Paul Fleming (restaurateur)

Paul Fleming is an American restaurateur. He has developed a number of restaurant chains, including P. F. Chang's China Bistro, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar,[1][2] Pei Wei Asian Diner, Z’Tejas Grills, and Paul Martin's American Grill.[3]

Early life

The New Iberia, Louisiana native [4] grew up with a love of food, enjoying squab among other things,[3] and first worked in the hospitality industry while a student at Loyola University in New Orleans. His first job in the restaurant industry was at a local restaurant called Saturday’s. He began as a dishwasher and progressed to become a busboy, server, bartender and finally, the manager.[3] It is unknown if he graduated from college.

Career

Fleming is best known as the P.F. in P.F. Chang's China Bistro, which he founded. This restaurant chain made its debut in Scottsdale, Arizona in 1993. He then built the infrastructure that led the company to national expansion and a public offering. He also conceptualized Pei Wei Asian Diner, a casual, quick-service offshoot of P.F. Chang's.

Together with partner Bill Allen, Fleming developed another restaurant chain that bears his name: Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar,[5] which started in 1998 in Newport Beach, California. Fleming's is operated as a joint venture with Bloomin’ Brands (NASDAQ:BLMN.O) and has grown to 65 locations across the U.S.

In 2006 Fleming began tinkering with a new concept, Paul Martin's American Grill,[6][7] with restaurant industry veteran Brian Bennett. Specializing in all-natural American cuisine,[8] the first grill opened in 2007 in Roseville, California.[9] In 2014, there were seven of these restaurants in California, one in Arizona, and plans for expanding to more markets.[10]

References

  1. ↑ "Grow Slow: Lessons From Legendary Restaurauter Paul Fleming". Forbes Magazine.
  2. ↑ "Matchbox Food Group Adds Investors to Fuel Growth". FSR magazine.
  3. 1 2 3 "QandA with Restaurateur Paul Fleming". Great Taste Magazine.
  4. ↑ Ramos, Bethany; Farkas, David. "Conceptual Thinking: P.F. Chang's founder forges ahead in restaurant innovation". Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Man behind P.F. Chang's, Fleming's bringing latest restaurant concept to Scottsdale". Phoenix Business Journal. 12 February 2014.
  6. ↑ Luna, Nancy (November 17, 2011). "New Irvine eatery part of O.C. restaurant boom". The Orange County Register. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Not just another chain restaurant". Mountain View Voice.
  8. ↑ "Paul Martin's American Grill". Desert Living Today.
  9. ↑ "Fleming debuts Paul Martin’s American Bistro in Calif.". Nation's Restaurant News. October 30, 2007.
  10. ↑ "Fleming’s New Restaurant to Open in Scottsdale - Orange County Business Journal".
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