Vessel Kitchen restaurant chain names Abe Hollands as president

Vessel Kitchen, a restaurant chain with 10 locations across Northern Utah, has named former Café Rio operations leader Abe Hollands as its new president. 

Hollands joins the leadership team with more than three decades of restaurant industry experience and a “proven track record of building strong teams and scaling successful brands,” the company said in an announcement. 

Hollands spent 25 years at Café Rio, where he played a key role in the company’s growth from three locations to more than 170 restaurants across 12 states. Throughout his career, he has focused on developing restaurant teams, building operational excellence and helping leaders create high-quality guest experiences, the release said.

At Vessel Kitchen, Hollands will oversee operational strategy and restaurant performance as the brand continues its growth across the region.

“Abe understands the reality of great restaurants,” said Roe’e Levy, founder of Vessel Kitchen. “My commitment to our kitchens is as strong as ever and having Abe at the helm is going to perfectly enhance our people. He brings steady, empathetic leadership, knowing that strong operations are about giving our kitchens the support and structure they need to cook great food. I’m proud to have him leading the charge to stay true to our roots as we expand.”

“I am incredibly excited to be joining the team here at Vessel,” Hollands said. “I look forward to getting to know our teams and learning the craft behind the exceptional food we serve to our guests. Vessel has built something truly special, and I’m eager to support the continued growth of the brand while helping develop great restaurant leaders.”

From the beginning, Vessel Kitchen has sought to make better food available to more people. With a chef-driven approach, Vessel draws inspiration from around the world to craft flavorful dishes designed to nourish all appetites. Since the first location opened in Park City in 2016, communities have embraced Vessel’s purpose. Today, the independently owned and operated restaurant has locations across Utah and continues to grow while staying rooted in its commitment to scratch-made food and genuine hospitality.

Vessel Kitchen features scratch-made New American and healthy comfort food in a fast-casual setting, focusing on locally sourced ingredients. Its menu features market plates, signature bowls, salads and naan tacos.