Landry's, Inc.

Landry's Inc.

Type	Private
Industry	Restaurants, Entertainment & Hospitality industry
Founded	Houston, Texas
Headquarters	Houston, Texas
Key people	Tilman J. Fertitta, President & CEO
Products	Casual dining Fine dining Casino Games Entertainment Destinations Resorts
Employees	60,000+ (2013)
Website	www.landrysinc.com

Landry’s, Inc. is an American privately owned, multi-brand dining, hospitality, entertainment and gaming corporation based in Houston, Texas. Landry’s, Inc. owns and operates more than 450 restaurant, hotel, casino and entertainment destinations in 35 states and the District of Columbia. The company also owns and operates numerous international locations. Landry’s is among the nation’s largest and fastest-growing restaurant corporations. The company’s headquarters are located in the Uptown/Galleria area of Houston.^[1]

History

Landry’s, Inc. is owned entirely by President & CEO Tilman J. Fertitta, an original partner in the company’s first Landry’s Seafood House, which opened in the Houston suburb of Katy, Texas, in 1980. A year later, Fertitta helped open Willie G’s, a more-upscale seafood restaurant in Houston. In 1986, Fertitta gained controlling interests in both restaurants. He became CEO and took the company public in 1993, with a valuation of $30 million.

Under the leadership of Fertitta, the company expanded rapidly across the nation. In 2010, already being the majority shareholder, Fertitta acquired all outstanding shares of company stock, gaining sole control and ownership.^[2] By 2011, the company’s value had skyrocketed to more than $1.7 Billion.^[3]

Acquisitions and Growth

1990s

Throughout the 1990s, Landry’s, Inc. quickly expanded, developing and acquiring restaurant, entertainment, hospitality and gaming concepts. In 1994, Landry’s,Inc. acquired Joe’s Crab Shack, a one-location concept at the time.^[4] In 2006, Landry’s, Inc. sold Joe’s Crab Shack, which had grown to more than 120 locations, to J.H. Whitney & Company.^[5] During the decade, the company acquired a number of other restaurant concepts, including The Crab House and Cadillac Bar. Landry’s Seafood continued to expand, adding locations across the nation.^[6]

Landry’s, Inc. expanded its hospitality and entertainment divisions in 1996, acquiring The San Luis Resort, Spa & Conference Center, a 32-acre beachfront resort located on Galveston Island’s historic Seawall Boulevard and built on top of the former Fort Crockett.^[7] In 2004, Landry’s, Inc. partnered with the City of Galveston to open a 140,000 square foot convention center, the Galveston Island Convention Center at the San Luis Resort. In 2003, the company acquired the adjacent Holiday Inn Resort Galveston – On the Beach. In 2004, the adjacent Hilton Galveston Island Resort was brought into the fold. In total, the San Luis Resort includes 700 guest rooms, 10 restaurants, and 200,000 square feet of event space.^[8]

The company’s hospitality division also includes Inn at the Ballpark in Downtown Houston^[9] and the Boardwalk Inn on the Kemah Boardwalk.^[10] In 1998, the company developed the 35-acre Kemah Boardwalk, with a hotel, marina, more than 10 restaurants and dozens of midway games, amusement rides and attractions.^[3] The Boardwalk is also home to the Boardwalk FantaSea, a Landry’s-owned luxury yacht that offers public and private dinner cruises.

2000s

After the turn of the century, Landry’s, Inc. continued its rapid growth. In 2000, the company acquired Rainforest Cafe, a collection of jungle-inspired restaurants and retail villages.^[11]  In 2002, the company acquired three national restaurant concepts, including Saltgrass Steak House,^[12] Chart House^[13] and Muer Restaurants,^[14] a series of upscale seafood locations. 

In 2003, the company opened the Downtown Aquarium a high-profile 20-acre entertainment complex in Houston with an aquarium exhibit, a restaurant built around a 100,000-gallon, floor-to-ceiling centerpiece aquarium, a bar, banquet facilities, amusement rides and midway games. A train carries guests into a tunnel running through a 200,000-gallon shark tank. Other Aquarium Restaurants have since opened in Denver, Nashville and on the Kemah Boardwalk in Texas.^[15]

In 2005, the company acquired Golden Nugget Hotel & Casinos, with locations in Las Vegas and Laughlin, Nevada.^[16] Landry’s, Inc. has since opened two additional locations in Atlantic City, New Jersey,^[17] and Biloxi, Mississippi.^[18] A fifth location is slated to open in Lake Charles, Louisiana, in 2014.^[19] Golden Nugget Las Vegas holds the distinction of being the only Las Vegas hotel to earn the esteemed AAA Four Diamond award consecutively since 1977.^[20]

