SRO Appoints Kelley Jones VP of Restaurant Operations

STARR APPOINTS KELLEY JONES VICE PRESIDENT
OF RESTAURANT OPERATIONS

PHILADELPHIA, PA - Enterprising restaurateur Stephen Starr has appointed Kelley Jones as Vice President of Restaurant Operations of his Starr Restaurant Organization (SRO), which currently operates twelve restaurants in Philadelphia, including Morimoto, Striped Bass and Barclay Prime. Starr selected Jones to oversee all restaurant operations, including training, service, facilities, personnel, sales and marketing and finances. Jones will also play an integral part in the further development SRO restaurants. "Kelley is an incredibly accomplished professional with keen insight and experience in all aspects of the hospitality business," says Starr, who was recently named Restaurateur of the Year by Bon Appetit magazine. "I'm proud to have such a talented individual on the SRO team."

Jones brings more than 20 years of hospitality experience to SRO. Most recently he served as Vice President of Restaurant Operations for Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, a collection of stylish, independent lifestyle hotels and fine, chef-driven restaurants, with multiple locations in San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, Vancouver, Boston and Miami. Jones has also served as Director of Development for China Grill Management, a restaurant management company with locations in the United States, Mexico and United Kingdom. Jones is also a Black Belt in Isshin Kempo, and on his own time enjoys competing in triathlons, collecting wine, playing drums and cycling.

With 12 Philadelphia restaurants including Continental Restaurant & Martini Bar, Buddakan, and Alma de Cuba to his credit, and currently celebrating his 10th anniversary in business, Stephen Starr has emerged as the country's most prolific and influential restaurateur. With no signs of slowing down, Starr will grow his Starr Restaurant Organization in 2006 by opening two restaurants in New York City and three more in Atlantic City.

For more information, visit www.starr-restaurant.com.