About Ryan
Ryan began his productive life in college by dumping trashcans at Outback Steakhouse. While quickly moving through the ranks of the Outback Steakhouse system, he ultimately decided on a career outside of the restaurant world – yet never completely let go of those restaurant roots (more to follow). He graduated in 2000 from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in Business Administration with a concentration in Business Law.
In his role(s) at Stirling since 2001, Ryan has successfully represented and negotiated against the most prominent national retail tenants. Primarily focused on the retail sector, he has represented national retailers such as Walgreens, CVS, Panera Bread, Raising Canes, Texas Roadhouse, Conn’s, Planet Fitness, Freddy’s Steakburger, World of Beer, Quizno’s, and Verizon Wireless. Through his landlord representation, he has completed effective transactions that include Walmart, Lowe’s, The Home Depot, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Field & Stream, Nordstrom Rack, Marshalls, HomeGoods, ULTA Beauty, Staples, PetSmart, Petco, Dollar Tree, Off-Broadway Shoes, Chick-Fil-A, Taco Bell, Popeye’s, McDonald’s, Burger King, Chuy’s, BJ’s Brewhouse, Books-a-Million, Smoothie King, Pier 1, AT&T, Carter’s, Five Guys, and LA Fitness. In addition to brokerage work, he has worn a ‘developer’s cap’ on numerous projects for Stirling’s owned assets, as well as concepts for his personal interests and investment strategies.
In 2017, Ryan, alongside his wife, Traci, developed the Paws & Paw Paw’s boarding/daycare/grooming facility as a full-time job entrepreneurship opportunity for her. The maturing business now has a second location and is recognized as a best-in-class company in the Acadiana area.
Coming full circle back to those restaurant roots, Ryan set out to develop and bring a unique concept to the Lafayette market, introducing Tchoup’s MIDCITY Restaurant + Bar. A smoked meat, steak & seafood menu, an elevated bar scene, and a great outdoor space have been molded into a 75ish-year-old home. The redevelopment of the residential structure commenced in January 2020, and the restaurant opened six months later in June. Having navigated the pandemic headwinds of 2020, the restaurant is thriving. The response from the community has been remarkably strong and humbling.
Another passion project to make Lafayette a better place to live was the development of Adopted Dog Brewing, a 7bbl brewhouse which opened in February 2023 and is the only brewery operating within the city limits of Lafayette. The brewery typically has 18-beers on tap, boasts a full pub-food menu, offers a family-friendly environment, and features live music on most Friday evenings.
He also serves on OneAcadiana’s Board of Directors and is the co-chair of the Urban Revitalization Committee. In addition, he served in an advisory role within the City of Lafayette’s Development & Planning Division’s Unified Development Code’s creation and refinement, as well as sits on the University of Louisiana’s Ragin Cajun Athletic Foundation’s Board of Director’s Executive Committee.
