Creek Macayo’s is located at 22460 E. Ocotillo Road.
