 |
 |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Chicago, IL (April 19, 1999) - Richard Melman
and Gerard Centioli announce the formation of ICON, LLC. (ICON) This
new company will establish partnerships with the expressed purpose
of
expansion and development. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
The First such project will bring one of the most
famous icons in America - Joe's Stone Crab (Joe's), to Chicago. Joe
and Jennie Weiss opened Joe's in Miami, Florida in 1913. Joe's is
owned and operated by JoAnn Bass, grand-daughter of the founders,
and Stephen & Jodi Sawitz, children of JoAnn. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
In the first meeting more than 15 years ago, Melman
and Centioli learned that they shared a passion for restaurant icons.
With the opening of Joe's Stone Crab in Chicago, their dream of developing
an icon together will be realized. Joe's Stone Crab Development Company,
the partnership between ICON, Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, Inc.
and the founding family will open its first restaurant in the River
North area in late 1999 or early 2000. Also, unlike the original Joe's
Stone Crab, which is only open eight months of the year, the Chicago
Joe's will operate all year; stone crab from October to May and fresh
seafood and prime steaks year round. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
JoAnn Bass, Joe's CEO said, "Seeing what my grandfather
created prosper over the years has been extremely gratifying. The
time has come for Joe's family to grow and what better city to enter
than Chicago and what better partner than Rich Melman." |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Joe's features its namesake stone crab, which Joe
Weiss introduces to the dining world 86 years ago and is consistently
one of the top ten highest grossing restaurants in the country. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Melman and Centioli are both second-generation
restauranteurs with a combined 59 years of experience. Melman is the
founder, Chairman and CEO of Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, Inc.
Centioli is a senior partner at Lettuce and until April 12, 1999 was
president & CEO of the Emerging Concepts Division of Brinker International,
Inc. Centioli will continue to office at Lettuce and consult with
Richard Melman for ICON and related Lettuce projects. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
