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These Co-Founder Came From Different Backgrounds, Joined Forces and Now Run 10 Restaurants Together

Shawn P. Walchef

created: July 22, 2025, 2 p.m. | updated: July 23, 2025, 7:34 a.m.

He asked Lourdes and Smith Jerome to organize a happy hour at the restaurant. There was just one issue: Lourdes and Smith Jerome didn't technically have a company. That night, Smith Jerome filed the LLC paperwork. What started as a one-off collaboration quickly became The Refined Agency — and eventually, the foundation for Refined Hospitality Group. It's how Refined Restaurant Group works.

3 months, 2 weeks ago: Entrepreneur