Houlihan's

Last updated

Houlihan's Restaurant & Bar
Company type Wholly owned subsidiary
Industry Restaurants
Founded1972;52 years ago (1972) in Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
Founders
  • Paul Robinson
  • Joe Gilbert
Headquarters
Houston, Texas
,
U.S.
Number of locations
34 (2023) [1]
Products
Owner Landry's, Inc.
Website houlihans.com

Houlihan's is an American casual restaurant and bar chain with locations operating throughout the country, 60% of which are franchised. It is headquartered in Leawood, Kansas. The first Houlihan's opened on April 1, 1972, in Kansas City's Country Club Plaza, and there are now 35 restaurants in 15 states. [1] It was originally named Houlihan's Old Place because it was first located in the space of Houlihans Clothing Store.

Contents

Houlihan's is privately owned by Fertitta Entertainment, who bought HRI, a company that developed and owned several restaurant concepts including Bristol Seafood Grill, Devon Seafood Grill, and J. Gilbert's Wood-Fired Steaks.

History

Paul Robinson met Joe Gilbert in 1961. At that time Robinson was manager of the Golden Ox restaurant in Kansas City's West Bottoms (and creator of Inn at the Landing, which opened in 1960 at the Landing shopping center at 63rd and Troost) and Gilbert was the creator of the Four Winds restaurant at the Kansas City downtown airport. The two men formed the Gilbert-Robinson restaurant firm, and they opened a number of successful restaurants including Plaza III Steakhouse at the Country Club Plaza in 1963 and Gilbert & Robinson's (later renamed Sam Wilson's) on 103rd Street in Overland Park. Several years later, Gilbert-Robinson looked into expanding Plaza III into the space being vacated next door by men's clothing store Tom Houlihan's. Instead of expanding Plaza III, the restaurant partners decided to create a new casual restaurant. During construction, they couldn't come up with a name for the new restaurant, and people kept referring to it as Tom Houlihan's place. As a result, they decided to call the new restaurant Houlihan's Old Place. Gilbert-Robinson gained Tom Houlihan's permission to use the name, and they told him that a table would be reserved for no one else but him in the middle of the dining room every day for the rest of his life. The table included a brass plaque with Tom's name on it; however, Tom Houlihan never set foot in the restaurant. Houlihan's Old Place opened on April 1, 1972. [2] [3] The chain briefly held the naming rights to Tampa Stadium, home of the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the late 1990s before the team moved out of the stadium.

As a result of the early success of the original Houlihan's Old Place, Gilbert-Robinson quickly embarked on a plan of nationwide expansion. A second location, in the French Quarter of New Orleans, was opened in July 1973. The third location was opened in Atlanta in December 1974, and the fourth location was opened in Des Peres, Missouri, in March 1975. [4]

In November 2002, Houlihan's announced that its original location at Kansas City's Country Club Plaza would close by the end of the year. The closing was announced because the landlord, Highwoods Realty LP, chose not to renew the lease. Highwoods Realty is a unit of Highwoods Properties Inc. of Raleigh, North Carolina, which owns most of the retail real estate in the heart of the Country Club Plaza. A spokesperson for Highwoods released a statement indicating that "the time was right to bring a new concept into our restaurant mix here on the Plaza." Houlihan's announced that it would relocate its Plaza location to a vacant space on 53rd Street in nearby Fairway, Kansas, in January 2003. At the time of the move, Houlihan's Restaurants, Inc. owned 48 restaurants in 15 states, including 34 of its Houlihan's branded restaurants. [5]

Since January 2006, private equity firm Goldner Hawn Johnson Morrison has maintained a majority ownership stake in Houlihan's Restaurants, Inc. In May 2006, Houlihan's debuted its new "Houlihan's of the 21st Century" prototype design. The new restaurant designs featured new architecture, interior design, uniforms, music, menu format, patio-style dining, and a redesign to its spacious bar area. Houlihan's also announced a new strategic growth plan to open more corporate locations and limit franchise deals to highly experienced, "cream of the crop" market developers. In 2007, 92 Houlihan's restaurants operated throughout the United States, of which 31 were corporate-owned and 61 were franchised. By 2012, Houlihan's Restaurants, Inc. still owned 31 Houlihan's restaurants; however, franchised locations fell to 48 Houlihan's restaurants. [6] [7] [8]

On November 14, 2019, the restaurant chain's holding company, HRI Holding Corp., and 38 affiliated companies filed bankruptcy in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. According to the company's chief restructuring officer, Matthew Manning, the company is struggling due to a shifting labor market, unfavorable leases, and costly third-party delivery services (such as Postmates). The company intends to use the bankruptcy process to conduct an orderly sale of the restaurants. Landry’s, a Houston-based restaurant group that operates Joe’s Crab Shack, Rainforest Cafe, and Morton’s steakhouses, has offered to pay $40 million to keep the company from bankruptcy. [9] [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whataburger</span> American fast food restaurant chain

