Warren Thompson
Chairman/President

Warren M. Thompson is the President and Chairman of Thompson Hospitality Corporation. In 1992, Warren Thompson founded Thompson Hospitality Corporation with a leveraged buyout and purchase of thirty one (31) Bob's Big Boy restaurants. Thompson converted the Bob’s Big Boys to Shoney's restaurants and several other proprietary restaurant concepts.

In 1993, Thompson Hospitality expanded into the contract food service arena. After four successful years in this arena, Warren created a new division, Thompson Hospitality Services, LLC and forged a strategic partnership with Compass Group, the world’s largest food service company. Thompson Hospitality currently serves such companies as Microsoft, American Express, Boeing, Raytheon and IBM. Additionally, Thompson Hospitality has developed a specialty niche in providing food service to 19 of the Nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities. (“HBCUs”).

In 2002, Thompson Hospitality topped $100 million in sales and in 2003 made its first acquisition. This growth confirmed Thompson Hospitality’s place as 13th in “Food Management Magazine’s” ranking of the 50 largest contract companies in 2004.

Thompson Hospitality’s retail expansion has continued through the years, with the creation of the Obi Sushi concept and the purchase of the Austin Grill restaurant chain in 2006, and the acquisition of the American Tap Room and Marvelous Markets in 2008. Thompson Hospitality’s retail service portfolio also includes the Ashburn Car Wash.

Today, with approximately 3,300 employees, Thompson Hospitality has been recognized by Black Enterprise Magazine as 17th in the country’s top 100 minority businesses with over $200 million total revenue.  Most recently, Thompson Hospitality was ranked #9 among Food Management Magazine’s “Top 50 Food Management Companies” list.

Warren serves on the Boards of several corporations and universities, including: University of Virginia’s Board of Visitors, Compass Group North America and Federal Realty.

Warren’s efforts have been recognized in several venues. The National MBA Association named him “Entrepreneur of the Year” and he was recognized in 2008 as a Minority Business Leader by the Washington Business Journal. Warren was the recipient of the 2006 Hitchcock Humanitarian Award presented by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. His commitment to the HBCU community has resulted in his giving over $500K annually in scholarships and other personal philanthropic endeavors. This contribution is a direct result of his strong family background which cultivated many of his humanitarian efforts.