Founder & CEO, Fork & Dagger Hospitality (Tempe, AZ)
Julian Wright, an Arizona State University graduate (Summa Cum Laude, 1995), has been working his way up in the restaurant and bar business since his first job washing dishes in Boyertown, PA in 1985. In 1997 he relocated from his home in Boulder, CO back to Tempe, Arizona and eventually opened his first restaurant and bar called Jax Thai Bar on Mill Avenue in the summer of 2000. Since then he has opened 14 concepts over three states including The Library Bar & Grill, La Bocca Pizzeria, Canteen Modern Tequila Bar, and Pedal Haus Brewery.
Julian is known as a hands-on owner who is heavily involved in conceptualizing, designing, and running his businesses. His latest venture, Pedal Haus Brewery, was inspired by Julian’s love of traveling through Europe where he was born and still has family. Pedal Haus specializes in European-style beers and has won over 30 medals including Best Brewery in the United States at the 2019 Copa Cervezas de America.
In 2015, Julian was awarded the Business Community Impact person of the year for Tempe, Arizona and in 2016 the Restaurateur of the Year award for the State of Arizona by the Arizona Culinary Hall of Fame. He also volunteers as a national director for the Navy League of the United States, a citizen’s in support of seas services organization.