# Robert Thompson

> Robert Thompson is a hospitality entrepreneur and the founder and former CEO of Punch Bowl Social. He opened his first Nashville venue in 1997, launched Punch Bowl Social in Denver in 2012, and later pursued boutique hotels through Angevin & Co., Jaguar Bolera and the proposed Valhalla SC Arena. His work combines food, drinks, games and place-specific design.

- **Role:** Founder, Valhalla SC Arena (announced project)
- **Organizations:** Punch Bowl Social, Angevin & Co., Buffalo Billiards & Havana Lounge, Jaguar Bolera, Joy Trade, Camp Pickle (former contracted management role), Three Saints Revival (closed), Valhalla SC Arena (announced project)
- **Education:** Regis University
- **Known for:** Founded Punch Bowl Social and built it into a national business of approximately 20 locations during his tenure., Received EY Entrepreneur Of The Year recognition in the Mountain Desert region’s restaurant category in 2017., Punch Bowl Social was included in Fast Company’s 2019 list of the world’s 50 most innovative companies.

## Career timeline

- **1997** — Opened Buffalo Billiards & Havana Lounge in Nashville at age 25.
- **2010** — Began developing Punch Bowl Social.
- **2012** — Opened the first Punch Bowl Social in Denver’s Baker neighborhood.
- **2017** — Punch Bowl Social received a growth investment from L Catterton; Thompson received an EY regional restaurant entrepreneurship award.
- **2019** — Punch Bowl Social appeared on Fast Company’s 50 most innovative companies list.
- **2020** — Resigned as Punch Bowl Social CEO in August.
- **2021** — Moved with his family to New Orleans; Angevin & Co. purchased the Frenchmen Hotel; opened Three Saints Revival in Denver.
- **2024** — Three Saints Revival closed in February; Jaguar Bolera opened in Raleigh in May.
- **2025** — Announced Valhalla SC Arena in April; described the project as exploratory in November and stated he had previously left his Camp Pickle contract role.

## Achievements

- Founded Punch Bowl Social and built it into a national business of approximately 20 locations during his tenure.
- Received EY Entrepreneur Of The Year recognition in the Mountain Desert region’s restaurant category in 2017.
- Punch Bowl Social was included in Fast Company’s 2019 list of the world’s 50 most innovative companies.
- Developed adaptive reuse venues including a former San Diego boxing arena and Denver’s former Stapleton airport control tower base.

## Latest updates

- **2025-11** — Said he had resigned from his contracted Camp Pickle management role more than a year earlier, was not an owner and was outside its current operations; described Valhalla as early and exploratory.
- **2025-04** — Publicly introduced Valhalla SC Arena and discussed the concept on the Profluence podcast.
- **2024-05** — Jaguar Bolera opened its first location at Raleigh Iron Works.
- **2024-02** — Three Saints Revival in Denver closed.

## Links

- Website: https://www.angevinco.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-thompson

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/robert-thompson
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-15