Chris Barish & Julie Mulligan
New York’s Hospitality Power Couple
They say the mark of a great entrepreneur and business leader is knowing when to bring in a partner to help develop a dream into a reality. But that partner must be someone you trust. And in one hospitality icon’s case, a spouse who you respect both personally and professionally. Meet Chris Barish and Julie Mulligan, the New York power couple responsible for the world’s hottest gourmet burger restaurant chain, Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer, and their latest innovation, Tender Crush.
In the interest of full disclosure, I have known Chris for over 30 years. Knowing Chris as I do, I can attest that he has always had, even when we were teenagers, a keen eye for business opportunity and creating trends. After all, he has been a creator of, and early investor in, some of the hottest hospitality brands and consortia, as well as entertainment projects, throughout the last few decades.
In 2014, Chris married Julie Mulligan, a popular architect who founded JAMB Studio; a firm specializing in architecture, design, development, interiors, and management. A year later, in 2015, they co-founded Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer with a small outpost in SoHo. Today, Black Tap can be found all over the world, and is about to open even more locations, and formats, over the next two years. And, yes, they have some special ways lined up to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Black Tap which we will talk about later.
Of course, being the consummate entrepreneurial couple, the ideas keep coming. They have managed to use the success of Black Tap, and the popular offerings at the award-winning gourmet chain, to develop more concepts that are being tested and opened all over the world such as Singles & Doubles (a kiosk concept that is rolling out locations faster than I can type). Most recently, they opened that incredibly delicious new chicken concept called Tender Crush, which is already expanding.
A PERSONAL APPROACH
I recently sat down with the hospitality mavens to find out what is driving their passion for the business. Now remember, I have known Chris for a long time, so I know his persona. However, during my discussions, I quickly discovered how they both approach business from different perspectives, yet, at the same time, how similar they are in their personal approach to life. And those, in my opinion, alongside their clear adoration for each other, are their greatest strengths.
“I am macro and Julie is micro — more detailed oriented,” said Chris Barish. “I’ve been in the hospitality business for a long time but with her architecture background and experience in project management, she brings a fresh perspective and skill set that makes us stronger. And, for being so different, we really love the same food, restaurants, movies, and more. She’s the perfect partner in every respect.”
When asked what she felt helped keep the couple driving so closely, Julie Mulligan, who is not only the co-founder, but also the CEO, said, “We have very different skill sets so we complement each other. It’s actually good that we’re doing this together otherwise we’d never see each other!”
You must possess a good sense of humor when you are working that hard to achieve this level of success. And they seem to have found that balance so many seek.
Julie continued, “Chris and I joke that we’re like a global mom and pop. In the beginning, we’d get to go to all the places together that we might not have otherwise. It’s been such a privilege to get to know people and cultures, and see new cities. It has also helped us to learn as well as inform our menus and food to bring more interesting offerings to our customers.”
TREND SETTERS
Their approach to business has worked in numerous ways. The development of their creative ideas, combined with Chris’ “macro approach” and Julie’s execution as CEO has started trends that not only went viral, but they have also withstood the test of time. People say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Well, the hospitality power couple must be the most flattered in the world. They’re responsible for the global “crazy milkshake” trend with their Cotton Candy Milkshake they launched back in late 2015. And as they began to see the sales climb, they rolled it out to all their locations. Today, that trend is still going strong with other businesses around the globe putting their own take on a “crazy milkshake.”
IT’S ABOUT FAMILY
But let’s be clear, this is not your typical corporate entity or stuffy couple. Not by any stretch. As much as they are business partners, they are also a family. Julie said, “That family dynamic extends beyond us and to our team...a real cast of characters. It feels like a real family overall.” It has always been my experience that the mark of truly successful entrepreneurs, especially in an industry like hospitality, are those who treat their employees, or “team,” as members of their actual family.
Speaking of which, the couple recently announced the arrival of the newest member of their family, Riley Aster Barish who was born on October 1, 2024, joins sister Bee, 16. So, with Chris Barish and Julie Mulligan, it truly is a family affair. Perhaps one day, Riley will take the reins and bring her own “Barish-Mulligan Magic” to the business.
BLACK TAP’S TENTH ANNIVERSARY:
To celebrate the brand’s tenth anniversary, starting on March 18th, Black Tap is offering guests ten straight days of special promotional offers in their U.S. and international locations. They are kicking off the celebration in a crazy way by bringing back their famed viral social media sensation Cotton Candy “CrazyShake.” The shake will remain on special throughout the 10 days and quite possibly beyond. Black Tap is doing 10 days of $10 givebacks in honor of 10 years with extensive social media promotions on their platforms. And rumor has it, they are even planning a special surprise collaboration!
Any way you look at this incredible couple and their business, it is a great case study for aspiring entrepreneurs to learn from – all with a serving of family.