Backfin Group
Confidential Restaurant Transitions for NYC Restaurant Owner-Operators
Explore your options with discretion - no public listings, no brokers, and no pressure.
Running a restaurant takes everything — long days, late nights, constant pressure, and a level of personal investment most people never see. For many owners, the business isn’t just work; it’s years of effort, risk, and heart.
We work quietly with restaurant owners who are starting to think about what comes next, and who want to make sure that what they’ve built doesn’t simply disappear or go to waste. We help facilitate transitions to takeover the liability & assume control of spaces - with potential future upside opportunities for restaurant owners - only when it makes sense for both sides.
This is a private, off-market and confidential conversation.
We are not brokers, and we do not publicly list restaurants. We speak restaurant - not brokers, and not landlords - just operators with over 20 years of experience who’ve done it themselves.
Explore a confidential transition that honors your effort - with options that protect your legacy, your staff, and your future.
Who This Is For
This is for owners of small, owner-operated restaurants in NYC who:
Have poured real time, energy, and care into their business
Hold or control their lease
Are feeling the weight of operations, staffing, rent, or life changes
Are considering a transition — now or in the coming months
Many owners reach out before they know exactly what they want. That’s normal.
Sometimes the first step is simply talking it through with someone who understands the hard work it takes simply to keep the lights on.
We typically focus on QSR, cafés, and fast-casual restaurants in select New York City neighborhoods.
Possible Owner Outcomes
Fast, clean transition
Support for staff continuity
Opportunity to stay involved operationally
Potential upside participation
STEP 1: Share A Few Basics
A short, confidential form helps us understand your situation.
STEP 2: Have A Direct Conversation
If there’s potential alignment, we schedule a short call to listen, ask questions, and understand the situation.
STEP 3: Discuss Next Steps
Together, we can determine whether there’s a path forward that respects both the business and the effort behind it.
There is no obligation at any point.
What We Value
Discretion
We handle every conversation privately and off-market.
Respect For The Work
We know how demanding it is to run a restaurant, day in and day out. We approach every situation with that level of care and understanding.
Clarity & Care
Honest conversations, realistic timelines, and no pressure to move faster than feels right.
What We Are (and Aren’t)
We are a small, operator-led group focused on helping restaurant owners transition thoughtfully when the time is right. We know exactly how hard it is operating restaurants in New York City, and we are here to help so that all of your passion & hard work don’t go to waste if you hand the keys back to the landlord.
We are selective, because alignment and mutual respect matter. We are looking to work with people who have put their heart & soul into this business, want to do right by their hardworking staff, and are exploring a way out.
In some transitions, there are opportunities for former owners to stay connected to what comes next - whether through employment, continuity support, and/or upside participation - so that all their hard work also has the opportunity to provide a long-term benefit.
We are not brokers or intermediaries, and we do not run public listings or mass outreach. We operate solely for the purpose of identifying win-win opportunities to help small restaurant owners who are struggling to make it work with all the expenses of operating in NYC.
Start The Conversation
If you’re beginning to wonder what the next chapter could look like — and want to make sure the years you’ve put in still count — you’re welcome to reach out with the form below, or email us at hello@backfingroup.com
About
Backfin Group
We started this work because we know how demanding it is to run a restaurant — not in theory, but in practice. The long days, the constant decisions, the pressure to keep everything moving, and the personal sacrifice that rarely shows up on a P&L or in your bank account.
For many owners, a restaurant represents years of effort, risk, and identity. When it comes time to consider a transition, the options often feel limited: close the doors, list publicly, or walk away without much control over what happens next.
Backfin Group exists to offer another path.
We offer confidential, off-market transition support for owner-operators who want to ensure their years of hard work continue in a way that feels right - whether that’s a clean transition, continuity support, or a shared upside.
Our role is to listen first, understand the situation fully, and help determine whether there’s a next step that makes sense — without pressure, and without unnecessary exposure.
We approach every conversation as operators ourselves, with over 20 years of restaurant hospitaltity experience. That means being honest about what’s possible, moving carefully when it matters, and treating people and places with respect.
Why Backfin?
The backfin of the blue crab represents the ultimate hospitality for our group. We have a long tradition of competing to see who can make the best jumbo lump backfin, and then sharing this best-of-the-best morsel every time with a friend. We love to work hard to create something beautiful & delicious, and then we love to share so others can enjoy.