THAT TEAM

KEVIN HEINONEN - FOUNDER, OWNER

Kevin sometimes refers to himself as an "accidental restauranteur", due to the fact that the industry found him, as opposed to him finding the industry. He is a lawyer by trade, which happens to come in handy as a restaurant Owner.

​

Kevin has been at the helm since May of 2009 when Tinderbox Kitchen first opened. His tenacity & passion for Hospitality have unquestionably built this company into what it is today.

MIKE SCHMITZ - EXECUTIVE CHEF, OWNER

Mike Schmitz came to us from Champaign-Urbana, IL, in 2014. His incredible talent & passion for food drove him from prep cook, to Executive Chef, across all of THAT Place Projects concepts.

​

Mike is a machine with a core engine of innovation that powers the culinary heart of THAT Place Projects.

NICK WILLIAMS - COO, OWNER

Nick found his start with THAT Place Projects Restaurant Group at the Annex Cocktail Lounge in the summer of 2013, as a bar back. He quickly rose to lead the bar program into a new era of craft cocktails, & in 2017, bought in as an Owner with Kevin.

​

His passion lies in the pursuit of creating an experience for each guest that is curated, comfortable, nostalgic & transformative at the same time.