What Happened To Pasta By Hudson After Shark Tank?
Over the years, many innovative restaurants have found success after "Shark Tank," regardless of whether or not they snagged an investment. One such restaurant concept, Pasta by Hudson, was among the lucky few to make a deal with the sharks.
In 2020, entrepreneur Brandon Fay pitched the sharks his high-quality fast-casual pasta bar located at Columbus Circle in New York City. The sharks were impressed with the taste of his pasta and the fact that everything was made in-house, by hand — and quickly. Faced with the challenge of long waits at Italian restaurants, Fay wanted to solve the problem by serving homemade pasta in a fraction of the time.
Ultimately, Fay received multiple deals, with Mark Cuban and Lori Greiner putting up a combined $150,000 for 20% and 10%, respectively. Cuban's offer was contingent on getting Pasta by Hudson into cloud kitchens (also known as ghost kitchens), which essentially help businesses expand in various formats. So, where is Pasta by Hudson today?
Pasta by Hudson struck a chord with the Shark Tank investors
As is every entrepreneur's dream, the sharks loved Pasta by Hudson. Barbara Corcoran declared the meatballs included in the pasta bar to be "the best meatball [she had] ever eaten," and offered Brandon Fay the $150k in exchange for 50% of the business. However, she also wanted him to sell frozen meatballs online. Understandably, Fay was reluctant to part with 50% equity, and so he turned to Mark Cuban and Lori Greiner's offer of 30%.
The duo wasn't put off by the restaurant's $590k in sales for 2019, nor did they seem to think it would be an issue to expand Pasta by Hudson into a franchising situation. As previously mentioned, Fay took Cuban and Greiner's offer, simultaneously accepting Cuban's plan to branch out via cloud kitchens. Similar to how ghost kitchens prepare only delivery and take-out food, cloud kitchens help physical restaurants expand into a more virtual space. In other words, cloud kitchens could prove to be a more cost-effective way for Pasta by Hudson to franchise, as Fay wouldn't have to pay $350k or more for another brick-and-mortar location.
The COVID-19 pandemic hit small businesses hard
Shortly after Pasta by Hudson's "Shark Tank" pitch aired, the world shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Like most restaurants, Pasta by Hudson was forced to close its doors, essentially turning its "walk in and make your own" pasta bar concept on its head.
However, owner Brandon Fay was determined to keep his business going, so in November 2020, he opened a secondary location in Chelsea. Needless to say, Pasta by Hudson was not among the 100,000 restaurants estimated to close by the end of 2020, and between the two locations, Pasta by Hudson was able to stay afloat –- even managing to make upwards of $800k by 2021.
Interestingly, Pasta by Hudson pulled through the pandemic without the support of sharks Mark Cuban and Lori Greiner, as the deal apparently never closed. Though unfortunate, we can't say we're surprised, considering how Cuban and Greiner jumped up to shake on the deal before Fay even had time to agree.
Is Pasta by Hudson still in business today?
As of 2023, Pasta by Hudson continues to make fresh pasta each day at its location in Chelsea and its sit-down Italian restaurant, The Perry Club. In addition to its pasta bar, Pasta by Hudson also sells uncooked pasta by the pound and caters private events like meetings, charity functions, and even wedding receptions.
Since its appearance on "Shark Tank," Pasta by Hudson has also expanded its carry-out and delivery capacities, partnering with DoorDash in the process. Its pasta bar experience starts at $12 per plate, with upcharges for extra toppings and more complex sauces. Pasta by Hudson has even added pizza to its menu, including a pie named "The Mr. Wonderful" after Shark Kevin O'Leary.
Today, Pasta by Hudson has a Yelp rating of 4.3, with customers commenting how much they love the pasta bar concept. One Yelp reviewer described the restaurant as a "great place to get good quality Italian without the fuss." Being that people seem to enjoy Pasta by Hudson, it comes as little surprise that the restaurant reportedly now makes $1 million a year in sales.
What's next for Pasta by Hudson?
Given Pasta by Hudson's earlier goal to expand, we can only imagine that the future will hold additional pasta bars, be it through franchises or an increased online presence like the "Shark Tank" investors suggested. And who knows, as the concept gains popularity, others may open up their own pasta bars across the city, the country, or even the world. After all, who doesn't love a good plate of pasta?
On the Pasta by Hudson website, owner Brandon Fay states that he is committed to using eco-friendly materials for takeout. In the future, this goal could open doors to collaborations with companies like GreenBox or Misfits Market, which sell recyclable pizza boxes and otherwise-ignored ugly produce, respectively.
Regardless of where Fay takes Pasta by Hudson, we're sure it'll align with his goal of serving fresh, quick, and delicious food. He's truly found a way to carry authentic Italian forward into the age of drive-thrus and delivery, making good food more accessible to everyone.