Chances are, if you’ve lived in Chicago for any period of time, Rich Melman has fed you. Or rather, his company – Lettuce Entertain You – has. The restaurant group now has more than 80 properties around the country and is about to celebrate its 40th anniversary this week.
Exactly one month ago, Rich Melman received a James Beard award – kind of a culinary Oscar – named “Restaurateur of the Year.”
However, the Chicago native wasn’t in New York to receive it, he was in the midst of planning a nationwide tour, visiting all of the restaurants that bear the Lettuce Entertain You imprint, as a way of thanking his thousands of employees. The Logan Square native and founder of Chicago’s best-known restaurant company recently reflected on how things all got started.