Famous Dave's CEO Resigns After 18 Months

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- After 18 months, Famous Dave's CEO John Gilbert has resigned, according to a press release issued by the company on Monday.

Director Ed Rensi, former McDonald's CEO, will take over as the company's interim chief executive officer effective immediately.

The news of Gilbert's resignation is a sudden change for the company but no further details were released.

In a December 2012 interview with WCCO, Gilbert talked about the business' new approach with then-BBQ Shack prototypes. In his second month as CEO, Gilbert said they wanted to appeal to customers' desire for "really high-quality food, really fast."

Famous Dave's has 54 locations and franchises 142 additional units in 34 states, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and one Canadian province.

The company is headquartered in the Twin Cities.