Regina Bryant

Spitz Mediterranean Street Food • Village at the Peaks • Longmont, CO

In the midst of a successful 10+ year wealth management banking career, 2020 threw a curveball at Regina Bryant. The sudden uncertainties that shook the world shook her too, and brought a change of heart — ultimately Regina realized it was time to make a change and strike out on her own. She knew leaving corporate America could be risky, so she cooked up a surefire plan that would bring some unforgettable flavors to her hungry home state.

Regina discovered those flavors in 2015 at a place called Spitz Mediterranean Street Food, while she was serving in the Army in Salt Lake City. She instantly became a diehard fan. Spitz is a modern take on the Mediterranean bites that are ubiquitous in the streets of Europe. Since moving to Colorado, Regina had constantly yearned for it. She couldn’t find anything like Spitz, and wondered why it hadn’t made its way across the Rockies. Confident that the mouthwatering eatery would be a mile-high hit, she sought a franchise, found a location at Village at the Peaks, and never looked back.

Of course, there’s a little more than that to the story. The entree into ownership was an arduous climb for Regina. She had the financial know-how, but no experience at all in the restaurant business. “I was drinking from a firehose,” Regina recalled. Instead of drowning, however, she built a leadership team to help her with aspects outside of her wheelhouse. NewMark Merrill came to the rescue during the space buildout which was particularly time-consuming and tedious. “NewMark Merrill was amazing during the construction process.” says Regina. “We had so many obstacles that delayed the construction project, and NMC was gracious and very forgiving during all of it.” The perseverance and hard work paid off. Regina’s Spitz location, the first in Colorado, opened to raves in 2022.

In the building of her business, Regina has realized that her true passion is the opportunity to lend a hand and give back. “I love to help people, and I love to give people a means to succeed,” she says. Investing in her own team is part of the business model at Spitz. Every employee is offered medical, dental, vision and supplementary life insurance, and full time employees also have a 401k match plan. To promote growth opportunities, she has implemented a mentorship program for employees who show promise as future leaders.

NewMark Merrill’s ongoing support has continued since Regina opened her doors. She’s so grateful to be part of a NewMark Merrill property and realizes they’ve set the property owner bar high. She knows so much more as a result of their partnership and looks forward to finding the perfect spot for Spitz #2 (hopefully at a NMC property!).