Pete & Philippe
Jean-Philippe Failyau
CEO/Partner Gastamo Group/ Founder
Jean-Philippe Failyau is the Chief Executive Officer at Gastamo Group, one of Denver’s most celebrated restaurant groups and one of America’s top 25 restaurant groups named by Nation’s Restaurant News. Seeing a need for more casual dining in Denver, Failyau was inspired to open Park Burger in 2009 which was only the beginning of Gastamo Group. The success of the original Park Burger led to the ideation of the Gastamo Group and the creation of three additional Park Burger locations, Park & Co, Homegrown, Perdida, and Lady Nomada.
Under Failyau’s leadership, Gastamo Group has grown from one to 11 company-owned restaurants with three more in development and each brand continues to see consecutive quarters of positive restaurant comparative sales.
Failyau has successfully led Gastamo Group during unprecedented times, growing sales, refining margins, changing labor models, continuing the development growth plan and launching the early stages of non-traditional growth like airport locations. Failyau is a pro when it comes to navigating industry risks and uncharted territories.
Growing up in Belgium, Failyau always had a passion for cooking and restaurants. After completing culinary school at the French Culinary Institute in NYC, he cooked at renowned restaurants Daniel, JoJo, and Le Cirque 2000. Failyau continued his career at Denver’s Mizuna, a French fine dining restaurant headed by Frank Bonanno. He was integral in launching Osteria Marco on Larimer Square in conjunction with Bonanno. Failyau is a service industry veteran with over 20 years of restaurant experience.
Peter Newlin
CEO of Birdcall
Peter Newlin is the current CEO of Birdcall Holdings. Newlin brings a unique background to Gastamo Group and Birdcall. He received his MBA from University of Denver in 2011. Over a 10 year history at Gastamo Group, Newlin has played an active roll in the creation and evolution of Park Burger, Homegrown Tap and Dough, Perdida, Lady Nomada and most recently, Birdcall. Birdcall represents the future of fast food. Along with creating the brand, Newlin developed Birdcall’s own proprietary POS and management solution, Poncho, to improve the operational efficiency of the Birdcall restaurant. Poncho is focused on the future of hospitality and is playing an important role in Birdcall’s mission to build the fastest growing, all natural, sustainable and socially conscious QSR brand. You shouldn’t have to spend $100.00 to have a wonderful meal and experience great hospitality - Gastamo Group will stop at nothing to achieve that value. Newlin is now focused on the growth of Birdcall, with 5 units in development and 10+ locations planned for 2021. Newlin has a deep love for being a community member in the neighborhoods Gastamo and Birdcall have the privilege to operate in. Newlin is the founder and director of the community run music festival in RiNo, the Denver Deluxe and an active board member of Sun Valley Kitchen and EatDenver. He has garnered a number of awards including recognition as one of 18 Young Restaurant Leaders to Watch from QSR Magazine and The Most Influential Restaurant Leaders to Watch from Nation's Restaurant News. He's been featured on Fast Casual Nation's podcast.