Testimonials

“I wanted to thank you for helping me expand my business into a full restaurant. Your communication made this process seamless and we’re so excited to open! You were wonderful and your expertise was a must with the owner-to-owner conversation, helping with the landlord conversation, helping with the Attorney conversations. When I’m ready to expand further or sell my business I’ll definitely be reaching out to you again!!! Thanks again.”

Rebecca with Forma Pasta Sewickley


” I wanted to thank Ed and your team at Sofranko for an extremely well-run sales process for Valkyrie Doughnuts PA Inc.  Resulting in a quick sale of the business.  Your active and very responsive communication was very much appreciated.  In addition, when we reached final negotiations your experience and guidance were helpful and effective.”

– John Pugh


“It was a pleasure to work with the team at Sofranko Advisory Group on a recent business acquisition transaction. The level of expertise this team brings to the table in the hospitality industry is unparalleled in the market. They do a great job finding qualified buyers and helping to create an efficient process to close! As an experienced SBA Lender myself, I would recommend them to anybody looking to buy or sell a business in the industry!”

Tim Kellander


“Thanks to Ron and Matt, and the team at Sofranko Advisors for all your assistance in getting us to the finish line with Shenango Beverage!  It was a pleasure to work with you guys on this transaction, and we’d welcome the opportunity to partner on any future deals that you feel we might be a fit for!”

Tim Kellander


“I recently worked with Ed and the team over at Sofranko’s. Great seamless process, true professionals, I recommend them highly and will work with them in the future if needed.”

Nickolas Klink


“Fantastic service. Working with Chad out of the Scranton Area for the Sofranko Advisory Group. He is very knowledgeable in his field and goes the extra mile to get me timely information.”

-Charlie Rizzo


“I have been partnering with Sofranko Advisor Group for over six months now. Their depth and breath of knowledge, timely service, and sincere care for their clients, partners, and vendors are second to none. I highly recommend them!”

Joseph O’Brien


“I just wanted to thank Micah for helping me through this process. When I had a question or problem understanding something Micah walked me through it, trust me at times it was frustrating, but Micah got me past it all to the finish line, even when I was quick with him he calmed everything down, and steered me in the right direction…..you should be proud to have him as an employee, he’s personal and professional, I appreciate everything he did for me!!!!

Scott Derbish


“Micah was great. He kept us well-informed throughout the process of selling our liquor license. His personality and professionalism helped to ease a potentially stressful situation.”

Matt Kazan


“Working with Micah and the Sofranko Group to obtain our liquor license was a surprisingly smooth experience.  Micah was friendly yet professional, and a pleasure to work with. He responded to emails in a timely fashion and frequently went above and beyond in his efforts to get the job done.  The Sofranko Advisory Group exceeded our expectations.”

Deborah Brodeur, DANIEL”S RESTAURANT + BAR


“Micah was great to work with.  He was able to market our liquor license and find a buyer at a top market price within a fairly short amount of time.  He worked well with the buyer and seller to find terms that worked well for both parties which both had unique circumstances.  He was attentive and able to follow through with the transaction through the final closing.   I would recommend Micah and Sofranko Advisory Group to anyone who is looking to buy or sell a liquor license in PA.”

James Byszewski, Partner, FIFTH STREET CAPITAL PARTNERS


Fantastic service. The sale of our liquor license was handled by Sofranko Advisory Group. They kept us informed throughout its timely process, handled and solved any issues that arose, and filed the appropriate paperwork which carried out a smooth transaction. The level of transparency was refreshing in regard to the sale of our asset. At no point in time did we feel uneducated as to how the transaction was taking place. A Special thanks to Micah for being so accommodating and easy to work with! Can’t recommend them enough.

Phil Gajari, Producer A TASTE OF HISTORY


I’d like to thank Ronald Sofranko for the great job you did for Maxwell’s Pizza Bellevue helping facilitate the liquor license process.
Christina, MAXWELL’S PIZZA


“You guys are a great company. You and Ron have been very patient and informative. Very glad we’re selling through you. People over money is most important to us and you’ve showed that as well.”

-Randy, BOB’S BEVERAGE


“It was my pleasure doing business with Sofranko Advisory Group and my representative Paul Alexander. Paul showed true expertise in the sale of my bar & restaurant. He exceeded all expectations and closed my deal exactly how we discussed. He provided me with constant updates and feedback throughout the process. My experience was second to one. I would highly recommend using Sofranko and Paul in all sides of the bar and restaurant business”.

Justin, IRON CREEK


“Everyone we have dealt with from Sofranko Advisory Group has been diligent, honest, and professional at all times. I have recommended to close friends and will continue to do so in the future.”

Cliff Snatchko, BIG SHOT BOB’S HOUSE OF WINGS


“I can’t Thank you enough for everything you have done for me during the sale of my cafe. You have been nothing but kind, sweet, helpful, and went over & beyond what any client would have expected. Thank you so much for all the after-hours phone calls, emails, and texting. I was so fortunate & grateful to have you as my broker, for you are by far the best!”