2010s

In 2010, Landry’s, Inc. acquired three new restaurant concepts. Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., a collection of seafood restaurants in some of the world’s most exciting cities, is the only restaurant concept based on a major motion picture concept, the hit movie Forrest Gump.^[21][22] The company also acquired Claim Jumper, a national chain of family restaurants inspired by America’s gold rush era.^[23] The Oceanaire, a national collection of top-of-the-line seafood rooms, is renowned for flying in fresh fish daily.^[24]

In 2011, Landry’s, Inc. further cemented its place among the nation’s fine dining leaders by acquiring two upscale restaurant concepts – McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood & Steaks^[25] and Morton’s The Steakhouse.^[26] Each concept offers more than 70 locations. Morton’s includes international locations.

In 2012, the company also expanded its entertainment division, with the opening of the Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier. The Pleasure Pier extends nearly a quarter mile out into the Gulf of Mexico and offers thrilling rides, midway games, restaurants and shops, all over the water.^[27] 

In 2013, the company opened Haven, a new Atlantic City night club, inside the Golden Nugget on Memorial Day weekend in 2013. Pitbull and Ke$ha performed opening weekend. Landry’s, Inc. also acquired Mastro’s Restaurants in 2013. Mastro’s offers steakhouses and ocean club seafood locations and is regarded among the nation’s premier restaurant concepts.^[28]

Through the years, the company has also developed and acquired a collection of unique, upscale restaurant concepts called Landry’s Signature Group. Restaurants in Landry’s Signature Group include Vic & Anthony’s, Grotto, Brenner’s Steakhouse, Brenner’s on the Bayou, La Griglia and Willie G’s Seafood &Steaks.^[29]

Loyalty Programs

Landry’s, Inc. offers two unique loyalty programs. Landry’s Select Club allows guests to accrue points as they visit Landry’s, Inc. restaurants, hotels and entertainment destinations. Members receive rewards for signing up and a reward on their birthday. Members can sign up online or at any Landry’s, Inc.restaurant.^[30] The Golden Nugget’s 24K club allows players at Golden Nugget Casinos and Hotels to earn comps good for food, accommodations, free play and more.

Other Projects

Post Oak Motor Cars

The company owns and operates Post Oak Motor Cars, Ltd., the largest factory-authorized Rolls Royce Motor Cars and Bentley Motors dealership on the Gulf Coast.^[31]

Landry's Crawford Boxes

Landry’s, Inc. owns the naming rights to the left field bleachers at Minute Maid Park, the home of Major League Baseball’s Houston Astros. The Landry’s Crawford Boxes are so named because the run parallel to Downtown Houston’s Crawford Street. Any fan catching a home run receives a gift certificate to Landry’s, Inc.restaurants.^[32]

Landry's Gift Cards

Landry’s, Inc. offers gift cards, available in any denomination, sold online, over the phone through the company’s gift card center or at any Landry’s, Inc. property.^[33]

Tower of the Americas

Landry’s, Inc. operates Tower of the Americas, a 750-foot San Antonio, Texas, landmark. At the top of the tower, guests dine at Chart House Restaurant. Other attractions include summer concert series, a 4D Texas ride^[34] and an observation level.^[35]

Divisions and Subsidiaries

Hospitality

Blue Water Inn       

Boardwalk Inn           

Hilton Galveston Island Resort           

Holiday Inn Resort Galveston – On the Beach

Inn at the Ballpark           

San Luis Resort, Spa & Conference Center

Gaming

Golden Nugget Las Vegas           

Golden Nugget Atlantic City           

Golden Nugget Laughlin           

Golden Nugget Biloxi           

Golden Nugget Lake Charles (2014)

Entertainment

Kemah Boardwalk

Boardwalk FantaSea           

Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier           

Tower of the Americas

Downtown Aquarium (Houston & Denver)

HAVEN Atlantic City Nightclub

Dining

References

External links

• Landry's Inc. web site
• Boardwalk Inn at Kemah, TX
• Inn at the Ballpark

v t e Landry's Restaurants Tilman J. Fertitta Entertainment destinations Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier Golden Nugget Atlantic City Golden Nugget Las Vegas Golden Nugget Laughlin Kemah Boardwalk San Luis Resort Restaurants Bubba Gump Shrimp Company Claim Jumper Downtown Aquarium, Denver Downtown Aquarium, Houston Fish Tales McCormick & Schmick's Morton's The Steakhouse Muer Seafood Restaurants Rainforest Cafe Saltgrass Steak House T-Rex Cafe Tower of the Americas