The Hawthorne Way
Our Story
At Hawthorne Hospitality, we believe great hospitality isn't built by chance — it's built through intentional systems, unforgettable guest experiences, and operational excellence.
Founded by entrepreneur Ashley Simpson, Hawthorne Hospitality specializes in hospitality consulting, team training, cocktail program development, concept creation, and operational scalability. With over 15 years in the hospitality industry and a proven record of building successful concepts from the ground up, we help owners transform ambitious ideas into profitable, sustainable businesses.
From developing Houston favorites Urban Social and Urban Smoke to the launch of The Parlor Reserve, our experience extends beyond theory — we've lived every stage of growth. We've hired teams, built culture, created menus, designed guest experiences, increased profitability, and developed systems that allow businesses to scale without sacrificing quality.
Where the Name Comes From
In the bar world, a Hawthorne strainer is the industry standard — trusted because it's fast, versatile, precise, and built to perform under pressure, especially in high-volume environments. That's exactly what we believe great hospitality operations should be: efficient, consistent, refined, effective.
Then there's the Hawthorne Effect — the idea that people naturally elevate their performance when they know they're being observed. Hospitality has always been built on that principle. Every guest interaction, every cocktail, every detail matters because someone is experiencing it. People rise to the standard that's expected of them.
Those two ideas are the foundation of Hawthorne Hospitality: systems that perform, and people who excel.