Whataburger is an American regional fast food restaurant chain, headquartered and based in San Antonio, Texas, that specializes in hamburgers. Founded by Harmon Dobson and Paul Burton, it opened its first restaurant in Corpus Christi, Texas in 1950. Family-owned by the Dobsons until 2019, the chain is now managed by the private equity firm BDT & MSD Partners; the Dobson family still holds a small stake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Claim Jumper</span> American restaurant chain

Claim Jumper Restaurant and Saloon is an American restaurant chain with 11 locations as of October 28th, 2023. The company is based in Houston, Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outback Steakhouse</span> American chain steakhouse

Outback Steakhouse is an American chain of Australian-themed casual dining restaurants, serving American cuisine, based in Tampa, Florida. The chain has over 1,000 locations in 23 countries throughout North America, South America, Asia, and Australia. It was founded on March 15, 1988, with its first location in Tampa by Bob Basham, Chris T. Sullivan, Trudy Cooper, and Tim Gannon. It was owned and operated in the United States by OSI Restaurant Partners until it was acquired by Bloomin' Brands, and by other franchise and venture agreements internationally.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victoria Station (restaurant)</span> Defunct US based chain of railroad-themed steakhouse restaurants

Victoria Station was a chain of railroad-themed steakhouse restaurants. At the peak of its popularity in the 1970s, the chain had 100 locations in the United States. The firm filed for bankruptcy in 1986. The last remaining restaurant in the former chain was located in Salem, Massachusetts until it abruptly closed in December 2017.

Darden Restaurants, Inc. is an American multi-brand restaurant operator headquartered in Orlando, Florida. As of May 2023, the firm owns three fine dining restaurant chains: Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Eddie V's and The Capital Grille; and seven casual dining restaurant chains: Olive Garden Italian Restaurant, LongHorn Steakhouse, Bahama Breeze, Seasons 52, The Capital Burger, Yard House and Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen. Until July 28, 2014, Darden also owned Red Lobster. Darden has more than 1,800 restaurant locations and more than 175,000 employees, making it the world's largest full-service restaurant company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Back Yard Burgers</span> American regional franchise chain of restaurants in the Southern and Midwestern US

Back Yard Burgers, Inc., is an American regional franchise chain of quick serve restaurants. As of March 2022, there are 38 restaurants in the Southern and Midwestern United States. Back Yard Burgers is a subsidiary of private equity firm Axum Capital Partners, and is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee.

VitaNova Brands, based in San Antonio, Texas, was an operator of a number of American national buffet chain restaurants including subsidiary company Furr's.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Landry's</span> American restaurant company

Landry's, Inc., is an American, privately owned, multi-brand dining, hospitality, entertainment, and gaming corporation headquartered in Houston, Texas. Landry's, Inc., owns and operates more than 600 restaurants, hotels, casinos, and entertainment destinations in 35 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. The company also owns and operates numerous international locations. The company is owned by President & CEO Tilman Fertitta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chi-Chi's</span> Mexican restaurant chain

Chi-Chi's can either refer to a defunct Mexican food restaurant chain founded in the United States in 1976, which continued in Europe only as a single restaurant after the North American owner declared bankruptcy and folded in 2004, or to its namesake brand of Mexican food grocery products produced and marketed when the original North American restaurant chain owner sold the rights to use its name on said products in 1987.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ponderosa and Bonanza Steakhouses</span> American restaurant company

Ponderosa Steakhouse and Bonanza Steakhouse are a chain of buffet/steakhouse restaurants that are a part of Homestyle Dining LLC based in Plano, Texas. Its menu includes steaks, seafood, and chicken entrées, all of which come with their buffet. A lunch menu is also served.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Village Inn</span> Casual dining restaurant chain

Village Inn is a casual-dining restaurant chain in the United States. Its restaurants are known for their breakfast menu items. Also, they feature a variety of salads, sandwiches, burgers, melts, and dinner items. Their pies have won numerous awards from the American Pie Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sbarro</span> American pizzeria chain

Sbarro, LLC is an American fast food restaurant that specializes in New York–style pizza sold by the slice and other Italian-American cuisine. In 2011, the company was ranked 15th in foreign sales among U.S.-based quick-serve and fast-casual companies by QSR Magazine. In 2008, Sbarro was rated the No. 1 Quick Service Restaurant in the Italian segment by Entrepreneur magazine. However, diners and critics have criticized the quality of the food, with some suggesting a link between food quality and the company's two bankruptcies. Sbarro has over 600 locations in 28 countries. Sbarro stores are located in shopping malls, airports, service areas, and college campuses, as well as in The Pentagon, American naval bases, and casinos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sizzler</span> American restaurant chain

