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 Since
1971, Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, Inc. (LEYE) has maintained
a sense of humor and enjoyment while creating high quality, successful
restaurants. Due to the innovation of LEYE's Founder and Chairman,
Richard Melman, and his creative team of partners and employees,
LEYE currently owns, licenses or manages more than 50 establishments
in Illinois, Arizona, Minnesota, Nevada and Japan.
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The founding of LEYE was the
result of joining Melman's food ideas with the confidence and support
of Jerry A. Orzoff, Melman's first partner. A successful real estate
agent and North Michigan Avenue haberdasher, Orzoff (who died in 1981
at the age of 45), played a crucial role in Melman's life as a friend
and mentor. "Jerry was a guy I respected and related to," says Melman.
"He believed in my ideas. Meeting him was the turning point in my
life." |
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After meeting Melman for the first
time in 1970, Orzoff liked his off-beat ideas, and believed in his
ability. Working together as new friends and partners, Melman and
Orzoff raised a total of $17,000 to create an upbeat eatery geared
toward young singles interested in rock music, casual clothes and
healthy food. Melman hired bright, attractive waitresses and bartenders
and filled the location with hanging plants and modern art work. |
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The menu was designed to appeal to
a variety of tastes, and included everything from vegetarian and macrobiotic
foods to hamburgers, sandwiches, milkshakes and the first fruit and
vegetable-laden salad bar. |
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Melman and Orzoff paired their first
initials, added the sound a pig makes when eating and baptized the
establishment R.J. Grunts on June 10, 1971 in Chicago's Lincoln Park.
Despite a lackluster response in the opening weeks, Orzoff provided
the much needed confidence and enthusiasm to keep Melman optimistic
until his dream became reality. After one month, Grunts became a success. |
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