John Cassimus

John Cassimus (born 1967) is the founder of J-Rag and the president and CEO of Zoe's Kitchen, a "quick casual" restaurant chain based in Birmingham.

Cassimus is the son of Marcus Cassimus and his wife Zoe who founded Zoe's Kitchen downtown in 1995. He graduated from Mountain Brook High School, where he lettered in baseball and football and earned a football scholarship to the University of Alabama. Recruited as a running back, Cassimus saw limited action as a punt returner and strong safety. He suffered a knee injury in the 1988 Hall of Fame Bowl in Tampa. Cassimus' knee operation was performed by James Andrews, whose son Archie would become Cassimus' business partner at Zoe's Kitchen.

Cassimus graduated from Alabama in 1990 with a degree in corporate finance and went to work for Pittman Financial Partners. In 1993 he launched J-Rag Inc, a sportswear company which featured a signature bandanna-style hat. He sold the successful company in 1996 and moved to Atlanta to work for Hilb, Rogal and Hamilton, an insurance broker.

While at HRH he worked on the acquisition of Compensation Management Associates, helping them increase revenues eight-fold in a year and a half.

In 1998 Cassimus left HRH and moved back to Birmingham. He started the Big Air Records record label with one artist in the stable, Greta Gaines. He purchased the rights to develop his parents' restaurant into a chain and officially opened the second Zoe's location on Highway 150 in Riverchase.

In 2006, Cassimus partnered with Charleston Wilson to open Jinsei, a Japanese restaurant located, along with a Zoe's Kitchen, in Homewood's SoHo Square.

Cassimus is also a sailor and licensed pilot. In May 2008, some news outlets reported that he is dating Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow. Crow refused to answer questions on the subject posed by News reporter Mary Colurso in advance of her May 23 concert at the Verizon Wireless Music Center.

References

• "From Running Back to Kitchen Coach" (November 10, 2002) Birmingham News.
• Gerdes, Bill (December 2003) "A Pure Play in Healthy and Homemade." Business Alabama
• Colurso, Mary (May 23, 2008) "Popping the question: Is Sheryl Crow dating John Cassimus?" Birmingham News