The Capital Grille

Last updated
The Capital Grille
Company type Subsidiary
Industry Restaurant
Genre Fine dining
Founded1990;34 years ago (1990), in Providence, Rhode Island
FounderNed Grace
Headquarters1000 Darden Center Drive
Orlando, Florida, U.S. 32837
Number of locations
62 (2021)
Key people
Eugene Lee (chairman and CEO of Darden)
ProductsUSDA Choice Steaks
Parent Rare Hospitality International
(1990–2007)
Darden Restaurants
(2007–present)
Website thecapitalgrille.com
Footnotes /references
[1] [2]
The Capital Grille at Wayside Commons in Burlington, Massachusetts The Capital Grille at Wayside Commons, Burlington MA.jpg
The Capital Grille at Wayside Commons
in Burlington, Massachusetts

The Capital Grille is an American restaurant chain of upscale steakhouses owned by Darden Restaurants. The brand has locations in twenty-five states, the District of Columbia, and Mexico City. [2] [3]

Contents

History

The original Capital Grille was founded by Ned Grace, in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1990. [4] The opening was curious for several reasons: the upscale steakhouse contrasted with the then-rundown downtown area of Providence, and the opening occurred amid an ongoing recession. Grace envisioned the restaurant being popular with business and political elite, and his ideas proved to be accurate. Seven years after opening, the original location pulled in over $4 million in annual sales. [4]

Under the leadership of Grace's Bugaboo Creek Steak House Inc. (the name of Grace's other chain), the chain expanded to several major markets. By 1996, The Capital Grille had locations in Washington, D.C. and Boston. In 1997, aided by a $20 million credit line from two banks, it expanded with four more locations. [4] Bugaboo Creek Steak House Inc. went public in 1994, and later changed its name to RARE Hospitality International, Inc. [5] According to The Washington Business Journal, the chain was acquired by Darden Restaurants as a "part of a $1.19 billion acquisition of RARE Hospitality in 2007". [6]

The Capital Grille operates under the Specialty Restaurant Group division of Darden. [7]

In March 2018, a spinoff restaurant called The Capital Burger was opened in Washington, DC. [8] In January 2020, The Capital Burger opened their second location in Reston, Virginia.

Locations

As of June 2021 there were 63 locations, including one location recently opened in Costa Rica. [3]

Lawsuit

In 2012, employees in five states filed lawsuits against the company alleging racial discrimination and wage violations. The lawsuit alleges that the company favored white workers over people of color for lucrative tipped jobs as well as requiring tipped workers to share their earnings with non-tipped workers. [9]

Thanksgiving controversy

In 2013, the Capital Grille in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania was open for Thanksgiving for the first time in its history. Capital Grille employees at the Pittsburgh location and members of the Restaurant Opportunities Center protested having to work on Thanksgiving without receiving holiday pay. [10] In addition, the Pittsburgh City Council passed a Will of Council opposing Capital Grille's decision to force employees to work on Thanksgiving without holiday pay. [11]

Related Research Articles

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

Olive Garden is an American casual dining restaurant chain specializing in Italian–American cuisine. It is a subsidiary of Darden Restaurants, Inc., which is headquartered in Orange County, Florida. As of 2022, Olive Garden restaurants accounted for $4.5 billion of the $9.63 billion revenue of its parent, Darden.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">York Steak House</span> Former chain of American steakhouses

York Steak House was a national chain of steakhouse restaurants in the United States. It was among several chains owned at the time by cereal manufacturer General Mills. By 1982, there were nearly 200 restaurants in 27 states from Texas to Maine. Though popular in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the majority of its locations shut down in 1989.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steak 'n Shake</span> American restaurant chain

Steak 'n Shake Operations, Inc. is an American casual restaurant chain concentrated primarily in the Midwestern United States with locations also in the South, Mid-Atlantic, Western United States, Europe, and the Middle East. The company is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Biglari Holdings. As of 2018, 628 Steak 'n Shake restaurants were in operation; of those 414 were corporate-owned, and 214 franchised. The company has since attempted to convert to a fully franchised model.

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 six casual dining restaurant chains: Olive Garden Italian Restaurant, LongHorn Steakhouse, Bahama Breeze, Seasons 52, 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">Ruth's Chris Steak House</span> American restaurant chain

Ruth's Chris Steak House is a chain of over 100 steakhouses across the United States, Canada and Mexico. On May 22, 2008, the company underwent rebranding and became part of Ruth's Hospitality Group after its acquisition of Mitchell's Fish Market. The group's headquarters are in Winter Park, Florida.

