Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises

Infobox_Company
company_name = Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises
company_
company_type = Private
company_slogan =
foundation = 1971 in Chicago, Illinois
founder = Rich Melman & Jerry A. Orzoff
location_city = Chicago, Illinois
location_country = USA
key_people = Rich Melman, co-founder
Jerry A. Orzoff, co-founder

industry = Restaurants
num_employees = 5,000 (2005)
revenue = profit$300 million (2005)
net_income = profit$50 million (2005)
products =
homepage = [http://www.leye.com/ 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.

History

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.cite web |author= |url= http://www.leye.com/company/history.htm|title= The Lettuce Entertain You Story |publisher= Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises Inc. |year= |accessdate=2007-02-02 ] By 1976 the company had 5 restaurants.cite web |author= Wilson, Mark R. |url= http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/2749.html|title= "Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises Inc.", "Encyclopedia of Chicago" |publisher= Chicago Historical Society |year=2005 |accessdate=2007-02-02 ] 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. Since its founding the company has opened 130 restaurants, 70 concepts.cite web |author= Carpenter, Dave |url= http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13957408/|title= Restaurateur sees salad days ahead |publisher= MSNBC.com (Associated Press story also published on CBSNews.com) |date=2006-07-20 |accessdate=2007-02-02 ]

The restaurants are unique and vary in price, theme, and cuisine. However, they generally combine theatrical flair and good value. [cite web|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE5D91538F930A25751C0A967958260|title=Retro Magnate Moves East|accessdate=2008-08-04|date=1991-02-13|author=Kleiman, Dena|publisher=The New York Times Company|work=The New York Times] LEYE currently owns, licenses or manages more than 60 establishments in Illinois, Arizona, Maryland, Virginia, Georgia, Minnesota and Nevada, including Wildfire Grill, Petterino's, Shaw's Crab House, and Everest. Also among his creations are two restaurants in the Paris Casino on the Las Vegas Strip, Eiffel Tower and Mon Ami Gabi (an expansion of the flagship location in Chicago), Big Bowl, and newly opened L2O.cite web |author= Cebrzynski, Gregg |url= http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_5_34/ai_59227913 |title= Richard Melman - chief executive officer of Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises Inc |publisher= Nation's Restaurant News |year= 2000 |month= January |accessdate=2007-02-02 ]

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.cite web |author= Sheridan, Margaret |url= http://www.rimag.com/archives/2000/10b/interface-melman.asp|title= Richard Melman on Savoring Peace of Mind |publisher= Restaurant & Institutions Magazine |year=2000 |accessdate=2007-02-02 ] The food court at Water Tower Place is among its operations.citation|title=Block Party:After years of highs and lows — and plenty of wheeling and dealing — the first new building at Block 37 is sset to rise this month|periodical=Chicago Social|date=July 2008|page=68|last=Olvera|first=Jennifer] 1999 annual revenue estimates ranged from $145 to over $200 million. 2005 revenue estimates were $300 million, with 5000 employees and approximately $50 million in net earnings.

Restaurants

Lettuce Entertain You restaurants include:

*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

*Hub 51

*Joe’s Seafood Prime Steak & Stone Crab

*Krispy Kreme (franchisee)

*L2O

*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

Notes