Paul Fleming (restaurateur) explained

Paul Martin Fleming is an American restaurateur. He has developed a number of restaurant chains, including P. F. Chang's China Bistro, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar,[1] [2] Pei Wei Asian Diner, Z’Tejas Grills, and Paul Martin's American Grill.[3]

Early life

Fleming is a native of Franklin, Louisiana, and was raised in New Iberia, Louisiana.[4] [5] His parents were Betty Angers and Robert Martin Fleming, his father worked as a superior court judge.[6] [7] His grandfather was a farmer.[8] Fleming's access to fresh, local produce as a child was a large influence on his restaurant career.[3]

Fleming graduated from both Louisiana State University and Loyola University. As a student at Loyola in New Orleans, Fleming first worked in the hospitality industry. When Fleming attended Louisiana State University, Fleming got his first restaurant job as a dishwasher at Saturday's. From there, he became busboy, server, bartender, and finally, the manager.

Fleming raised a family in Arizona. Then he moved to Calistoga, California in Napa Valley, where he and his first wife Kelly made wine from the organic grapes Paul grew. They purchased the land in 1998, and in 2002 the Kelly Fleming Winery was founded.[9]

Fleming and his wife, Jody Goodenough-Fleming, currently reside in Southwest Florida where they are active members of the local community working with a variety of charitable organizations, in addition to continued focus on numerous projects in the restaurant space. [10]

Career

Prior to working in restaurants, Fleming worked in the oil industry. When the oil industry collapsed, Fleming moved to Los Angeles. There, he began purchasing franchise rights to Ruth's Chris Steak House,[1] which he acquired in three states: California, Arizona, and Hawaii.[11]

In 1984, Fleming opened his first Ruth's Chris in Beverly Hills. In 1985, he opened another in Phoenix. Fleming opened his third location in San Francisco and a fourth in Hawaii. He eventually sold all of the franchises back to Ruth's Chris.

Fleming is the Founder P.F. Chang's China Bistro. The first of the now-cross-country restaurant chain appeared in Scottsdale, Arizona in 1993. The name P.F. Chang's is derived from Paul Fleming's initials (“PF"). He also conceptualized Pei Wei Asian Diner, a casual, quick-service offshoot of P.F. Chang's. P.F. Chang's was sold in 2012 for $1.1 billion.[12]

With co-founder Bill Allen, Fleming developed another restaurant chain that bears his name: Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar,[13] which started in 1998 in Newport Beach, California. Fleming's is operated as a joint venture with Bloomin’ Brands (NASDAQ:BLMN.O) and has grown to 65 locations across the U.S.

In 2006, Fleming began tinkering with a new concept, Paul Martin's American Grill,[14] [15] with restaurant industry veteran Brian Bennett. Specializing in Classic American cuisine,[16] the first grill opened in 2007 in Roseville, California.[17] There are now six restaurants in California, one in Arizona, and one in Austin, Texas.

In 2019, Fleming made a minority investment in a Barcelona-inspired tapas restaurant Boqueria.[18] Fleming also invested in the Tex-Mex restaurant Tacos & Tequila Cantina, which he later sold in 2021.[19]

In 2020, Fleming partnered with Naples, Florida developer and restaurateur, Adam Smith to expand and grow the popular Lake Park Diner by Smith Organics. The use of steroids, antibiotics, hormones, or GMOs are not present in any of the food offered at Lake Park Diner, and this locally loved brand is poised for growth and expansion with a second location planned to open in Summer 2022.

