# Saad Nadhir

> Saad Nadhir is the co-founder and CEO of Urban Plates and the founder and CEO of Blue Link Wireless. Raised around his family’s Detroit-area grocery business, he practiced law before taking leadership roles in Blockbuster’s expansion, Boston Chicken/Boston Market, discount retail and wireless retail. He and John Zagara opened the first Urban Plates in Del Mar in 2011. The Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce honored him as its 2026 Businessperson of the Year.

- **Role:** Co-founder and CEO at Urban Plates; founder and CEO at Blue Link Wireless
- **Organizations:** Urban Plates, Blue Link Wireless, Blockbuster Entertainment Corporation, Boston Chicken / Boston Market, Einstein/Noah Bagel, Waldo’s Dollar Mart–Mexico, PCS Mobile Solutions, University of Detroit Mercy
- **Education:** Bachelor of Business Administration, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Juris Doctor, University of Detroit School of Law (now University of Detroit Mercy School of Law), Master of Laws, University of Miami School of Law
- **Known for:** Co-founded Urban Plates, which opened its first restaurant in 2011., Held leadership roles during Boston Chicken’s expansion to more than 1,000 restaurants., Developed the first 75 Waldo’s Dollar Mart stores in Mexico before selling his interest.

## Career timeline

- **Early career** — Worked in his family’s grocery business in the Detroit area; later practiced real estate law in Dallas.
- **1980** — Graduated from University of Detroit School of Law.
- **1980s-1990s** — Held development and international leadership responsibilities at Blockbuster.
- **1992** — Joined partners in acquiring Boston Chicken; later held senior leadership roles as the company expanded and became Boston Market.
- **Before 2011** — Co-founded Waldo’s Dollar Mart–Mexico and developed its first 75 stores before selling his interest.
- **2011** — Opened the first Urban Plates with John Zagara in Del Mar, California.
- **2018** — Urban Plates announced a $38 million loan from Goldman Sachs Specialty Lending Group.
- **2019** — Detroit Mercy Law’s fall magazine reported his appointment to the university’s board of trustees.
- **2021** — Urban Plates introduced Plate Pass.
- **2023** — Urban Plates revised Plate Pass and closed $27 million in financing from funds managed by Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital.
- **2026** — Honored as CACC Businessperson of the Year at the April 23 awards dinner.

## Achievements

- Co-founded Urban Plates, which opened its first restaurant in 2011.
- Held leadership roles during Boston Chicken’s expansion to more than 1,000 restaurants.
- Developed the first 75 Waldo’s Dollar Mart stores in Mexico before selling his interest.
- Led PCS Mobile Solutions to 72 locations in seven states.
- Urban Plates closed a $27 million financing transaction in August 2023.
- Received the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce’s 2026 Businessperson of the Year honor.

## Latest updates

- **2026-04** — Received the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce’s Businessperson of the Year honor at its April 23 dinner at Shenandoah Country Club.
- **2026-01** — A Chaldean News profile identified him as Urban Plates co-founder and CEO and reported 22 California restaurants and approximately 1,000 team members at that time.
- **2025-12** — Shared his career story at a Restaurant Leaders Lunch hosted by Urban Plates in Aliso Viejo; a public LinkedIn post includes video.

## Links

- Website: https://urbanplates.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saad-nadhir-31998847/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/saad-nadhir
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-22