Leadership

Concessionaire Jack Hough dies in a shooting

The nontraditional-siting pioneer was killed in a botched robbery.

Jack Hough, a restaurateur who specialized in concepts for airport locations, was shot and killed last Friday in Gainesville, Ga., while waiting for his wife to exit a CVS Pharmacy. He was 73 years old.

Police say Hough was killed by a 24-year-old man who was apparently planning to rob Hough. The two struggled before the suspect, DeMarvin Bennett, allegedly fired two shots. The authorities say both rounds hit Hough in the torso. He had not gotten out of his car.

Bennett was arrested Sunday for “malicious murder,” among other charges.

Hough was president of MSE Branded Foods, the company he started with Pete Wenzell in 2000, when airports were rapidly replacing their generic food and beverage outlets with units of big-name chains, well-known retail brands and popular local operations.

jack hough

Jack Hough

Hough chose that specialty after serving as a pioneer of nontraditional siting through the 1990s. He was known for assembling quick-service stations into food courts for shopping malls and travel centers.

Earlier, he operated a number of restaurants in Helen, Ga.

In addition to his wife, who was not hurt in the attack, he is survived by his son, Brandon.

Members help make our journalism possible. Become a Restaurant Business member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.

Multimedia

Exclusive Content

Financing

The Tijuana Flats bankruptcy highlights the dangers of menu miscues

The Bottom Line: The fast-casual chain’s problems following new menu debuts in 2021 and 2022 show that adding new items isn’t always the right idea.

Financing

For Papa Johns, the CEO departure came at the wrong time

The Bottom Line: The pizza chain worked to convince franchisees to buy into a massive marketing shift. And then the brand’s CEO left.

Leadership

Restaurants bring the industry's concerns to Congress

Nearly 600 operators made their case to lawmakers as part of the National Restaurant Association’s Public Affairs Conference.

Trending

More from our partners