Fleming and his wife, Jody Goodenough-Fleming, co-founded PJK Neighborhood Chinese in 2021. The Florida-inspired, neighborhood Chinese restaurant brand will debut in Naples, Florida in late 2022. Jody Goodenough-Fleming is CEO of Paul Fleming Restaurants leading strategic growth plans for PJK and new emerging concepts in the state of Florida.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Grow Slow: Lessons From Legendary Restaurauter Paul Fleming. Forbes Magazine. Rob Asghar. September 14, 2014. September 7, 2017. September 8, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170908183418/https://www.forbes.com/sites/robasghar/2014/09/14/grow-slow-lessons-from-legendary-restaurauter-paul-fleming/. live.
  2. Web site: Matchbox Food Group Adds Investors to Fuel Growth. FSR magazine. 12 March 2014 . 2014-04-08. 2014-03-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20140315112602/http://www.fsrmagazine.com/restaurant-growth/matchbox-food-group-adds-investors-fuel-growth. live.
  3. Web site: QandA with Restaurateur Paul Fleming. Great Taste Magazine. 30 June 2009 . 2013-07-25. 2013-03-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20130313185646/http://www.great-taste.net/articles/food-for-thought/qa-with-restaurateur-paul-fleming/. live.
  4. Web site: Pritchett. Vanessa. March 28, 1997. Fleming Opens Restaurant. bot: unknown. https://web.archive.org/web/20230824202532/https://box2.nmtvault.com/StMarysParishLibrary/jsp/RcWebImageViewer.jsp?doc_id=38a9da9b-399d-455a-b77a-5e47645c1b5c/lfr00000/20160204/00002480&pg_seq=3&search_doc=. August 24, 2023. June 30, 2019. St. Mary Parish Library Archives. Franklin, Louisiana. Paul Fleming, a native of Franklin....
  5. Web site: Scott. Michael Dot. March 1, 2016. Did You Know The P.F. In 'P.F. Chang's' Is From Right Here In Acadiana?. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170310005500/http://973thedawg.com/did-you-know-the-p-f-in-p-f-changs-is-from-right-here-in-acadiana/. 2017-03-10. 2020-10-21. 97.3 The Dawg. en.
  6. Web site: 2015. Judge Robert M. Fleming. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20151127212549/http://www.iberianet.com/obituaries/judge-robert-m-fleming/article_dd422262-754f-11e5-8149-2728fccbdbb2.html. 2015-11-27. 2020-10-21. The Daily Iberian. en.
  7. Web site: May 12, 1995. Franklin Judge Speaking at USL Commencement. subscription. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20230824202627/http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/539343430/. 2023-08-24. 2020-10-21. Newspapers.com. The Daily Advertiser from Lafayette, Louisiana. 2. en.
  8. Web site: Williams. Teri. QandA with Restaurateur Paul Fleming. 2021-11-24. www.great-taste.net. 30 June 2009 . en-us. 2021-11-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20211124171831/https://www.great-taste.net/articles/food-for-thought/qa-with-restaurateur-paul-fleming/. live.
  9. Web site: Kelly Fleming Winery - The Napa Wine Project. 28 July 2016 . en-US. 2020-05-13. 2020-02-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20200217200037/http://www.napawineproject.com/kelly-fleming-winery/. live.
  10. News: Keates. Nancy. 2011-12-30. In Napa, Blending a House and Winery. en-US. Wall Street Journal. 2020-05-13. 0099-9660. 2021-01-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20210117130930/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970204464404577114823288768772. live.
  11. Web site: QandA with Restaurateur Paul Fleming. Great Taste. 30 June 2009 . 2013-07-25. 2013-03-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20130313185646/http://www.great-taste.net/articles/food-for-thought/qa-with-restaurateur-paul-fleming/. live.
  12. News: 2012-05-01. Centerbridge to buy P.F. Chang's for $1.1 billion. en. Reuters. 2020-05-13. 2020-05-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20200509022020/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pfchangsbistro-idUSBRE8400NT20120501. live.
  13. Web site: Man behind P.F. Chang's, Fleming's bringing latest restaurant concept to Scottsdale. 12 February 2014. Phoenix Business Journal. 8 April 2014. 26 June 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150626123124/http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/blog/prime_cuts/2014/02/man-behind-pf-changs-flemings.html?page=all. live.
  14. News: New Irvine eatery part of O.C. restaurant boom . Nancy . Luna . November 17, 2011 . . September 5, 2013 . October 11, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131011122409/http://www.ocregister.com/articles/fleming-327462-paul-martin.html . live .
  15. Web site: Not just another chain restaurant. 21 March 2014 . Mountain View Voice. 2014-04-08. 2014-08-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20140828090044/http://mv-voice.com/print/story/2014/03/21/not-just-another-chain-restaurant. live.
  16. Web site: Paul Martin's American Grill. Desert Living Today.
  17. News: Fleming debuts Paul Martin's American Bistro in Calif. . October 30, 2007 . Nation's Restaurant News . August 28, 2013 . July 10, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140710004311/http://nrn.com/archive/fleming-debuts-paul-martin-s-american-bistro-calif . live .
  18. Web site: Paul Fleming agrees to invest in Tex-Mex concept. 2019-05-30. Nation's Restaurant News. en. 2020-05-13. 2020-08-29. https://web.archive.org/web/20200829083738/https://www.nrn.com/casual-dining/paul-fleming-agrees-invest-tex-mex-concept. live.
  19. Web site: Industry veteran Paul Fleming invests in New York tapas concept Boqueria. 2019-08-01. Restaurant Hospitality. en. 2020-05-13. 2020-11-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20201125214012/https://www.restaurant-hospitality.com/operations/industry-veteran-paul-fleming-invests-new-york-tapas-concept-boqueria. live.

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