Title: Cofounder and Board Member
Company: Hamco Inc.
Location: Bannockburn, Illinois, United States
Michael J. Farrell, co-founder and Board Member at Hamco Inc., has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Business Owners for dedication, achievements, and leadership in food service.
Since its establishment in 1985, Mr. Farrell has played a pivotal role in the success of Hamco Inc., a restaurant development company responsible for the Egg Harbor Cafe breakfast restaurant franchise. Under his leadership, the company has expanded to develop 24 Egg Harbor Cafe Restaurants across three states. As one of the company founders and a visionary businessman, he undertook a diverse range of tasks in the initial stages of development. Despite lacking experience in the restaurant industry, he delved into training in Pacific Grove, California, leveraging his background as a professional salesperson. Through hands-on experience, he acquired the essential skills for running a profitable restaurant and establishing a successful business. His journey involved various roles, from washing dishes to even serving as the organization’s president and chief executive officer for decades. In 2023, he stepped back from his leadership positions and transitioned the business to the third generation, with his son at the helm. He now acts as a board member, overseeing the company from a distance while still maintaining involvement.
Conceptualized Mr. Farrell’s father-in-law, the first Egg Harbor Cafe opened in Hinsdale, Illinois, in 1985. Through collaborative effort, he and his father-in-law laid the foundation for their successful venture. Mr. Farrell authored the company’s operations manual when technology was limited to word processors and landlines and utilized his Bachelor of Arts in journalism from the University of Oregon to address various challenges in the restaurant industry, from coordinating food orders to delivering exceptional customer service. Now, Egg Harbor Cafe is a habitual favorite for many, providing a consistent and welcoming experience that has earned them loyal customers who visit regularly. Inspired by his father-in-law’s love of breakfast restaurants, Egg Harbor café serves as both an eatery and a third space for people to gather and build community.
Having dedicated his entire life to building Hamco Inc. and Egg Harbor Cafe, in 2023, Mr. Farrell, along with his wife and father-in-law, made the difficult decision to step back from the business to make way for the next generation. The company remains in his family, with his daughter Cassidy and her husband serving as regional developers in Atlanta and his son Matthew serving as the chief executive officer and president of the company. In this role, his son has excelled in data management and implemented effective strategies such as scoreboards and checklists to drive business growth and enhance the company’s reputation with employees and customers.
Over the coming years, Mr. Farrell aims to expand Egg Harbor Cafe to 32 stores and extend the restaurant’s presence to at least two additional states, South Carolina and North Carolina. He plans to retire within the next five years, but he intends to maintain a presence on the company’s board for as long as he is able. To return some of his success to the community, he is involved with Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and other philanthropic efforts. He is proud to have upheld his father-in-law’s vision for the company and fondly recalls how he, his father-in-law and his now-wife would frequently visit various breakfast restaurants in Chicago.
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