Mike Hislop joined Corner Bakery Cafe as the chief executive officer in February 2006. Armed with an experienced management team and a growth strategy unparalleled within the industry, Hislop has since transformed the brand from a company-owned and operated neighborhood gathering spot to a franchised industry leader that holds the highest average annual sales volume of any national bakery-cafe brand. Hislop laid the foundation for his Corner Bakery Cafe charge when he was named president and chief operating officer of Il Fornaio in 1995 and was promoted to chief executive officer and chairman in 2001. Since Hislop joined Il Fornaio, the company has more than doubled in size with 23 restaurants and three production bakeries throughout the United States. Prior to Il Fornaio and Corner Bakery Cafe, Hislop was chairman and chief executive officer for Chevys Mexican Restaurants, where he built the company’s infrastructure in preparation for taking it public, nearly doubling the number of locations nationwide in less than three years. Earlier positions include regional operator, executive vice president of operations and chief operating officer at El Torito Mexican Restaurants and regional manager at T.G.I. Friday’s. Hislop is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts and holds a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management. FAVORITE CORNER BAKERY CAFE MENU ITEM: My favorite item is the first thing I ever tried at Corner Bakery Cafe – the D.C. Chicken Salad Sandwich. I love the mixture of roasted chicken, green apples, celery and almonds on one of my favorite breads – Steakhouse Rye.
