Larry J. Harris '81

Larry J. Harris '81

Freelance Consultant

He is the founder and former CEO of Pollo Tropical, the home-grown Miami company specializing in marinated chicken and Latin-style dishes. Harris with his brother Stuart Harris founded Pollo Tropical in 1988. The company went public in 1993 and grew into a multi-million dollar company. During the ten years that Harris headed the chain, Pollo Tropical grew from one restaurant in Miami to a public company with 36 owned and operated restaurants and nineteen franchised units. Harris is now owner of Mosaico and Salero restaurants located in a converted 1923 Miami firehouse...one of Miami's oldest buildings. After graduating from FIU, Harris worked with Food Spot, the convenience store from 1982 to 1989. A family business, Food Spot is owned by his father Ernie Harris. Harris serves as director of the corporation. Larry Harris was named Florida Entrepreneur of the Year, by Inc. magazine in 1995.