Howard Greenstone ’79 is a nationally acclaimed and seasoned restaurant operator. For over 35 years he has been perfecting his craft, marrying ambiance with culinary creativity at such venues as New Jersey’s Dry Dock restaurants and Sfuzzi restaurants in 10 states. Howard is currently the CEO/partner for the well-loved Pizza Loves Emily brand, which is based in Brooklyn, NY, with outlets in the NYC area, as well as its sister concept Emmy Squared, which has stores in the NYC-area and recently in Nashville. His career is storied, but his motivation is simple: It’s about bringing people together to break bread.
Howard’s hospitality industry journey began humbly enough, cooking and waiting tables every summer at a local country club. Earning a degree in history from Ohio Wesleyan University (where, incidentally, he was well known for his Sunday Brunch), he expected to follow in his father’s footsteps professionally and become an attorney. After taking a job at his father’s law office by day and cooking at night, he knew which path to pursue.
History degree notwithstanding, Howard’s real education came from the Grand Hyatt New York, where he started as a food and beverage trainee and was able to move from department to department, gaining key experience along the way. He ran the dishwashing operation, the coffee shop, fine dining, and every facet of the operation. This training lay the foundation for his future and catapulted his career in the restaurant industry.
The former president/CEO and partner of Rosa Mexicano Restaurants, Howard led the growth of the popular Mexican restaurant group to its current 15 locations nationwide and four international licensing deals. In 2018, Howard founded Red Pebbles Hospitality, a management company that focuses on unparalleled hospitality and mentorship, along with notable cuisine and continued growth. While most of the restaurants in the group are in Nashville, Red Pebbles Hospitality has managing partners in New York, Philadelphia, Washington DC, with more to come. Howard is also a strategic advisor and partner to the Marcus Samuelsson Group and advisor to Webber Grill in Chicago.
Looking back at his days at Dwight-Englewood, Howard believes that the personalized education he received and the invaluable relationships that he made changed the course of his life. What’s more, his experiences both in the classroom and on the basketball court and baseball field nurtured in him the skills and tools that he uses in business today. In 2019, Howard came back to campus all the way from Tennessee to speak to the Class of 2019 about his career path, successes, and insights during Senior Selectives at the D-E Horizons 4th Annual Power Breakfast. Howard made a repeat performance virtually this past May for the Class of 2020’s Virtual Power Breakfast.
Among the businesses most impacted by the coronavirus crisis are restaurants, but the brands and restaurant chains that Howard is associated with offer a hopeful vision. His companies even have plans to open an additional 10 restaurants in 2021. If anyone can pull that off in the face of a pandemic, Howard Greenstone can.
