Dozens of Taco Bells across Ohio, many of them in and around Columbus, are getting a new owner as part of a behind-the-scenes fast-food shakeup.
Mas Restaurant Group (MRG) said it has sold 43 Taco Bell restaurants across the state to Southpaw, a multi-state franchise operator, in a deal announced this week. The Houston-based company cast the move as a portfolio reshuffle meant to let it zero in on its remaining Texas locations while Southpaw takes over day-to-day operations in Ohio.
Deal details
In a press release, MRG and investor partner Bessemer Investors said the 43 units will transfer to Southpaw, with financial terms not disclosed. After the sale, MRG will continue to operate 36 Taco Bell restaurants in the Houston market, following its separate sale of 44 Texas locations earlier this month. Piper Sandler & Co. and Unbridled Capital served as financial advisors, and Sidley Austin LLP acted as legal counsel, according to PR Newswire.
How MRG built the Ohio presence
MRG’s footprint in Ohio grew quickly after its 2021 acquisition of CL Companies, a deal that dropped dozens of Columbus-area Taco Bells into its portfolio. That expansion push followed the company’s 2018 move to bring on private-equity partner Bessemer Investors, backing a strategy geared toward scaling up through franchising and acquisitions. Those earlier deals and MRG’s current plan to concentrate operations were summarized by CityBiz.
Who is Southpaw
The buyer, Southpaw, operates Taco Bell and Dunkin' restaurants across several states in the eastern United States. The company’s own materials describe a growth path built on acquisitions and multi-unit franchising as it expanded beyond its original territories. See Southpaw for company background.
Part of a broader consolidation
The Ohio sale is the latest in a run of portfolio moves by large franchisees this month, including MRG’s recent sale of 44 Houston-area Taco Bells to Ghai Restaurant Group. Industry coverage has framed these transactions as part of a broader trend of operators consolidating and refranchising units so they can double down on core markets. Restaurant Dive covered the Houston deal and the wider repositioning.
What company leaders said
“We are extremely pleased with this latest successful transaction, which underscores the strength of MRG’s operations and the robust footprint built in Ohio,” Andrew Mendelsohn of Bessemer said in the company statement. MRG CEO Chad Motsinger added, “The tremendous value of these restaurants was built by the strength of our culture and the dedication of our team members.” Those remarks appeared in the company release via PR Newswire.
Local and trade outlets have since picked up the announcement, MLive included a rundown of the sale and its regional implications. Company materials say the transition will be handled to avoid interruptions at restaurants while MRG focuses on its remaining Houston operations, and observers will be watching for details on store-level transitions and employment as Southpaw integrates the Ohio units.
