Croquet Cafe General Manager

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

The Croquet Cafe is a modern, uniquely Nashville, nonprofit cafe that offers locally crafted food and drink in the heart of scenic Centennial Park, where every visit nourishes guests and the Park they love. The cafe is a collaboration between Metro Parks and its nonprofit support group, Centennial Park Conservancy. The cafe will be operated by The Conservancy, in partnership with local restaurateur The Grilled Cheeserie, and it is expected to open in August.

Centennial Park Conservancy sustains the vibrancy of Nashville’s Centennial Park, home to the historic Parthenon, by supporting Metro Parks in revitalizing and activating this public green space to ensure the Park remains a welcoming destination for recreation, culture, education, and community connection for all. The Croquet Cafe is located in a historic building, which has been repurposed from its initial use as the Centennial Park Croquet Clubhouse in the 1960s. The Cafe will enhance the Park experience and nourish visitors with authentic, local cuisine within the Park’s natural beauty –- enriching every visit and supporting its vibrancy. The fast casual concept focuses on serving sandwiches, wraps, salads, coffee, ice cream, smoothies, pastries, picnic boxes, and more.

ABOUT THE POSITION

We are seeking a General Manager to launch and lead Croquet Cafe - the first restaurant located within Nashville’s historic Centennial Park. This is a rare opportunity to shape the culture, guest experience, and operations of a destination cafe that will serve park visitors, tourists, and the entire Nashville community. As General Manager, you won’t simply manage a restaurant, you’ll help create a gathering place at one of the city’s most beloved landmarks. The cafe is unique in that it’s a non-profit with proceeds supporting the Park’s revitalization, beautification, Parthenon Preservation, and Centennial Park Conservancy’s mission.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Croquet Cafe General Manager will have the following primary responsibilities:

• Lead all aspects of café operations, including guest experience, team development, and financial performance
• Recruit, hire, train, and inspire a best-in-class team
• Establish service standards and operational systems from the ground up
• Foster a culture of hospitality, accountability, and excellence
• Manage labor, inventory, purchasing, and cost controls
• Ensure exceptional food, beverage, and service quality
• Build relationships within the local community
• Drive sales growth while maintaining an outstanding guest experience
• Ensure compliance with all health, safety, and operational standards

QUALIFICATIONS

The ideal General Manager will possess most of the following qualifications:

• An experienced hospitality leader with 3+ years of General Manager experience in cafés, fast-casual restaurants, or hospitality-driven concepts
• Passionate about people development and team building
• Comfortable leading in a fast-paced, high-volume environment
• Skilled in financial management, labor planning, and operational execution
• A natural problem solver with strong communication skills
• Excited by the opportunity to open and build a restaurant from the ground up

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

• Compensation commensurate with experience
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits
• Paid Time Off
• Retirement plan with a company match

WHY THIS OPPORTUNITY IS DIFFERENT

• Lead Centennial Park’s first restaurant, which is expected to become a gathering place for our community
• Play a key role in shaping a new Nashville destination located one of the city’s most iconic and beautiful settings
• Build your own team and culture from opening day
• Receive a competitive salary, bonus potential, benefits, and growth opportunities
• Serve a non-profit mission to activate and revitalize Nashville’s central park

JOIN US

If you’re a hospitality professional who thrives on creating memorable guest experiences, building strong teams, and bringing new concepts to life, we’d love to meet you.

Apply on Indeed with your resume and a brief introduction telling us why you’re the right leader to open Nashville’s newest cafe destination.

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person