A Main Line Hospitality Brand Is Expanding with the Help of WSFS Bank

If you’ve gone out for a bite to eat on the Main Line, you’ve likely experienced the taste of Fearless Restaurants. Expanding from six to 14 locations in less than a decade, Sydney Grims has turned her family business into a distinct dining experience. As a fourth-generation restaurateur, Grims says the business has created a formula for expansion that centers around a tight geographic strategy, a real estate checklist, and hospitality standards. The engine behind the growth runs on an organized company infrastructure and relationship-driven partnerships. Grims, who operates as the Director of Business Development, joined the company with the goal of building its internal infrastructure. Stepping into the business started by her father, Marty, she took her corporate restaurant background and brought the six restaurants he operated under one roof with the name “Fearless Restaurants.”

The name comes from its flagship restaurant, Moshulu, located on a ship permanently docked in Penn’s Landing, Philadelphia. Bearing the ship’s name, Moshulu means “one who fears nothing” in Seneca.

Fearless Restaurants’ story, much like its name, has deep roots in the hospitality industry. Grims traces the lineage back to her great-grandfather, who immigrated from Italy and entered the restaurant business in Brooklyn before the family settled in South Philadelphia opening a restaurant at 19th and Ludlow.

“I’ve been afforded an amazing opportunity to stand on the shoulders of giants, so to speak. My dad is somebody that is someone I’ve always admired because of his strength of character,” said Grims, who is a partner at Fearless Restaurants.

Her family of giants is never far from the core identity of Fearless Restaurants, despite its continued growth. In fact, her father’s parents, Martin and Rosalyn, are the namesake behind the brand’s newest a modern Italian restaurant, Martini & Roz, in Wayne.

A Growth Model

As Sydney created backroom efficiencies for the six restaurants under the Fearless brand, her decisions positioned the company for growth. Today, Fearless employs nearly 1,500 people, up from 600 when she began in 2017. To create expansion the “Fearless Way,” she’s looking for a specific list all along the Main Line.

“We need a lot of parking, outdoor dining, a liquor license, and a bar,” said Grims.

With that playbook, they’ve opened six new restaurants since 2020: Rosalie and in Wayne, White Dog in Glen Mills and Chester Springs, Testa Rossa in Glen Mills, the Triple Crown at the Radnor Hotel, and their newest concept, Martini & Roz in Wayne. “I’ve gone through one sale and nine builds,” said Grims.

With each new opportunity, Grims and team returned to the same partners they trusted for the project, especially when it came to their finances. WSFS Bank’s Commercial Banking Relationship Manager Team Lead, Jim Danna, has partnered with the Grims family through multiple milestones over 11 years. Over the years of their partnership, Danna provided financing strategies that evolved with the business’ needs, starting with Small Business Administration lending for early projects like Louie Louie and later giving way to term loans and mortgages as the company’s balance sheet and performance strengthened. Grims credits WSFS’ responsiveness and the human element for allowing them to jump on opportunities as they arose.

“WSFS has been in our corner every step of the way,” said Grims. “Having genuine, authentic relationships with the bank has been the main driver for our growth.”

That trust goes both ways as Danna says the team at Fearless brings the same dependability to the table, creating a working dynamic where communication is prompt, decisions are efficient, and both sides can deliver at a high level.

 “What’s great about Marty and Sydney is whenever I need information, it’s there on time,” said Danna. “I can count that they’re going to have all the information to me so I can move forward in the process. Marty consistently uses the same people for projects because he has confidence in his team, and I’m proud that WSFS continues to stay on his list.”

Each new location brings its own identity. The White Dog in Chester Springs is a refurbished farmhouse from the 1700s. Testa Rossa brought a fresh, mid-century edge to Glen Mills through southern Italian cuisine. The biggest project: Triple Crown at The Radnor Hotel which offers dining for 200 people and multiple event spaces, both indoor and outdoor, including a glass conservatory and sailcloth tent, with capacity for more than 1,000 guests.

“The reshaping of the Radnor Hotel has been tremendous for the township,” said Danna of the restaurant that boasts timeless elegance. “It’s amazing in there, and it’s helping revive the area from some harder times during the pandemic.”

After undertaking a multi-year buildout, Grims’ advice for other entrepreneurs is to focus on the foundation before expanding. “Don’t grow too quickly. We were certainly feeling like we were being stretched thin, and we had to right the ship.”

As Grims looks to the future of Fearless Restaurants, she’s turning the business’ attention to events and corporate experiences, especially in its space at Triple Crown. With options for professional meals, concierge-style service, and elevated experiences, she is continuing to invest in the people who drive the guest experience.

“Human capital is the number one part of our business,” said Grims. “I think what really sets Fearless apart is that we hire the right people. It impacts our sales as well because people continually come back because of the type of service we have.”

Fearless Restaurants’ growth shows what’s possible when the right vision and partners align. At every stage of their journey, WSFS Bank serves as a collaborator and trusted advisor, providing tailored financial solutions that have allowed the Grims family to act quickly and strategically. Whether it’s securing SBA loans for early projects or navigating complex renovations like the Triple Crown, WSFS has delivered the expertise and responsiveness needed to turn opportunities into reality. If you are looking to take your business to the next level, WSFS Bank’s commercial team can help you in every stage of the process.

Hear more from Sydney Grims and her interview on The Planning Perspectives Podcast where she talks about scaling the business while protecting its culture.