Quick service restaurant operator Southpaw has acquired a portfolio of 43 Taco Bell locations situated in Columbus, Ohio.

The transaction marks the company’s initial expansion into the Columbus metropolitan area, expanding Southpaw’s total Taco Bell network to more than 185 locations across seven states. 

When combined with its existing Dunkin’ franchises, the company’s total portfolio now exceeds 230 restaurants spanning nine states, generating more than $475 million in annual sales and employing approximately 5000 people. 

Southpaw intends to manage the newly acquired Ohio assets via an established, in-state leadership team. 

The company plans to use the regional expansion to anchor subsequent investments in localized finance, technology, and operations.

Founded in 2009 by Judd Wishnow and Erica Spector Wishnow, the Greenwich, Connecticut-based firm has pursued an asset-acquisition strategy to expand its presence in the fast-food sector. 

The Ohio transaction follows previous multi-unit acquisitions by the group, which included the purchase of nearly 40 Taco Bell locations in Atlanta, Georgia, in June 2023, and 16 locations in Shreveport, Louisiana, in 2024. 

“This acquisition is a reflection of the culture we have built from the ground up at Southpaw – one that starts at the top and is carried through every level of our organization,” said Erica Spector Wishnow, co-founder and co-CEO of Southpaw. 

“Successfully scaling that culture across thousands of employees and hundreds of locations is no small feat, and it is what sets us apart as an operator. We look forward to bringing that same energy and discipline to our new Columbus locations.”