The Cheesecake Factory | Success Story of the Restaurant Company

The Cheesecake Factory is a prominent American cheesecake distributor company. It was founded as a bakery in Los Angeles, California, in 1972. As of 2021, The Cheesecake Factory has more than 200 outlets worldwide. The company is famous for its premium quality ingredients used in making cheesecakes. In 2020, Fortune included The Cheesecake Factory in its 100 Best Companies to work for list. The company aims to provide its customers and staff with a sustainable future. With its delicious food and excellent representation of traditional American food, the brand remains one of the world’s most celebrated restaurant chains.

About

The Cheesecake Factory offers its customers a wide range of traditional American cheesecakes, salads, burgers, sandwiches, pizzas, and beverages. David Overton founded The Cheesecake Factory as a bakery to supply cheesecakes and other desserts to local restaurants. In 2012, after gaining recognition across the USA and Canada, The Cheesecake Factory opened its first international store in Dubai, UAE. The restaurant chain has managed to appeal to all age groups with its accessible, affordable, and delectable food menu. For fifty years, the company has provided premium quality cheesecakes and various types of cuisines to its large customer base. 

Founders

On the 13th of April 1946, David Overton was born in Detroit, Michigan, USA. His father, Oscar Everton, worked as a retail store manager. In contrast, his mother, Evelyn Everton, was a homemaker. Growing up during the1950s, David was inclined to music. From the age of fifteen, he started playing drums. He had a sister named Renee. For schooling, David attended Wayne State University in Detroit. After earning a bachelor’s degree in Economics and History, David moved to San Francisco for further studies. He enrolled himself in Hastings College of Law in 1967. However, to pursue a career in music, David dropped out of college. He stayed in San Francisco to become a musician. However, his family wanted to stay close to him. 

During the 1940s, David’s mother, Evelyn, had come across a cheesecake recipe in a local newspaper. Once, she prepared the cheesecake for her husband’s boss. The boss loved the cheesecake. Consequently, he asked Evelyn if she could make twelve more cheesecakes for Christmas gifting. Soon, Evelyn’s cheesecakes started gaining recognition across Detroit. As a result, she started making them during the day, and David’s father used to deliver them by night to the restaurants in town. However, she eventually had to give up on her cheesecake-making business. Evelyn needed to focus on her children, and soon, the business stopped. David noticed how his mother’s cheesecakes gained recognition as the best cheesecakes in town. Later, after settling in San Francisco, he convinced his parents to move to LA. 

Beginning of The Cheesecake Factory

David wanted his parents to resuscitate the cheesecake business. He told them that the firm had a great opportunity in Los Angeles. Simultaneously, throughout the late 60s, David focused on his musical career. In 1971, David’s parents and sister moved to LA to revive the cheesecake venture. They had to sell their property and use all their savings to start the business. Gradually, in 1972, Oscar and Evelyn established a small bakery. Initially, they sold cheesecakes at wholesale prices to popular restaurants.

The bakery did not see progressive growth. By 1975, David decided to give up on his music career and joined his parents to help run the bakery. Upon reaching, he realized that the bakery needed to be converted into a restaurant. Consequently, in 1978, David established The Cheesecake Factory in Beverly Hills, California. The restaurant had no grand opening or advertisements, yet, it managed to get people lined up outside. 

Pathway to Success

Within ten minutes of opening, the restaurant was full. Evelyn’s cheesecakes became an instant hit among the people of Beverly Hills. Soon, the restaurant started gaining recognition across the county. As a result, within five years of its establishment, David opened a second restaurant in Marina Del Rey, CA. In 1991, after successful ventures in California, The Cheesecake Factory opened its restaurant in Washington, D.C. The following year, the company went public. In 1995, to fulfill the demanding growth, the company opened a 60,000 ft confectionary production facility in Calabasas Hills, California. By 1998, there were twenty-five restaurant outlets of The Cheesecake Factory across the USA. The company achieved great financial success within a few years of establishment. 

Worldwide Recognition

In 2005, The Cheesecake Factory opened its 100th outlet in Florida. There was no looking back for the company. In 2013, after gaining success in the USA, the company opened its first international outlet in Dubai. Later, it debuted in China, Canada, Mexico, Lebanon, Qatar, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Europe. Presently, there are over 200 outlets of the iconic cheesecake restaurant worldwide. In 2022, Fortune included The Cheesecake Factory in its one of the “Best Companies to Work for” list for the ninth consecutive year. The restaurant has widened its menu significantly in the last two decades. From cheesecakes to seafood, everything is readily available at the restaurant’s outlet. With a rich history of 50 years, the company stands prominently in the American restaurant culture. 

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