Gina Frantz, CAFE DES AMIS


“Made the process of the sale of my liquor license and transfer very simple and I appreciate that!!!”

Timothy Carr, CAPSTONE GRILL


“We were very happy to have her and Sofranko Advisors and appreciated all the time that it saved us. She had a strong sense of the different assets in our business and how each item established value to the local market.  I truly believe she had our best interests at heart.”

Stephen A, Owner, BLUE CANARY CAFE


“She made the entire, complicated process of purchasing a business not only easier and more understandable, but also fun! She was always available to answer questions I had along the way, or just offer support when things were taking longer than expected. I will definitely reach out when I’m ready to purchase my next business!”

Kierston Hobaugh, Owner, THE BREW HOUSE


“The prospect of selling my business seemed like a daunting and stressful task.  Fortunately, I enlisted the services of Sofranko Advisors and had the pleasure of working with. Using their network of restaurant business contacts, they completed the sale in less than five months. They were professional, knowledgeable, and accessible when I had questions. They were a pleasure to work with and helped to make the sale of a business less stressful.”

Dr. Anthony Spinola, Owner, ACROPOLIS GYRO HOUSE & GRILLE


I owned a small successful retail yogurt shop but I had a problem.  I had a full-time job and over a period of time, my wife and I had health and other life issues.  Our issues distracted us from managing the shop appropriately and in addition, we wanted to retire to the south. After trying to sell the shop on my own, my wife convinced me to utilize the Sofranko Advisory Group.  And was I amazed! Thank you, thank you to Team Sofranko.

Bob Dickson, Owner, YUMM FROZEN YOGURT


“Ron was truly an asset through every step of getting our restaurant off the ground.  From finding the right location to helping to secure financing to providing business and financial expertise that could only come with many years of restaurant experience, and to his intimate knowledge of the Pittsburgh food scene, Ron helped make our dream of opening a restaurant a reality.  He has an extensive network of industry professionals and can recommend someone for any possible restaurant needs.  He has continued to provide his insight and feedback well beyond our opening and has always made himself available no matter the circumstances.  We would recommend Ron to anyone thinking about getting into the restaurant industry.”

Michelle Stackiewicz, Owner, THE FOUNDRY


“When my wife Tina and I decided to pursue our vision of developing a contemporary casual restaurant for the underserved North Huntingdon area, the first person we reached out to for support was Ron Sofranko. Simply put, his guidance from concept development to opening was invaluable.

While I had extensive industry experience based on my previous 20-year career with Heinz Foodservice, I didn’t have ‘front line’ restaurant operation experience. Thus, we were able to utilize Ron and his contacts to fast-track our project and ultimately open THE FIREPIT WOOD FIRED GRILL restaurant on time and under budget. Ron also helped us develop management processes across the business which we continue utilizing on a daily basis to ‘drive’ current and future success.

What’s also impressive about Ron is that he continues to take a strong interest in supporting us via his post-opening follow-ups, each at no cost and a testament to his unwavering commitment to each and every client’s success.

We would strongly recommend Ron to anyone looking to open a restaurant for the first time and also to any current restaurateur looking to expand and/or improve performance.”

Jeff Fisher, Owner, THE FIREPIT WOOD FIRED GRILL


“As Executive Director of THE CHAMBER of Commerce, Inc., I would like to take this opportunity to strongly endorse one of our member businesses, The Sofranko Advisory Group. Ron Sofranko and his company have supported THE CHAMBER of Commerce, Inc. by providing expertise and education in his field of experience, as well as having helped support the foundation of this organization.

THE CHAMBER of Commerce, Inc. is an organization of over 1,000 business owners and representatives that represent all of the communities north of Pittsburgh. Ron is a well-known businessman and community leader in this region. The expertise and education that he delivers through consulting services have helped many local and regional businesses grow and thrive.

I also had the privilege of working professionally alongside of Ron in the financial arena. I used him as an expert to assist my commercial business customers in resolving issues that they were facing; he was always extremely helpful.

I would strongly recommend the services of Sofranko Advisory Group.”

Susan Balla
Executive Director, THE CHAMBER of Commerce, Inc.


“The Sofranko Advisory Group (SAG) played an integral role in helping my restaurant concept grow. Specifically, SAG was able to help me obtain financing to open a second restaurant in a much stronger location that where my original venue is located. Additionally, SAG provided valuable insight and advice throughout my new restaurant’s planning and development stages. Furthermore, SAG has demonstrated an ongoing interest in the success of my business, even after my formal professional relationship with the group has ended.

As such, I highly recommend SAG to any restaurateur (or aspiring restaurateur) who would benefit from an experienced mentor to assist in navigation through the pre-opening complexities of restaurant operation.”