<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">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 Washington, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Idaho, Utah, Oregon and 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.

MR MIKES SteakhouseCasual is a casual dining chain which operates across Canada. The brand is owned by RAMMP Hospitality Brands Inc. with its headquarters in Burnaby, British Columbia.

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

LongHorn Steakhouse is an American casual dining restaurant chain owned and operated by Darden Restaurants, headquartered in Orlando, Florida. As of 2023, LongHorn Steakhouse generated more than $2.5 billion in sales in its 563 locations.

As far back as the 1970s, international fast food restaurant chain Burger King has attempted to introduce a premium line of burgers. These sandwiches are part of a system which eventually became known as the barbell strategy; a plan designed to expand Burger King's menu with both more sophisticated, adult-oriented fare along with products that are more value-oriented. This program is intended to bring in a larger, more affluent adult audience who will be willing to spend more on the better quality products on one side while maintaining a lower cost value menu dedicated to a more cost-conscious audience on the other. The hope is that the customers would be drawn in initially for the lower prices of the value-menu and upgrade to the more expensive products, upping overall sales.

The Mitchell's Fish Market is an American seafood restaurant chain founded in 1998 by restaurateur Cameron Mitchell of Columbus, Ohio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruth's Hospitality Group</span> American holding company

Ruth's Hospitality Group, Inc. was a restaurant company with a focus on American steakhouse restaurants. Ruth's was acquired by Darden Restaurants in June 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ray's Hell Burger</span> Former American restaurant in Virginia, United States

Ray's Hell Burger was a hamburger restaurant in Arlington, Virginia, part of a group of restaurants in the Washington metropolitan area under the "Ray's" name owned by restaurateur Michael Landrum.

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">Restaurant Opportunities Center</span> American nonprofit organization

The Restaurant Opportunities Centers United (ROC) is a not-for-profit organization and worker center with affiliates in a number of cities across the United States. Its mission is to improve wages and working conditions for the nation's low wage restaurant workforce. Its tactics and strategy have drawn fire from business groups and restaurant industry lobbyists.

Vic & Anthony's is an American steakhouse restaurant chain with locations in Downtown Houston, and inside the Golden Nugget Casinos in Las Vegas, Atlantic City and Lake Charles. Vic & Anthony's is owned and operated by Landry's, Inc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Del Frisco's Restaurant Group</span> American restaurant company

Del Frisco's Restaurant Group was an American steakhouse restaurant chain company which focused on steaks. The company was founded in 1981 and became public in 2012. Del Frisco's Restaurant Group operated Del Frisco's Grille and Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House in the United States. Market capitalization at the end of 2017 was US$327.84M.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse</span> American restaurant chain

Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse was a Canadian-themed U.S. casual dining restaurant chain, serving American cuisine, based in East Providence, Rhode Island. The restaurant first opened in October 1992 in Warwick, Rhode Island. Up until the mid 2010s, it was known for several novel animatronics based on the wildlife of Canada. Animatronics of bulls, buffaloes, or moose trophy head mounts would greet guests and provide entertainment. Other novelty characters such as Timber, The Talking Christmas Tree, would be programmed to tell customers about Canadian history and natural attractions.

References

  1. ↑ "Darden 2011 Annual Report" (PDF). Darden Restaurants, Inc. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 24, 2012. Retrieved April 12, 2012.
  2. 1 2 Darden Restaurants, Inc. (May 29, 2011). "FY 2011 10-K". U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Retrieved April 11, 2012.
  3. 1 2 "The Capital Grille Restaurant Locations". The Capital Grille. 2011. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 Robin Lee Allen (May 20, 1996). "Capital Grille: an upscale steak house approaching its prime". Nation's Restaurant News. Archived from the original on 2004-09-01. Retrieved April 11, 2012.
  5. ↑ History of Rare Hospitality International
  6. ↑ Jeff Clabaugh (March 18, 2009). "Capital Grille sales fall 19 percent". Washington Business Journal. Retrieved April 11, 2012.
  7. ↑ "Darden Fact Sheet" (PDF) (Press release). Darden Restaurants, Inc. Retrieved April 11, 2012.
  8. ↑ Carman, Tim. "A steakhouse chain makes the cut with its tasty new burger joint". The Washington Post. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  9. ↑ Lisa Fickenscher (May 2, 2012). "Capital Grille lawsuit shifts to several states". Crain's New York Business. Retrieved May 9, 2012.
  10. ↑ "Protesters target Capital Grille over Thanksgiving plans". news.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2020-07-29.
  11. ↑ "City of Pittsburgh Legislative Information Center". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
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.