Dog Haus Names Chris Rigassio President

Dog Haus, a fast-casual restaurant concept known for gourmet burgers, bratwurst and brews, has appointed Chris Rigassio president and chief development officer. Rigassio is an industry leader with expertise as a multi-unit franchise owner of Jersey Mike’s Subs and Wingstop. He is now responsible for leading Dog Haus’ nationwide area director system and implementing comprehensive development initiatives.

“Over the years, I’ve followed the brand closely and offered guidance around growth and development. This opportunity came together organically through those relationships and conversations,” Rigassio said. “I’ve always believed timing is everything when it comes to taking big swings in your career. With my experience on both the franchisor and franchisee side, and with the strong foundation Dog Haus has built, I’m excited to help scale a great franchisor, support franchise owners and contribute to building a system that creates long-term success across the brand.”

He said his time on the area director team at Jersey Mike’s gives him a firsthand understanding of what driving execution and consistency across a growing system looks like. “For Dog Haus, continued success comes down to staying focused on supporting franchisees, building strong operational systems and maintaining a culture that attracts great people. When you combine those elements with a strong brand, growth tends to follow.”

A major focus for Rigassio is developing leaders by giving them opportunities to grow, take ownership and perform effectively. “I encourage leaders to lean on their peers, share ideas and solve challenges together. The strongest organizations are built by teams, not individuals.”

Rigassio is joined on the leadership team by Garen Khodaverdian, the new chief operating officer. These additions come amid the fast-casual brand’s rollout of a 50-unit development deal.

Michael Montagano, CEO of Dog Haus, said Rigassio and Khodaverdian are the leaders to take the brand to the next level. “Chris and Garen bring an unmatched combination of operational excellence, franchisee experience and strategic vision to our table. I’ve known both for years and watched them build impressive portfolios as franchise operators and business leaders,” Montagano said.

In addition to being passionate about franchising, Rigassio is a big fan of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. “There are actually a lot of similarities between jiu-jitsu and running a business — both require discipline, patience, problem-solving and the ability to stay calm and strategic when the pressure is on.”

Dog Haus was founded by longtime friends Hagop Giragossian, Quasim Riaz and André Vener in Pasadena, Calif., in 2010. Since then, the fast-casual franchise has grown to more than 50 locations nationwide. Dog Haus’ all-beef hot dogs and handcrafted sausages are made with no added nitrates, and its 100% Black Angus beef Smashburgers are hormone- and antibiotic-free.