Michael Biesemeyer

Managing Partner

Michael Biesemeyer first joined Flea Street as a server in 2009, taking on increasing levels of leadership and responsibility over the years. He left for nine months in 2018 to help open Protégé in Palo Alto, later returning to become Managing Partner and Jesse's successor.

Michael brings 25+ years of restaurant experience to his role, coupled with a deep background in digital marketing and content creation, as well as a BA degree in Hospecology (Ecologically Sustainable Hospitality Management) from SFSU. 

Michael grew up in San Francisco, and from a young age was immersed in the City's food scene. From authentic dim sum in Chinatown and rustic meals in old school Italian spots in North Beach, to multi-course white tablecloth service in places like Masa's and Michelin-starred Aqua, his family was constantly exploring and trying new restaurants. 

 

He turned that early interest in hospitality and food into 25 years of hands on job experience in a variety of venues: early on bussing at Embarko and running the counter at Potrero Hill neighborhood Greek gem Asimokopulos, to prep cooking at Massimo del Panino and Cafe Yum! in Eugene Oregon,  eventually settling into a role as a fine dining food server for 20 consecutive years, later becoming the lead Captain and member of a front of the house team that earned its first Michelin star within 9 months of opening.

Over the last 13 years, he's founded multiple small businesses and ventures, including Swerver® , a social media services provider to the restaurant industry that represented a diverse portfolio of Bay Area, Palm Springs, and San Diego area restaurants, including Sam's Chowder House in Half Moon Bay. Sam's was named by tech media and COO Sheryl Sandberg as a Facebook marketing success story. He created BevScent, a patent-pending device that improves the flavor of beverages by adding more aroma. He was the co-founder of BottleCru®, an app that uses animation and visually compelling content to teach novices about wine, and the co-founder of MadeGreen™, San Francisco's first certified green video production company, serving clients in the hospitality, entertainment, and real estate industries.

Michael lives in San Jose, CA with his wife and three children.