Since its inception on January 1, 2002, McIndy Ventures has grown one store at a time. During the years 2002 through 2005, McIndy grew slowly in an attempt get accustomed to the brand, attract quality managers, and locate the best restaurant sites available.

Each step of the way, McIndy’s leadership has insisted each store operate at the highest levels possible applying lofty standards to be applied on a consistent basis. Although no restaurant is perfect, McIndy has developed a reputation for excellence shared by its regular guests and among other McAlister’s Deli franchisees. An instrumental part of achieving the success they have enjoyed to date was the hiring of Kent Mabe in 2002.

Kent was hired as the General Manager of the initial restaurant opened in Carmel, Indiana in September, 2002.  Since then, he has placed his fingerprint on every McIndy restaurant opened to date. In 2005, Kent received the “Operator of the Year” award from McAlister’s Corporation for his achievements in operational excellence.  Kent is now McIndy’s Chief Operating Officer. He came to McIndy with valuable management experience from a variety of locations most notably Outback Steakhouse. It was his experience at Outback that molded McIndy’s operational execution and service standards.