Phil Romano | |
---|---|
Nationality | American |
Occupation | Restaurateur |
Years active | 1965–present |
Known for | Founder of Fuddruckers and Romano's Macaroni Grill |
Philip J. Romano is an American restaurateur and entrepreneur. He is best known as the founder of the restaurant chains Fuddruckers and Romano's Macaroni Grill. [1]
Romano grew up in Auburn, New York. He moved to Florida in his early 20s and then moved from West Palm Beach, Florida, to San Antonio, Texas, in 1976. [2]
Romano has founded multiple restaurant chains with a national or international reach. His biggest successes to date are Fuddruckers, Romano's Macaroni Grill, and EatZi's. [1] Romano has founded more than twenty different restaurant concepts in his career. [3] [4]
Romano was also one of the earliest investors in the heart stent. [1] His initial $250,000 investment returned millions of dollars in royalties. [1]
Romano now runs a number of restaurant incubators in the west Dallas area known as Trinity Groves. He also co-owns an art gallery on Dragon Street in Dallas, Texas, called Samuel Lynne Galleries, named in part after his son, Sam.
Romano is the co-founder of Hunger Busters with his ex-wife Lille, a Dallas charity that feeds the homeless. Romano stepped away from Hunger Busters in 2018. [1] [5]
Romano was married to Lillie Romano (they divorced in 2013), with whom he has a son, Sam. [4] Romano and his son, Sam, live in Dallas, Texas. [1] Romano is listed as an artist and author on the website for Samuel Lynne Galleries in Dallas, Texas.
Romano faced controversy when he used racist language and jokes on one of his restaurants' menus. [6]
International Dairy Queen, Inc. (DQ) is an American multinational fast food chain founded in 1940. It is currently headquartered in Bloomington, Minnesota. The first Dairy Queen was owned and operated by Sherb Noble and first opened on June 22, 1940, in Joliet, Illinois. It serves a variety of hot and fried food, as well as original frozen dairy products that vary from location to location.
Dave & Buster's is an American restaurant and entertainment business headquartered in Dallas. Each Dave & Buster's has a full-service restaurant, full bar, and a video arcade. As of September 2023, the company has 156 locations in the United States, two in Puerto Rico and two in Canada.
Brad Blum is the Co-Owner of FoodFirst Global Restaurants. He was the Founder, Chairman & CEO of FoodFirst Global Restaurants, Inc., upon the establishment of the company in May 2018. Previously he was the CEO of Burger King from December 2002 to July 2, 2004. He joined the company from Darden Restaurants where he had headed the Olive Garden unit, but left after only 18 months citing strategic differences with Burger King's board. Blum's successor, Greg Brenneman, was appointed on August 1, 2004. Blum was the CEO of Romano's Macaroni Grill from December 2008 to July 2010.
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Romano's Macaroni Grill is a casual dining restaurant chain specializing in Italian-American cuisine. As of January 2024, the company operates 32 locations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Virginia.
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