Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises (LEYE) is a restaurant group currently comprising 120 or more restaurants mainly located in the Chicago metropolitan area. It was founded by Rich Melman and Jerry A. Orzoff in 1971.
The original Wildfire location on Erie Street in Chicago.
The first restaurant, R.J. Grunts in Lincoln Park, opened on June 10, 1971.[1] It is still in operation, as of 2024.[2]
The company lists nine original partners: Bill Higgins, Melman, Bill Frost, Bob Wattel, Charles Haskell, Orzoff, Marvin Magid, Danny Koval and Fred Joast.[3] By 1976 the company had 5 restaurants and a band called Fresh Lettuce.[4] The partners continued expanding the company's network of restaurants. By the mid-1980s, the company employed over 2,000 people and had annual revenues of $40 million.[4] Since its founding the company has opened 130 restaurants, with 70 concepts.[5]
The restaurants are unique and vary in price, theme, and cuisine. However, they generally combine theatrical flair and good value.[6] LEYE currently owns, licenses or manages more than 100 establishments in Illinois, California, Arizona, Maryland, Virginia, Minnesota and Nevada, including Wildfire, Petterino's, RPM Italian, RPM Steak, Beatrix, Oyster Bah, Shaw's Crab House, and Everest.[3] Also among its creations are two restaurants in the Paris Casino on the Las Vegas Strip, the Eiffel Tower and Mon Ami Gabi (an expansion of the flagship location in Chicago), Big Bowl, and L2O.[7]
IN 2000, LEYE had 38 partners, 45 concepts, and 4,000 employees. It owns, operates and licenses 90 restaurant venues in the United States. It has separate restaurant consulting and restaurant development companies.[8] The food court at Water Tower Place is among its operations.[9] 1999 annual revenue estimates ranged from $145 to over $200 million.[7][8] 2005 revenue estimates were $300 million, with 5000 employees and approximately $50 million in net earnings.[5]
1 2 3 Carpenter, Dave (July 20, 2006). "Restaurateur sees salad days ahead". NBC News (Associated Press story also published on CBSNews.com). Retrieved February 2, 2007.
↑ Olvera, Jennifer (July 2008). "Block Party:After years of highs and lows — and plenty of wheeling and dealing — the first new building at Block 37 is set to rise this month". Chicago Social. p.68.
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Leye or LEYE may refer to:
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$500 million (2005)
