Weiner — a Northbrook, IL, native — traces his love and passion for the restaurant and hospitality business back to taking his first job waiting tables at Johnny Rockets as a teenager. Working at a variety of other restaurants in the Chicagoland area, Scott focused and prepared for a career in the hospitality industry at an early age.
Upon graduating high school, Scott moved to Las Vegas where he spent four years cooking full-time at various concepts with China Grill Management while simultaneously earning his bachelor’s degree in hospitality administration, with a major in beverage management, from the University of Nevada Las Vegas. While in college, Scott also earned his sommelier license through the Court of Master Sommeliers.
Prior to opening his first restaurant, The Fifty/50 in 2008, Scott worked with Lettuce Entertain You managing Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak, and Stone Crab in Chicago where he focused on operations while rounding out his education being surrounded by great leaders and mentors. Scott maintains a close relationship with many of his previous mentors from LEYE.
Scott works with the leadership team of the Fifty/50 Group, helping create and develop new concepts along with co-founder and friend, Greg Mohr. He is relentless in his work ethic and very passionate about the group’s core value.
A key to the group’s financial success has been developing and managing their own assets over the their 17-year history while also managing properties for private equity groups such as Blackstone, Beacon Capital, First Hospitality, The Second City, and more over the years.
Scott is a frequent speaker at hospitality industry events and has been published in Crain’s, the Chicago Tribune, and other publications over the years. One of his most recent accomplishments that he is most proud of is the development, opening, and sale of OKAY Cannabis Dispensary, all within an 18 month period.
In 2019, Crains Chicago named Scott to the prestigious 40-under-40 list. He is also an active officer on executive board for the Illinois Restaurant Association, serving as the first vice chairman. In 2023 Mayor Lightfoot awarded Scott a Medal of Honor from the City of Chicago for helping mobilize resources across the city to feed refugees coming into the city.
Scott lives in Northwest Chicago with his wife, three young children, and their dog named Balki Bartokomous.
