You may not know Warren Thompson by name, but chances are, you’ve eaten his food, walked through his spaces, or benefited from the opportunities he’s created. Thompson is one of those rare, visionary entrepreneurs whose impact is everywhere, even if his profile isn’t. Born and raised in Virginia’s Tidewater region, Thompson built a company that quietly reshaped the foodservice and hospitality landscape in the Commonwealth and beyond. 

After earning his undergraduate degree from Hampden-Sydney College and an MBA from the University of Virginia, Thompson launched what would become Thompson Hospitality in 1992. His first major move was acquiring 31 Bob’s Big Boy restaurants from Marriott, an ambitious bet that laid the foundation for everything that followed. 

Today, Thompson Hospitality is the largest minority-owned foodservice company in the United States and one of the nation’s largest retail food and facilities management firms. Headquartered in Northern Virginia, the company employs more than 6,000 people nationwide, generates nearly $1 billion in annual revenue, owns and operates more than 70 restaurants, and partners with colleges, universities, and major corporations across the country. 

If you’ve dined in National Landing, chances are you’ve already experienced Warren Thompson’s work. You may have grabbed a meal at Matchbox in Fashion Centre, picked up pizza from Wiseguy Pizza in Pentagon Centre, or visited his newest National Landing restaurant, Makers Union, located in Met Park. Since opening in 2023, Makers Union has posted double-digit growth—nearly a 10 percent increase year over year—underscoring the strength of Thompson’s approach and the appetite for high-quality, experience-driven dining in the district. 

And he’s not done. Thompson has been clear that he enjoys doing business in National Landing and sees this moment as an especially exciting one for the neighborhood’s evolution. Looking ahead, he’s hoping to expand additional concepts into the area, including Big Buns Damn Good Burgers—his elevated burger concept—and Milk & Honey Café, a customer favorite known for its Southern flavors and soulful, welcoming ambiance. 

At the core of Thompson’s strategy is a portfolio mindset: he doesn’t just market individual restaurants, he introduces customers to an entire ecosystem of experiences. That philosophy is evident in newer concepts like Peach’s Southern Kitchen, which draws diners from across the Commonwealth. The restaurant is a deeply personal tribute, honoring Thompson’s enterprising grandmother, a midwife who delivered more than 1,200 babies. In Peach’s, hospitality becomes heritage—proof that for Thompson, growth is never just about scale, but about story, community, and legacy. 

Family has always been central to Warren Thompson’s worldview—and that sense of responsibility extends well beyond his immediate household to the broader African American community. Through Thompson Hospitality, Thompson operates foodservice programs at 18 historically Black colleges and universities, a tangible expression of his long-standing commitment to institutions that have educated, empowered, and sustained generations of Black leaders. 

That commitment is deeply personal. Both of Thompson’s parents, Fred and Ruby Thompson, are proud alumni of Virginia State University. In their honor, Thompson made a transformative $1 million donation to the university, recognizing not only the role VSU played in shaping his family’s story, but also its continued importance as a pillar of opportunity for future generations. The gift marked the Thompson family’s second seven-figure contribution to the university, following an initial $1 million pledge made in 2011. Hail State! 

For Thompson, these investments are not symbolic gestures, they are extensions of legacy. By strengthening HBCUs and honoring the institutions that shaped his parents’ lives, he reinforces a simple but powerful belief: success is most meaningful when it is shared, and prosperity carries with it a responsibility to lift others along the way. 

As National Landing continues to evolve into one of the region’s most dynamic, connected, and opportunity-rich districts, Warren Thompson’s presence feels both timely and foundational. His restaurants don’t simply fill storefronts, they create gathering places, generate jobs, and reflect a belief that hospitality can be both profitable and purposeful. In many ways, Thompson’s story mirrors the promise of National Landing itself: rooted in Virginia, ambitious in vision, and committed to building something that lasts.