Aaron Hopper
Litchfield Park
Summary
Seasoned Bar Specialist with a record of elevating guest experiences at Steak 44 and Wrigley Mansion, adept in crafting innovative menus and maintaining top-quality bar standards. Excelled in bar management and inventory optimization at Darden Restaurants, enhancing operational efficiency. Proficient in Microsoft Office and Aloha, with a flair for cocktail crafting and team leadership.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Bartender
Prime Concepts Steak 44
Phoenix
08.2024 - Current
- Mixed cocktails and crafted signature drinks for diverse clientele.
- Provided exceptional customer service in a fast-paced dining environment.
- Maintained cleanliness and organization of the bar area at all times.
Bar Captain
Wrigley Mansion
Phoenix
08.2021 - Current
- Company Overview: Seasoned Bar Specialist with a record of elevating guest experiences at Wrigley Mansion, adept in crafting innovative menus and maintaining top-quality bar standards.
- Utilized advanced knowledge of beer, wine, spirits, cocktails, liqueurs, mixers, garnishes, glassware to create custom drinks for guests.
- Successfully managed inventory control, ordering, and restocking of bar supplies.
- Updated bar menu for alternating seasonal and holiday promotions.
- Maximized revenue by calculating inventory and retail costs, updating prices regularly.
- Developed new drink menus that reflected seasonal flavors as well as popular trends.
- Wrote new training program including daily cleaning duties, sidework, steps of service, product knowledge, and opening/closing operational procedures.
- Seasoned Bar Specialist with a record of elevating guest experiences at Wrigley Mansion, adept in crafting innovative menus and maintaining top-quality bar standards.
Associate General Manager
Darden Restaurants Inc.
Glendale
05.2017 - 04.2021
- Company Overview: Excelled in bar management and inventory optimization at Darden Restaurants, enhancing operational efficiency.
- Overseeing all restaurant operations
- Responsible for counting, ordering and management of all bar inventory
- Responsible for writing department schedule to budgeted labor expectations
- Responsible for conducting quarterly beer seminars to increase product knowledge and salesmanship skills
- Responsible for all General Manager responsibilities in the event of the General Manager's absence.
- Prepared detailed reports outlining financial status of the company at regular intervals.
- Responsible for meeting budgeted sales and cost expectations
- Responsible for all repair and maintenance issues and contract services
- Responsible for law compliance and license renewal
- Responsible for reconciling weekly payroll and managing profit and loss worksheet
- Responsible for final interview, hiring paperwork, and I-9 verification for all employees
- Responsible for all meeting all budgeted labor expectations.
- Excelled in bar management and inventory optimization at Darden Restaurants, enhancing operational efficiency.
General Manager
Concept Entertainment Group
Tempe
04.2016 - 05.2017
- Overseeing all restaurant operations
- Responsible for counting, ordering and management of all bar inventory
- Responsible for writing department schedule and overseeing all other front of house schedules to ensure staffing levels and labor budgets are met
- Responsible for all General Manager responsibilities in the event of the General Manager's absence.
Manager
Houlihan's Restaurants Inc.
Fort Worth
07.2012 - 08.2013
Service Manager
Consolidated Restaurant Operations Inc.
Dallas
08.2011 - 07.2012
General Manager
Craftworks Restaurants & Breweries, Inc. / Rock Bottom Restaurants, Inc.
Multiple Locations
01.2005 - 07.2011
- Overseeing all aspects of restaurant operations including cost of goods, labor, repair and maintenance, and profit and loss reconciliation
- Responsible for all license and law compliance and renewal
- Responsible for administering performance reviews for all salaried managers
- Responsible for maintaining positive working relationships and managing expenses with food, liquor, and maintenance vendors.
Education
No degree - General Business Courses
Mesa Community College
Mesa, AZHigh School Diploma - General Advanced Studies
Winslow High School
WinslowSkills
- Microsoft Office
- Aloha
- CTUIT
- Spirits Familiarity
- Beer Expertise
- Bar Equipment Maintenance
- Quality Control
- Menu Development
- Cocktail Crafting
- Bar Management
Certification
Level 1 Cicerone
Timeline
Bartender
Prime Concepts Steak 44
08.2024 - Current
Bar Captain
Wrigley Mansion
08.2021 - Current
Associate General Manager
Darden Restaurants Inc.
05.2017 - 04.2021
General Manager
Concept Entertainment Group
04.2016 - 05.2017
Manager
Houlihan's Restaurants Inc.
07.2012 - 08.2013
Service Manager
Consolidated Restaurant Operations Inc.
08.2011 - 07.2012
General Manager
Craftworks Restaurants & Breweries, Inc. / Rock Bottom Restaurants, Inc.
01.2005 - 07.2011
No degree - General Business Courses
Mesa Community College
High School Diploma - General Advanced Studies
Winslow High School