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San Francisco All-Pro wide receiver Deebo Samuel, along with Celebrity Chef Cleashaun Hill, recently opened a three-level luxury dining experience restaurant & lounge called “Problem” in Scottsdale, Arizona.
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Per Yelp.com, The multi-story space features a fine dining ground floor, an upscale second-floor lounge, and an open-air rooftop bar with hookah.
According to Marilyn Hawkes of Phoenixmag.com, the venue will provide “elevated cuisine and refined cocktails.” It will also be in the former Barney’s Boathouse in Old Town Scottsdale. 341 E. Sixth Ave., Scottsdale.
This is just the latest investment and addition to his brand portfolio after signing with Excel Sports Management in 2021 to secure more endorsement deals like his current contract with Nike, and embrace additional investment opportunities.
“I want my brand to be something everyone will look at — not just a great football player but also great character off the field,” Samuel told CNBC. “Going from one marketing executive to another, they promise the same thing, but the conversation with Parker was different.”
According to CNBC, Samuel was working directly with marketing agent Parker Cain, who joined the company in October of 2021. Cain’s current position, according to his LinkedIn profile, is Vice President, Talent Marketing at Excel Sports Management.
“He’s a fun player,” Cain said at the time. “He’s touching the ball a lot, and in that creative offense, he’s going to have a lot of opportunities to help the team win. Brands want to work with winners and guys who show the growth and versatility on the field.”
“I think he will attract blue-chip brands. He’s got a good following, but more importantly, he’s got high engagement.”
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Cain added, “If you do an equity deal with the right tech company in Palo Alto, it could be worth more money than every deal you signed during your NFL career.”
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Deebo Samuel Opens Up About New Business Venture
In a recent interview with the Editor in Chief of Scottsdale.com, Michelle Glicksman, Samuel discussed a variety of different topics, including why he decided to open Problem Lounge.
The wide receiver spoke about wanting to bring people together, saying Problem Lounge provides an opportunity to connect individuals from all walks of life.
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“I love bringing people together, and Problem Lounge gives me a chance to create an experience and a legacy beyond football,” Samuel shared.
When asked how he developed the menu with Chef Cleashaun Hill, Samuel revealed that Hill was his first chef when he joined the NFL, so he was familiar with his vision.
“Chef Cleaz was actually my first chef when I came to the NFL, so he knows me very well and knew the vision of what I was trying to create.”
He even shared one of the most surprising challenges they went through during the opening process.
“How much goes into every detail behind the scenes. People see the finished product, but there’s a lot of work and a lot of people involved to put this together.”
Now that the venue is finally open, Samuel can turn his attention back to football as the San Francisco 49ers prepare for the preseason week two match against the Los Angeles Chargers.
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This story was originally published August 17, 2026 at 2:50 PM.