At the 2025 Hospitality Stars of the Industry Gala, the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association (FRLA) awarded Restaurateur of the Year to Mike Quillen, owner of Mica’s Mountain Kitchen in Sapphire. With his win, Quillen was inducted into the FRLA Hall of Fame during the ceremony, which was held recently at the Henderson Beach Resort in Destin.
“Mike Quillen represents the very best of Florida’s hospitality industry – visionary leadership, deep community engagement, and an unwavering passion for excellence,” said Carol Dover, President and CEO of the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association. “Mike’s legacy extends far beyond the success of his restaurants – it lives in the thousands of people he has mentored and the careers he has shaped. His dedication to training, empowering, and retaining great employees has set the standard for our entire industry, and his impact on Florida’s restaurant landscape has been extraordinary. We are proud to honor him as our 2025 Restaurateur of the Year and induct him into the FRLA Hall of Fame.”
The Hospitality Stars of the Industry Gala pays tribute to restaurants, lodging operators, and suppliers from across the Sunshine State for their remarkable work in hospitality. The Hall of Fame distinction is reserved for visionary leaders whose decades of service, dedication, and passion have left a lasting impact on Florida’s hospitality industry.
“I’m deeply honored to receive this award from the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association, an organization that has played such a pivotal role in shaping the direction of my career and any success I’ve achieved along the way,” said Quillen. “I share this recognition with the incredible team members that I’ve had the privilege to work alongside of over the years. Our shared dedication, passion to hospitality, and hard work have made this possible, and I’m grateful to share this award with them.”
Quillen is president of three independent restaurant groups operating 15 locations across Florida and North Carolina. Since opening the flagship Gecko’s Grill & Pub in Sarasota in 1992, Quillen has cultivated award-winning concepts with over 800 employees, low management turnover, and a hands-on leadership style that emphasizes hospitality, community engagement, and promoting from within.
Classically trained in corporate, franchise, and family-owned restaurants, Quillen blends business acumen, operational expertise, and a strong work ethic to create thriving, polished casual dining experiences. His leadership has earned multiple “Best Of” guest awards, the National Restaurant Association’s Florida Restaurant Neighbor Award five consecutive years, and the national Restaurant Neighbor Award in 2017. He personally received the Florida Cornerstone Humanitarian Award four years in a row. Quillen serves on the boards of FRLA, the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, the Argus Foundation, Selby Gardens, Visit Sarasota County, and the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office Charitable Foundation. A graduate of Leadership Florida, he studied History and Political Science at New College and attended State College of Florida on a tennis scholarship. He and his wife, Mary, have two daughters.
- Staff Reports