Tim Tobitsch
Owner, Franktuary


“As a first-time restaurant owner, I needed advice from an expert. I had the management know-how but not the experience of opening and operating an independent restaurant. Ron Sofranko filled that gap perfectly and more. His command of restaurant financials and key metrics were especially helpful in building and validating the business plan. I was able to tap into his network of relationships developed through decades of experience in the industry. And his hands-on involvement, guidance, and support helped accelerate the planning, design, and build-out of my now acclaimed restaurant. I highly recommend Ron and the services of the Sofranko Advisory Group.”

Jeff Catalina,
Owner, Verde Mexican Kitchen & Cantina


“I first met Ron Sofranko in October of 2012 when I approached him for help in opening my first restaurant, Proper Brick Oven & Tap Room in downtown Pittsburgh. While I had extensive professional sales and marketing experience, as well as a passion for food, wine, and craft beer, I had absolutely no experience in launching or running a restaurant. I was aware of Ron’s solid reputation as an advisor in the hospitality industry as well as a successful past and present restaurant owner. While I had a great concept and marketing plan for the kind of restaurant that I wanted to open, I needed Ron’s industry expertise and networking capabilities to get my plan off the ground.

Opening any restaurant, whether it’s your first or fifteenth, is an overwhelming prospect. There are countless moving parts involved: scouting for a location; securing financing; negotiating a lease; hiring reputable contractors and subcontractors; gaining necessary permits; beginning construction or renovation of the site; complying with local and state governments; and interviewing, hiring, and training staff. These objectives must be met long before you can even consider opening your doors to the public. Ron was invaluable in streamlining such a massive undertaking. He saved me significant time and money by connecting me with other industry professionals whom he had personally vetted. He guided me every step of the way, offering concrete advice and boundless encouragement, and continues to advise me—free of charge, no less—even though my restaurant has already been open for over six months.

So many people fantasize about how much fun it would be to own a restaurant or bar, but they never even come close to the successful execution of their dreams. I was determined not to just dream about it, not to just talk about it, but to actually make it happen. Now I’m the proud owner of Proper Brick Oven & Tap Room, which I opened in August 2013 in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh’s Cultural District. Sales so far have exceeded even my loftiest goals for our first year in business. I doubt I could have achieved this level of success without the guidance and experience of Ron Sofranko. I wholeheartedly encourage anyone who is interested in opening a bar or restaurant to invest in Ron’s services.”

Suzanne Hrach
Proprietress
Proper Brick Oven & Tap Room
139 7th Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15222


My wife and I always dreamed of opening a restaurant. However, without much restaurant experience, talk of opening a restaurant was just something we did instead of talking about our boring, corporate America jobs. That all changed once we met Ron Sofranko. Ron gave us the tools to turn our dream into reality.

Eight months ago we opened Tapped Brick Oven & Pour House and I am confident in saying we could not have done it without Ron. From our initial meeting until the day we opened for business, Ron was there for us for whatever we needed. What I liked the most about Ron was that he was willing to help as much or as little as we needed. With his contacts and industry knowledge, he made the transition to restaurant owner as easy as possible.

My wife and I consider Ron a friend and we still reach out to him from time to time for advice which he is happy to provide.   When we decide to expand, there is no doubt that Ron Sofranko will be one of the 1st people I reach out to for assistance.

Julie and Eric Jones

Tapped Brick Oven & Pour House


Dear Ron,

I would be remiss if I did not formally thank you for taking me on as a client to assist me in realizing my dream of owning a craft beer bottle shop.

After working in the corporate health care world for 36 years and having my position eliminated for the last time, I dreaded the thought of having to do the job search “thing” at my age. I decided to pursue a career that involved my passion for fine craft beer. I had extensive management experience but was in no way prepared to navigate the perilous unknowns of starting my own business. Where and how do I get started?   How do I develop a business plan? Where do I get funding? How much money do I need? Where and how do I get a liquor license?   And how do I orchestrate all of these things to come together into a business?

Obviously, I had no expertise in any of these areas. Without your extensive knowledge and decades of experience, I could never have moved off square-one, let alone become the owner and manager of Western Pennsylvania’s most progressive bottle shop with 1200 beers in stock, with an expanding, profitable restaurant business.

Being a craft beer enthusiast and home-brewer, my dream of owning my own bottle shop is a now a reality thanks to you and your staff, and the many good people you’ve referred to me. I couldn’t have done it without you, Ron. I am now experiencing the sheer joy of working for myself and my vision, instead of breaking my back for someone else’s dreams.

With your continued guidance, I’m confident that House of 1000 Beers will not only become more successful, but will become a local craft beer giant in the market place with multiple locations. We will become the standard to which all other bottle shops will be compared.

I would highly recommend your firm to anyone who has a driving motivation to pursue their dreams in the restaurant/bar business, be it their first or tenth start-up. You’re on top of the current trends, new products, and marketing profiles so this would help anyone at any stage.

Arthur Barbus

Owner, House of 1000 Beers