Ojos Locos Sports Cantina has appointed Joe Hummel as chief executive officer, bringing three decades of restaurant leadership to the casual dining chain. Hummel previously served as chief executive at Twin Peaks, the Dallas-based sports bar and restaurant group where he spent years building operations across multiple locations.
Clay Mingus, another Twin Peaks veteran, joins as chief legal officer. Both executives bring operational expertise from one of the country's largest sports bar concepts, where managing high-volume locations and complex restaurant logistics demands precision and scale.
Ojos Locos operates as a casual sports dining destination focused on Latin-inspired cuisine and sports entertainment. The hire signals the chain's push to professionalize management and expand its footprint. Hummel's track record at Twin Peaks, which operates hundreds of locations nationwide, positions him to drive standardized operations and growth strategy at Ojos Locos.
The sports bar sector remains competitive, with chains competing on atmosphere, food quality, and entertainment value. Bringing in experienced operators from successful competitors reflects Ojos Locos' ambitions to scale operations and improve execution across its existing restaurant portfolio.
Hummel's appointment addresses a critical need for experienced leadership in restaurant chains seeking growth in a challenging labor and supply-chain environment. His experience managing Twin Peaks during volatile periods in the restaurant industry gives him insight into cost management, staff retention, and menu optimization.
This move strengthens Ojos Locos' executive bench as the brand navigates post-pandemic recovery and increased competition in the casual dining space. Twin Peaks alumni bring proven playbooks for running high-capacity sports venues with complex inventory and staffing demands. The dual hire suggests Ojos Locos intends to pursue both organic growth and operational improvements under new leadership.