Partners
Dan McGowan is the president of Big Bowl, a multi-unit Asian concept, and oversees L.Woods Tap & Pine Lodge, Tucci Benucch,Twin City Grill and Magic Pan Crepe Stand for Lettuce Entertain You.
Wielding a progressive and direct leadership style, McGowan has successfully revamped Big Bowl as a restaurant guided by the principle of “building good food” and the commitment to quality, sustainability, eco-friendly practices, and local businesses. Chicago Magazine recognized McGowan’s leadership in 2010 by honoring him with a Green Award for being an “eco-minded innovator who’s not afraid to shake up the system.”
McGowan’s tenure at LEYE spans 26 years, which began as a part-time host and office clerk at Ed Debevic's while earning a psychology degree at Loyola University.
After graduation, McGowan became the office manager at Tucci Benucch just as the lively N. Michigan Avenue restaurant opened. Realizing his desire for hands-on restaurant management, McGowan began LEYE’s management training program and quickly moved up the ranks to assume key management positions at Tucci Benucch in Chicago and Minnesota, and Twin City Grill in Minnesota.
By July 1993, he was promoted to supervisor of the LEYE Minnesota operations, Tucci Benucch and Twin City Grill. Two years later, he returned to Chicago as manager of Tucci Benucch. Shortly thereafter, McGowan became a LEYE partner.
In 1998, Bones in Lincolnwood – a northern suburb of Chicago - closed and McGowan became instrumental in reconcepting the restaurant into L. Woods Tap and Pine Lodge. He is currently a partner and president of L. Woods as well as Tucci Benucch and the Magic Pan Crepe Stand in Minneapolis.
LEYE bought back Big Bowl from Brinker International in 2003, and named McGowan as president, knowing that he possessed the drive and acumen to take the restaurants to the next level. LEYE originally launched Big Bowl in 1992 and sold the restaurants to Brinker in 2001. He oversees eight locations within Chicago, Minnesota and Virginia.
McGowan lives in the northern suburbs with his wife and daughter.