Meet The Team

Dan Weiss

Proprietor

Daniel Weiss has been in the business space since 1989 when he started Carolina Computer Consultants, a successful POS software company. After selling the company, he supported Moore & Van Allen, PLLC, leading a team of technical professionals who architected, managed and supported all of the firm’s major IT functions, dramatically improving the firm’s IT platform, security posture, service levels, and data integrity. Most recently, Dan co-founded Varrow, Inc., a INC500 and NC FAST50 company which was later acquired by Sirius Computer Solutions, a national integrator of technology-based business solutions that span the enterprise, including the data center and lines of business, where he continued as the Senior Vice President of Sales Strategy and Planning.

Dan continues his expertise in putting together high performing teams in creating The Menagerie Hospitality Group. To Dan, hospitality means welcoming all people as new friends to offer them authentic, custom and thoughtful service. With two unique concepts already underway, Dan looks forward to creating interesting and carefully-crafted venues for guests to enjoy their free time.

“Charlotte is such a special city, a place I have called home for most of my life. It's been thrilling to see how Charlotte has made moves toward becoming a city of hospitality, and that is a landscape and effort The Menagerie Hospitality Group is excited to join. I am excited to collaborate with some of Charlotte's finest creative talent to bring our fresh and innovative food, beverage and hospitality ideas to life in the Queen City.”

Ben Torres

Director of Operations

Ben oversees all things operational for each concept in the group. He is a 18 year veteran of the hospitality industry, starting early in the country club scene before accelerating to management at the young age of 18, and becoming a GM overseeing multiple locations at 25. Having majored in Business Management at Belmont Abbey College allowed for him to network effectively in the Charlotte market and hit the ground running before graduating. As a Level 1 Sommelier and Executive Bourbon Steward, he has embraced continued education as a vital aspect of his career, using those classes to elevate the service and offering levels at each concept he has led.

Ben enjoys playing both piano and guitar – and leads his local church’s contemporary group on the weekends. He and his wife Chelsea live in the University area of Charlotte, and welcomed their first child, Elizabeth, back in October of 2021.

Larisa Yanicak

Senior Director

I started as a hostess at a sports bar in high school and once I turned 18 I started serving at their Charlotte location in college. I am a culinary school graduate with an Associates in Culinary Arts and a Bachelors in Hospitality Management. I worked at the Sea Pines Resort in Hilton Head as a line cook until I realized my conversation skills were better suited for the front of house. My passion for spirits and mixology came after taking a few classes in college where I realized I also had a knack for creating cocktails. I found a job at O-ku, a high end sushi restaurant, as a bartender and quickly moved through the ranks to Bar Manager and Shift Leader. Over the course of 4 years I ran the bar, traveled to help open several of their new concepts, and became the Bar Director for O-ku CLT and Indaco, our Italian counterpart. It was here where I learned valuable skills in time management, budgeting, and delegation until COVID shut us down for a few months. Once the pandemic was over I craved something new and found myself as the Beverage Director for the South48 concepts. What I thought was a growth opportunity turned out to be different than my expectations. In the midst of my employment I accepted a job opportunity to be the Angels Envy Bourbon Whiskey Guardian for North Carolina which gave me the freedom to pursue a new side of the industry while also taking a break from management. I found solace here at The Vintage but I knew I couldn't stay away from management for long. In January I took the position as the Bar Manager and have since grown into a larger of taking care of the Vintage brand as a whole.

Darci Frank

Marketing Manager

Her responsibilities at TMG include social media management, marketing materials, event planning/support, and providing a consistent promotion of our brands. She has been with the company since 2020 and has served in many roles including Bartender, Line Cook and MOD. She frequently competes in the Hospitality Coalition Battle of the Babes, an annual female-only bartending competition, and has built an impressive Ladies' Night at The Vintage into something the community looks forward to each month. She has a creative mind, makes great cocktails, and is very skilled as a culinary professional.

Darci originally hails from Maine and has a Bachelor's Degree from Johnson & Wales University. In her spare time, she loves traveling this epic country with her furry friend Gronk in tow.