clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Marc Vetri Quits Urban Outfitters

The Philly chef sold most of his restaurants to the company in 2015

Marc Vetri
Photo by Kris Connor/Getty Images for NYCWFF

Two years ago, Marc Vetri and Jeff Benjamin sold their restaurant group, including Amis, Osteria, Alla Spina, Pizzeria Vetri, and LoSpiedo (now Bar Amis), to Philly-based Urban Outfitters. This past summer, Benjamin left the company. And now it’s Vetri’s turn to say goodbye. The James Beard Award-winning chef announced Sunday in an Instagram post that he stepped down from his executive position with URBN, which, in addition to the Urban Outfitters chain, owns Free People, Anthropologie, and Terrain.

In the post announcing his departure, Vetri had this to say:

After two years with URBN I feel we have given them all the tools they need to succeed and grow this company to its fullest potential. It’s a bittersweet day for me but I feel that it’s time to step down and leave them the room they need to grow. I have nothing but admiration and respect for everyone who I met in my journey over the last two years.

Going forward, look for the chef at Vetri Cucina, his landmark Italian restaurant on Spruce Street turning 20 next year. It was not included in the 2015 sale. He’s also in the process of opening a second Vetri Cucina, this one in Las Vegas.

Vetri and Benjamin are still involved in the charitable organization Vetri Community Partnership. Benjamin recently signed on as head of operations at the upcoming Fitler Club, a private lifestyle club where Kevin Sbraga will be culinary director.

Here is Vetri’s full announcement:

This holiday season I’m thankful for so much, but mostly for the family that we have grown and nurtured over the last 10 years since we opened up our second restaurant @osteriaphilly Since then JB and I went from 10 years of 12 people at one restaurant to 400 plus co-workers, built an amazing team, created multiple Italian concepts, founded a partnership to help children understand that healthy eating leads to healthy living, and had the good fortune to join forces with an incredible company in @urbncommunity to try and scale what we had birthed. After two years with URBN I feel we have given them all the tools they need to succeed and grow this company to its fullest potential. It’s a bittersweet day for me but I feel that it’s time to step down and leave them the room they need to grow. I have nothing but admiration and respect for everyone who I met in my journey over the last two years...especially the entire Hayne family who I have always had and will continue to have mad respect for. I can’t thank everyone here but I have to give a couple shout outs to @jeffreymichaud @chefbradspence @sommillionaire all of whom helped us grow and nurture this company...all the amazing core team members past and present all of whom I can’t possibly mention here. As for me, you’ll still find me at @vetricucinaphl and with @vetricommunity everyday doing what I have loved to do for the last 20 years here! Cook! Peace! ❤️

A post shared by marcvetri (@marcvetri) on

Vetri

1312 Spruce Street, , PA 19107 (215) 732-3478 Visit Website