Atlas Restaurant Group makes move to expand to the beach

New partnership with Big Fish Restaurant Group

Baltimore-based Atlas Restaurant Group has acquired a controlling stake in Delaware’s Big Fish Restaurant Group, which operates more than a dozen dining concepts including Big Fish Grill. Courtesy of Big Fish Restaurant Group

Baltimore-based Atlas Restaurant Group is partnering with a Delaware hospitality company as it eyes an expansion to the beach.

Atlas CEO Alex Smith said Monday that the company has acquired a “controlling stake” in Big Fish Restaurant Group, which operates 15 dining concepts in Rehoboth Beach, Lewes, Wilmington and elsewhere in the state. Big Fish co-founder Eric Sugrue and president Holly Monaco will stay on as partners in the business.

Big Fish’s restaurants — which include several locations of Big Fish Grill, as well as Salt Air Kitchen + Bar and Sazio in Rehoboth Beach, and Taco Grande, Trolley Square Oyster House and Torbert Street Social in Wilmington — will stay the same under the new partnership.

Smith said Atlas Restaurant Group is “actively” looking to grow its reach to the shore.

“Atlas has always looked to make a push to the beaches, from Delaware to Ocean City,” he said. “A lot of our diners go on vacation there.”

Smith and his brother, Atlas managing partner Eric Smith, both attended the University of Delaware. They’re nephews of Baltimore Sun owner David D. Smith, who is a partner in some Atlas restaurants.

The deal brings the total number of restaurants operated by Atlas to more than 50. The hospitality group also runs Baltimore spots like The Choptank, Azumi, Tagliata and Ouzo Bay.