Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises
Type Private
Founded 1971 in Chicago, Illinois
Founder Rich Melman & Jerry A. Orzoff
Headquarters Chicago, Illinois, USA
Key people Rich Melman, co-founder
Jerry A. Orzoff, co-founder
Industry Restaurants
Revenue ▲$300 million (2005)
Net income ▲$50 million (2005)
Employees 5,000 (2005)
Website www.leye.com

Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises (LEYE) is an empire of approximately 70 restaurants founded by Rich Melman and Jerry A. Orzoff in Chicago, IL in 1971.

[edit] History

Wildfire Grill
Wildfire Grill
Ed Debevic's
Ed Debevic's

The company lists 9 original partners: Bill Higgins, Rich Melman, Bill Frost, Bob Wattel, Danny Coval, Charles Haskell, Jerry Orzoff, Marvin Magid, and Fred Joast.[1] By 1976 the company had 5 restaurants.[2] Melman continued expanding the company's network of restaurants. By the mid 1980's, the company employed over 2000 people and had annual revenues of $40 million.[2] Since its founding the company has opened 130 restaurants, 70 concepts.[3]

The restaurants are unique and vary in price, theme, and cuisine. LEYE currently owns, licenses or manages more than 60 establishments in Illinois, Arizona, Maryland, Virginia, Georgia, Minnesota and Nevada, including Ed Debevic's, Wildfire Grill, Petterino's, Shaw's Crab House, and Everest. [1] Also among his creations are the Eiffel Tower Restaurant and Mon Ami Gabi in the Paris Las Vegas Casino Resort and Big Bowl.[4]

As of 2000, LEYE had 38 partners, 45 concepts, and 4000 employees It owns, operates and licenses 75 restaurant venues, in the Unites States and Japan. It has separate restaurant consulting and restaurant development companies.[5] 1999 annual revenue estimates ranged from $145 to over $200 million.[4][5] 2005 revenue estimates were $300 million, with 5000 employees and approximately $50 million in net earnings.[3]

[edit] Restaurants

Lettuce Entertain You restaurants include:[3]

  • Antico Posto
  • Ben Pao
  • Big Bowl
  • Brasserie Jo
  • Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba!
  • Chicago Flat Sammies
  • Di Pescara
  • Don & Charlie’s
  • Eiffel Tower
  • Everest
  • Foodlife
  • Frankie's Pizzeria & Scaloppine
  • Joe’s Seafood Prime Steak & Stone Crab
  • Krispy Kreme (franchisee)
  • L.2O
  • L. Woods
  • Maggiano's Little Italy (consultant)
  • Magic Pan Crepe Stand
  • Mity Nice Grill
  • Mon Ami Gabi
  • Nacional 27
  • Osteria Via Stato
  • Petterino’s
  • Pizzeria Via Stato
  • Reel Club
  • R.J. Grunt’s
  • Scoozi!
  • Shaw’s Crab House
  • Stripburger
  • Tru
  • Tucci Benucch
  • Twin City Grill
  • Vong’s Thai Kitchen
  • Wildfire
  • Wow Bao

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b The Lettuce Entertain You Story. Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises Inc.. Retrieved on 2007-02-02.
  2. ^ a b Wilson, Mark R. (2005). "Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises Inc.", Encyclopedia of Chicago. Chicago Historical Society. Retrieved on 2007-02-02.
  3. ^ a b c Carpenter, Dave (2006-07-20). Restaurateur sees salad days ahead. MSNBC.com (Associated Press story also published on CBSNews.com). Retrieved on 2007-02-02.
  4. ^ a b Cebrzynski, Gregg (January 2000). Richard Melman - chief executive officer of Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises Inc. Nation's Restaurant News. Retrieved on 2007-02-02.
  5. ^ a b Sheridan, Margaret (2000). Richard Melman on Savoring Peace of Mind. Restaurant & Institutions Magazine. Retrieved on 2007-02-02.
 This restaurant-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.