General Manager

General Manager – Athenian Grill | Fayette Mall, Lexington, KY

Compensation: $65,000–$75,000 annual salary, based on experience
Position Type: Full-time, salaried (exempt)
Location: Fayette Mall, Lexington, KY

About Athenian Grill

Athenian Grill is a family-owned Greek restaurant group built on fresh ingredients, generous portions, and recipes that have been passed down for generations. What started as one family's kitchen has grown into locations across Kentucky and Ohio, including campus dining and athletics catering. Our Fayette Mall location is one of our busiest, serving a steady stream of shoppers, families, and regulars who count on us for a fast, fresh, and friendly meal. As we continue to grow, we're looking for a strong leader to own this location and set the standard for the rest of the company.

Position Overview

The General Manager is the leader of the Fayette Mall restaurant and is fully responsible for its performance: the guest experience, the team, the food, and the numbers. This is a hands-on role. You'll spend your days on the floor and in the kitchen, not behind a desk, coaching your team in real time, keeping lines moving during peak mall traffic, and making sure every plate that goes out meets our standards. You'll report directly to ownership and work closely with them on staffing, cost control, and growth.

Key Responsibilities

Operations

• Direct all daily restaurant operations, including opening and closing procedures, shift transitions, and line readiness
• Maintain speed of service and order accuracy during high-volume lunch, dinner, weekend, and holiday rushes
• Keep the restaurant, kitchen, and dining area clean, organized, and fully stocked
• Ensure equipment is maintained and coordinate repairs with vendors and mall management as needed
• Follow and enforce all mall operating guidelines, including hours, deliveries, and common-area standards

People Leadership

• Recruit, interview, and hire front- and back-of-house team members
• Onboard and train new hires on food prep, recipes, food safety, customer service, and POS procedures
• Build weekly schedules that meet business needs while staying within labor targets
• Coach, motivate, and hold team members accountable; address performance issues promptly and fairly
• Develop shift leads and identify team members ready for advancement
• Create a positive, respectful work environment that keeps turnover low

Financial Management

• Manage food cost, labor cost, and controllable expenses to meet budget
• Conduct regular inventory counts, place vendor orders, and minimize waste
• Review sales and labor reports and take action on the results
• Oversee cash handling, register accountability, daily deposits, and end-of-day reporting
• Partner with ownership on sales goals and identify opportunities to grow revenue

Food Quality & Safety

• Ensure every menu item is prepared to recipe, portioned correctly, and presented consistently
• Enforce proper food handling, storage, temperature logs, labeling, and rotation
• Maintain full compliance with local health codes and prepare the location for inspections
• Uphold sanitation standards throughout the kitchen and dining area

Guest Experience

• Set the tone for warm, fast, and friendly service at the counter
• Resolve guest complaints quickly and professionally
• Monitor guest feedback and online reviews and act on recurring issues

Qualifications

• 3+ years of restaurant management experience, with at least 1 year as a General Manager or Assistant General Manager; fast-casual, quick-service, or food-court experience strongly preferred
• Proven track record of managing food and labor costs and understanding a P&L
• Experience hiring, training, and scheduling hourly teams
• ServSafe Manager certification required, or ability to obtain within 30 days of hire
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities during peak volume
• Comfortable with POS systems, scheduling software, and basic spreadsheets
• Clear communicator who can lead by example and stay calm under pressure
• Reliable transportation

Schedule & Physical Requirements

• Full-time schedule, typically 50+ hours per week, aligned with mall hours
• Must be available to work nights, weekends, and holidays, including the busy holiday shopping season
• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods, work in a fast-paced kitchen environment, and lift up to 50 lbs

What We Offer

• Annual salary of $65,000–$75,000, based on experience
• A leadership role with direct access to ownership
• Real opportunities for advancement as the company expands into new locations and markets
• Shift meals
• The chance to be part of a family-owned business where your work is seen and valued

Ready to lead? If you're a hands-on restaurant leader who takes pride in great food, strong teams, and a well-run operation, apply today. We'd love to meet you.