Sizzler USA Restaurants, Inc., doing business as Sizzler, is a United States-based restaurant chain with headquarters in Mission Viejo, California, with locations mainly in California, plus some in the nearby states of Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Idaho, Utah, and Oregon, as well as Puerto Rico. It is known for steak, seafood, and salad bar items.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon</span> Casual dining restaurant chain

Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon was an American casual dining restaurant chain with a single independently owned and operated franchise still in business in 2021 on the island of Guam. The chain served steak, seafood, salad, and similar food items. Lone Star opened its first restaurant in 1989 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. In March 1992, Lone Star became a public company with eight restaurants opened. At its maximum, 267 Lone Star Steakhouses were in operation. The company filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on September 7, 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Romano's Macaroni Grill</span> American casual dining restaurant chain specializing in Italian-American cuisine

Romano's Macaroni Grill is a casual dining restaurant chain specializing in Italian-American cuisine. As of April 2024, the company operates 31 locations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah, as well as 6 locations in Puerto Rico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cheeseburger in Paradise (restaurant)</span> Defunct Casual dining restaurant and former chain

Cheeseburger in Paradise was a casual dining theme restaurant chain in the United States that operated between 2002 and 2020. The chain started in 2002 as a partnership of American musician Jimmy Buffett's company, the Orlando, Florida-based Margaritaville Holdings LLC, and OSI Restaurant Partners, with Buffett licensing the name and Outback Steakhouse operating the franchising of restaurants. After a change of ownership in 2012, most of the restaurants were closed by 2014. The last location, located in Secaucus, NJ, closed in September 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steak and Ale</span> American chain of casual dining restaurants

Steak and Ale is an American chain of restaurants that was influential in the growth of casual dining. Founded in 1966, it achieved major success in the 1970s and 1980s before declaring Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceeding and closing its remaining 58 locations on July 29, 2008. The first new Steak and Ale restaurant since then opened on July 8, 2024, in Burnsville, Minnesota, with more planned for the Midwest and Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timber Lodge Steakhouse</span>

Timber Lodge Steakhouse is a privately owned American steakhouse chain with one location in Minnesota. Formerly a public company, it had eighty-five locations at its peak.

Charlie Brown's Fresh Grill is a regional American casual dining restaurant chain based in Washington Township, New Jersey. The remaining locations are located in Scotch Plains, New Jersey and Woodbury, New Jersey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northland Properties</span> Canadian property company

Northland Properties Corporation is the parent company of multiple hotel chains, restaurants, sports teams, and Northland Asset Management Company. Northland was founded in 1963 and is owned by the Gaglardi family. Bob Gaglardi is the founder and chairman of the board and Tom Gaglardi is President of Northland Properties Corporation. Northland Properties is the largest privately held hospitality group in North America with properties spanning Canada, the United States, and the U.K. and Ireland. Their collective assets are valued at close to $8B.

References

  1. 1 2 "Locations". Houlihan's. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  2. ↑ Ferruzza, Charles (October 10, 2013). "Paul Robinson dies - legendary restaurateur created Gilbert/Robinson empire | The Fast Pitch". The Pitch. Archived from the original on February 2, 2012. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
  3. ↑ Ferruzza, Charles (October 10, 2013). "Bill Gilbert says the restaurant industry's future is sort of like its past | The Fast Pitch". The Pitch. Archived from the original on March 20, 2013. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
  4. ↑ "GILBERT/ROBINSON, INC. v. - 758 F.Supp. 512 (1991) - upp51211188 - Leagle.com" . Retrieved June 28, 2018.
  5. ↑ "Houlihan's will leave Plaza after 30 years - Kansas City Business Journal". Bizjournals.com. November 13, 2002. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Houlihan's confirms reports that it's weighing a sale - Kansas City Business Journal". Bizjournals.com. May 15, 2012. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
  7. ↑ Liddle, Alan (May 15, 2012). "Houlihan's Restaurants to explore sale | Latest Headlines content from Nation's Restaurant News". Nrn.com. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Houlihan's Obtains $68 Million for Nationwide Growth Strategy". Prweb.com. Archived from the original on October 25, 2013. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
  9. ↑ Randles, Jonathan (November 14, 2019). "Houlihan's Restaurant Chain Files for Bankruptcy". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  10. ↑ Romeo, Peter (November 14, 2019). "Bankrupt, Houlihan's accepts $40M bid from Landry's". Restaurant Business. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.