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The Cheesecake Factory
serves up hundreds of local jobs |
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Photo by Mike Scheibinger |
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The Cheesecake
Factory Inc. headquarters in Calabasas set the style and trend
for office buildings in Calabasas when it was built thirteen
years ago. |
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The Cheesecake Factory currently
provides more than 600 jobs in the Conejo Valley. In
1989, the company built its headquarters on Agoura Road
in Calabasas to host its corporate office and head bakery.
"Thirteen years ago, the newly developing Calabasas
area was the perfect setting for The Cheesecake Factory
headquarters. Its architecture was one of the initial
models that set the tone and look for the city to follow,"
says Howard Gordon, Senior Vice President of Development
and Marketing.
The multi-million dollar empire of casual dining restaurants
was never part of The Cheesecake Factory founder Evelyn
Overton's plan for distributing her delicious desserts.
Started in the 1940s, this cheesecake centered enterprise
has come a long way from its beginnings in a Detroit
city basement. |
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After a challenging start in Detroit,
Evelyn Overton moved with her husband in 1972 to Los
Angeles to provide her trademark cheesecakes to the
West Coast. Working out of a hole-in-the-wall shop in
North Hollywood, Evelyn began distributing cheesecakes
to wholesalers up and down the California coast. As
her cheesecakes’ popularity increased, Evelyn and her
family opened their first full-service restaurant in
Beverly Hills. The Cheesecake Factory was open for business
in 1978.
The Cheesecake Factory chain today runs 52 Cheesecake
Factory restaurants and two Grand Lux Cafes. According
to Howard Gordon, The Cheesecake Corporation plans on
opening 12 restaurants per year for the next five years.
The Cheesecake Factory full service restaurant offers
approximately 200 menu items including seafood, steaks,
salads, pizza, burgers and sandwiches. They have over
40 different freshly baked desserts and a full bar.
The Cheesecake Factory has built a longstanding reputation
for providing generous portions at conservative prices.
The average guest check for 2001 was $15.70. In February
1992, its tremendous financial success catapulted The
Cheesecake Factory into becoming an incorporated venture
in Delaware. The initial public offering was $3.95 per
share. Since then, the stock has gone through four three-for-two
splits: March 1994, April 1998, June 2000 and June 2001.
Within the last 5 years the stock has more than tripled
its value and currently hovers around $35.00 per share.
Total revenue for 2001 was $539 million which is $100
million more than the previous year.
To expand the Cheesecake Factory's control in the restaurant
industry, they have introduced their newest dining concept,
Grand Lux Café. This new offering brings their patrons
a more upscale-casual dining experience with the same
quality as The Cheesecake Factory restaurants. Located
in Beverly Hills (the Beverly Center) and inside the
Venetian hotel in Las Vegas, the Grand Lux serves up
California style cuisine consistent with that of the
Cheesecake Factory. Aimed towards a higher socio-economic
demographic, the Grand Lux provides an eclectic atmosphere
built in a modern-day style with a hint of Italian Renaissance.
"We are currently in the process of opening another
one in Chicago, which we expect to be ready for business
in a couple of weeks," says Howard Gordon. The Cheesecake
Factory Incorporated has restaurants in 19 states and
plans on continuing its expansion throughout the United
States.
Evelyn's son, David Overton, who works at the Calabasas
headquarters, currently serves as Chairman, President
and Chief Executive Officer of The Cheesecake Factory.
Conejo Valley residents can enjoy The Cheesecake Factory
dining experience at 442 West Hillcrest Drive, inside
The Oaks Mall in Thousand Oaks. |
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