Cameron Mitchell knew he wanted to become a restaurant industry leader when he was just 18. He believed in himself, despite significant obstacles he had to overcome, but he needed others to have faith in him to make the “incredible” possible.
“I remember the feeling of just starting out and having nothing … counting change for groceries,” Mitchell said. “I will never forget what it feels like to go without.”
Thirty-one years and 100-plus restaurants later in the Cameron Mitchell Restaurants brand, Mitchell’s strong commitment to education and future generations hasn’t wavered. If anything, his desire to support others is stronger than ever.
“I believe deeply in caring for people and giving back as much as possible.”
He also is known for holding his origins close to his heart.
“I carry a sincere gratitude and remembrance of having great mentors – and eventually investors and purveyors – who stepped in to keep me moving forward and believing in the best version of my future. And I had the ability to recognize just who those mentors should be.”
“CMR’s success is a testament to how powerful having faith in people can be.”
Mitchell has wasted no time in paying forward the faith others entrusted to him. In addition to the impactful philanthropic work he has done within communities the restaurant group serves; Mitchell is passing on his belief in others through CMR’s partnership with the College of Education and Human Ecology.
The company has invested over $1 million in support of Campbell Hall renovations, which will help create well-equipped research and teaching kitchens. CMR also created scholarship opportunities through The Ohio State University Scarlet and Gray 1:1 match program.
As a part of this program, individuals or companies that contributed $100,000 or more qualified for a one-to-one match from the Cameron Mitchell Restaurants fund, creating new, endowed scholarship funds and adding to existing endowed funds for the college’s Hospitality Management undergraduate students.
“As an institution founded on hope and promise, we hold a profound belief in the transformative power of faith in people,” said Don Pope-Davis, dean of the college. “Cameron Mitchell Restaurants’ involvement not only strengthens our mission, but ensures we remain at the forefront of progress and transformation. We are truly fortunate to collaborate with industry leaders who are dedicated to shaping the ongoing journey of growth and excellence in hospitality education.”
Mitchell says he hopes that students catch the feeling of belonging he experienced when standing in the center of a Max and Erma’s Restaurant as a young line cook.
“In that moment, I knew I loved the business and was set to make it a lifelong career.”
History has proven that when Mitchell sets his mind to something, he works to make things happen.
Challenging beginnings
Things weren’t always easy for Mitchell. His life had a rocky start; he was a child of divorce and lived on the “have nots” side of a wealthy community – those resources remained out of reach for him. His upbringing led him down a path of recklessness as a teenager that found him choosing life on the streets.
“I had grown into an angry young man, and the fear that was fueling that anger sent me on the run,” he said.
All the while, Mitchell recalls knowing that, deep down, his rebelliousness was not his true nature — that he was doing wrong. He just didn’t know how to find the way back to himself. But an experience he has credited to ‘Divine intervention’ ended his sprint toward a troubled life.
“It was the night before my junior year of high school. I was in an apartment I was sharing with my ‘newfound (street) family’ when I felt an overwhelming force, something I still cannot explain, lift me up off the couch and send me over to the phone, where I called my mother. I had no intention of doing so. Hearing my mother’s voice on the other end of the line moved me to tell her I was coming home.”
Upon his return home, Mitchell said he was able to face the truth of his situation with clarity. He also had to come to terms that it would be up to him to take care of himself. His divorced, single mother could not provide beyond basic needs.
“Not being successful wasn’t ever an option.”
After graduation, Mitchell recalled feeling left behind by friends who had resources to attend college and feeling miserably stuck. “I still believed in myself and knew I could succeed, I just didn’t quite know how,” Mitchell said.
Things began to turn around for Mitchell, and his actions started matching his belief in himself. That’s when he discovered how powerful faith in people can be. Mitchell saw a brighter possibility for his own life.
“The best advice I can offer young people starting out is to always remember: Trust takes years to build, seconds to break and forever to repair.”
Pathway to empowerment and belonging
“I like to encourage young people to dream big, think big and challenge themselves with what if questions,” Mitchell said.
“It is important for me to pass on a legacy of inspiration and motivation — this is the key to fostering faith in others.”
Mitchell’s support to the college also provides the opportunity to address deeper systemic issues.
Anne Turpin, clinical assistant professor in the Hospitality Management program and director of the Hospitality Management Advisory Board, has great expectations for future collaboration.
“I hope this partnership will continue to shape the future workforce in a way that embraces inclusivity and opportunity for all, regardless of their starting point in their journey,” Turpin said. “Cameron’s journey from the kitchen to the boardroom is a powerful example that illustrates how we each hold the potential to define our path forward.”
“Through the support of Cameron Mitchell Restaurants and role models like Cameron himself, our program is uniquely positioned to offer students not only a high-quality education, but also a supportive community that fuels both ambition and belonging,” she said.
Turpin said Mitchell has had a profound influence on her approach as an educator.
“Cameron’s philosophy of saying yes before they even know the question – whatever it is they will find a way – is something I’ve embraced, use regularly, and pass on to students,” Turpin said.
The practice of saying yes invites students to approach challenges creatively, making solutions possible even when the path isn’t obvious, Turpin said. It is a philosophy that brings fun, fulfillment and true hospitality to the work.
“I will never forget the time and resources Cameron has invested in helping us to benchmark our program against others. The knowledge we gained from that experience still influences decisions in my current role, over a decade later,” Turpin said.
Looking ahead
Since his days as a teenager on the street — and likely because of them — Mitchell has become a symbol of how there is nothing more transformative than believing in a brighter possibility.
Lessons learned empowered Mitchell to open his first restaurant at 30, and eventually open more than 100 in total. But more than building a restaurant empire, he built a community grounded in trust that nurtured growth focused on being better every day.
“It has taken many years of hard work, looking in the mirror to hold myself accountable and never forgetting those who stood with me, in good times and bad, and holding true to the values of the company and our people,” Mitchell said.
“It’s also always good to remember how powerful faith in people can be.”
Founded by Cameron Mitchell in 1993, Cameron Mitchell Restaurants, LLC (CMR) has built a diverse portfolio of varied concepts, ranging from multi-location, upscale destinations to single neighborhood favorites. Today, CMR operates 50 restaurants company-wide under 20 different concepts, with 23 locations in Columbus, Ohio, including Budd Dairy Food Hall. In addition, Cameron Mitchell Premier Events, the premier catering and event planning company in Central Ohio, oversees three venues in Columbus. The national Ocean Prime brand has 19 locations in 4 states plus the District of Columbia, with upcoming locations opening in Sarasota and Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and Nashville, Tennessee, in 2024-2025. The Rusty Bucket Restaurant and Tavern, a sister company of CMR, currently operates 19 locations in four states. CMR and the various concepts have received numerous culinary, leadership, entrepreneur, community service and readers’ choice awards. For more information, visit www.cameronmitchell.com.
