Jim Pate — Northern California Restaurant Broker
Certified Business Broker · Restaurant Deal Brokers · Sacramento · East Bay · North Bay
I've Sat on Both Sides of That Table —
as a Restaurant Owner and as Your Broker.
I'm a Certified Business Broker specializing in the confidential sale of restaurants, bars, cafés, and hospitality businesses across Northern California. But before any of that — I spent 40 years working in them.
I started washing dishes at 14. I cooked on the line. I owned and operated a restaurant with my wife for 10 years. I sat at the closing table as a seller. That's not a backstory I share to be interesting — it's the reason I can sit across from you and actually understand what you're going through.
When My Wife and I Decided to Sell Our Restaurant —
We Had More Questions Than Answers
We'd spent 10 years building something we were proud of — a full-service restaurant we ran together. We knew the restaurant business. Really knew it. But when the idea of selling came up, we went in circles for over a year. Not because we didn't want to move on. Because we had no idea how.
What about our key employees — the ones who'd grown with us for 10 years? What would happen to them?
We didn't want staff finding out before we were ready. We didn't want regulars to catch wind of it. We didn't know how to value a business when you don't own the building. That cycle went on for over a year — and we were experienced restaurant people. We just had never sold one before.
"Sitting at that closing table as a seller — that's what made me certain about what I wanted to do next."
When we finally closed, something was clear. The next chapter of my career was going to be helping other restaurant owners navigate exactly what we'd struggled through — being the person we wished we'd had.
The Things That Keep You Up at Night
Because they kept me up too. Every restaurant seller I work with is dealing with one or more of these:
Confidentiality
You don't want employees, customers, or vendors finding out. There's a right way to go to market without disrupting what you've built.
"What Is It Worth?"
You don't own the building. Your numbers aren't perfect. That doesn't mean it's not sellable — it means you need an honest restaurant valuation, not a guess.
Your Key Employees
The people who've been with you for years. You want to make sure they'll be okay. That concern is real, and I take it seriously in every deal.
The Process
NDAs, financials, lease assignments, SBA financing, escrow. I walk you through every step so nothing is a surprise.
Timing Your Exit
Most owners wait too long or move before they're ready. I'll give you an honest read on where you stand first.
"Is It Even the Right Time?"
Sometimes the answer is not yet. I'd rather tell you that now than waste your time or mine.
40 Years in the Trenches
This isn't a career pivot into restaurant brokerage. This is my whole life.
Started at 14 washing dishes. After volunteering for the Marine Corps, I came back and worked every station — prep, line, sauté, kitchen manager, sous chef, chef, catering. High-volume operations including Harrah's Lake Tahoe.
Started as a line cook at Fat City in Old Sacramento. From there I was part of opening California Fats, also in Old Sacramento. Then Harrah's Convention Center in Lake Tahoe — large-scale hospitality at a different level entirely.
After the kitchens I moved into food service consultive sales — Sysco, US Foods, Performance Food Service. Spent years sitting across from restaurant owners all over Northern California. Then my wife and I opened our own restaurant. I quit the sales career, went all in. That changed everything I thought I knew — and confirmed the rest.
Transactions closed across Sacramento, the East Bay, North Bay, and rural Northern California — restaurants, bars, cafés, franchises, and commercial buildings. CBB designation, California RE Broker license, CABB and IBBA member.
From the People Who've Been Through It
"Jim has been great to work with on the lease assignment — which was an incredibly complicated deal. I would highly recommend Jim to any seller, buyer, or landlord. He will stay with it till it's done."George Manojlovic
Senior VP, Fairbourne Properties
"Jim Pate has been great to work with. He always puts his clients first."Scott Cisneros
VP / SBA Commercial Loans, Union Bank
"Jim has been incredibly knowledgeable and patient. His experience owning a restaurant made the entire buying process seamless. He goes above and beyond."Domenico Testa
Restaurant Owner
What Restaurant Owners Ask Me First
Jim Pate is a Certified Business Broker (CBB) and California RE Broker (DRE #02067466) who has spent 40+ years in the restaurant industry — starting as a dishwasher at 14, working up to executive chef, then food service sales for Sysco and US Foods, and finally owning and operating his own restaurant with his wife for 10 years. He sat at the closing table as a seller before he ever sat at one as a broker. That lived experience is what separates him from brokers who have only ever worked deals, never lived one.
Jim serves Northern California restaurant owners across three regions: Greater Sacramento (including Elk Grove, Roseville, Folsom, and Davis), the East Bay 680 Corridor (Walnut Creek, Pleasanton, Concord, Dublin, Danville, San Ramon, Livermore, Brentwood), and the North Bay (Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Novato, San Rafael, Napa, and Sonoma). He maintains active buyer networks across all three regions.
Buyers must sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) before seeing any identifying information — financials, location, or staff. Your employees, regulars, suppliers, and landlord won't know your restaurant is for sale until you're ready to disclose. Confidentiality is built into every step of how Jim works, because he lived through the anxiety of it himself when he sold his own restaurant.
Jim holds the Certified Business Broker (CBB) designation from the International Business Brokers Association (IBBA) — one of the highest professional credentials in business brokerage. He also holds a California Real Estate Broker license (DRE #02067466) and is an active member of both the California Association of Business Brokers (CABB) and the IBBA.
Yes. Jim offers a free, confidential Broker's Opinion of Value (BOV) — a market-based estimate grounded in your actual financials, lease terms, and buyer demand. It's free, takes 24–48 hours, and comes with zero obligation. Request yours here or call Jim directly at (916) 250-2012.
What the Corps Taught Me About Closing Deals
The commitment to serving something bigger than yourself — that's what keeps you grounded in the mission. I volunteered. Nobody sent me. That discipline has been part of everything I've done since.
Improvise | Adapt | Overcome
Let's Have an Honest Conversation.
No Pressure. No Pitch.
You don't have to have it figured out. Just tell me where you are — and we'll figure out where you want to go.
Free. Confidential. No obligation.
Two Offices. One Broker You Can Actually Reach.
Restaurant Deal Brokers
1401 21st Street, Suite #7104
Sacramento, CA 95811
United States
(916) 250-2012
jim@restaurantdealbrokers.com
Restaurant Deal Brokers
525 College Ave, Suite 115
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
United States
(916) 250-2012
jim@restaurantdealbrokers.com
Jim Pate, CBB · Certified Business Broker · CA Real Estate Broker #02067466 · CABB Member · IBBA Member
Serving Sacramento · East Bay / 680 Corridor · North Bay · Northern California