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 the P.F. in P.F. Chang's China Bistro, which he co-founded with Philip Chiang. 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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