Long before Sweet Chick became a multi-city name, its blueprint was forged in the warm, ambient glow of a neighborhood pub. For founder and CEO John Seymour, hospitality began as a feeling: the welcome at the door, the current moving through a full room, and the sense that every guest belongs at the table.
In 2013, that instinct found a home in a quiet Williamsburg storefront. Sweet Chick brought together the nostalgic warmth of a local hangout, the soul of elevated comfort food, and the golden-era rhythm of hip-hop. The idea was bold but unpretentious—a distinctly New York cultural sanctuary built around food, music, and genuine connection.
The energy quickly caught the ear of Queens-born artist Nas. Recognizing Sweet Chick’s ability to capture something real about the city, he joined as a strategic partner and investor, helping carry the brand from a Brooklyn favorite toward a coast-to-coast audience without losing its neighborhood soul.
The People Behind the Room
Three disciplines. One unmistakable energy.
01 · Founder & CEO
John Seymour
Founder and CEO John Seymour, a native Manhattanite raised by Irish immigrants—a nurse mother and a bartender father from Tipperary—grew up learning a timeless craft behind his father's counter. He realized early on that true luxury in hospitality isn't just about what is served on the plate, but how a room makes you feel the second you step inside.
After spending more than a decade navigating the electric, fast-paced pulse of New York City’s nightlife, Seymour set out to build something legendary. In 2013, he channeled his entrepreneurial hustle into a quiet Williamsburg storefront, launching the original Sweet Chick.
02 · Executive Chef
Lauren Gustus
Executive Chef Lauren Gustus views comfort food not merely as simple nostalgia, but as an exacting, high-art discipline. Harnessing a deep-seated reverence for culinary technique and flavor balance, she realized early in her career that true luxury is found in perfection executed with effortless grace—where raw technique elevates humble, soulful ingredients into an unforgettable experience.
As the culinary powerhouse driving the Sweet Chick vision, Gustus transformed the brand’s kitchen into a gold-standard operation. She painstakingly refined every signature offering—turning shatteringly crisp, perfectly seasoned fried chicken and cloud-light waffles into a masterclass in texture and taste—ensuring that as the brand expands nationwide, the soul, precision, and uncompromising quality on every plate remain legendary.
03 · Director of Operations
Alex Montez
Operations Director Alex Montez understands that the true art of a dining room isn't just managing logistics—it is mastering kinetic energy. Coming up through the high-stakes, fast-moving pulse of New York hospitality, Montez realized early on that authentic luxury on the floor is felt before it is seen: an effortless orchestration of atmosphere, rhythm, and genuine human connection.
As the operational mastermind maintaining Sweet Chick’s signature vibe, Montez anchors the brand's gold-standard hospitality. He seamlessly conducts the floor, ensuring that even as the beats drop and the crowds pour in, the elevated, high-energy dining experience never loses its intimate, neighborhood soul.
At the Bar
Tiger Tiger Woods Y’all
Find Edmond’s Honor on the Sweet Chick menu in the featured Tiger Tiger Woods Y’all cocktail. Or ask the bar for a Bourbon Peach Sweet Tea made with Edmond’s Honor—a peach-forward pour made for fried chicken, waffles, and a table that stays awhile.
Visit Sweet ChickWhen shifting industry dynamics tested hospitality, Seymour met the moment with operational agility and creative vision. Community partnerships deepened. The kitchen grew more exacting. The floor kept its pulse. Through it all, the promise stayed simple: iconic food may open the door, but unforgettable energy and real heart keep the table alive.