Morton's The Steakhouse

History

Morton's was co-founded in 1978 by Arnold J. Morton and Klaus Fritsch. Before they became friends and restaurant entrepreneurs, Morton and Fritsch worked together at the Playboy Club in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. While the club was in the process of changing its menu, Fritsch prepared a hamburger for Morton to sample. Morton said the burger was the best he'd ever tasted. Together, they opened Morton's of Chicago in Newberry Plaza in Downtown Chicago. The original location closed in November 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 1987, Morton's, then with $15 million in sales and nine restaurants throughout the United States, was sold for $12.4 million to the venture capital firm Quantum Restaurant Group, Inc. in partnership with the Baltimore brokerage house Alex. Brown & Sons. Fritsch stayed on as president.

In December 2011, Tilman Fertitta, President, CEO and sole owner of Landry's, Inc., announced his company had acquired all of Morton's stock, assuming complete ownership. In 2012, Landry's completed the acquisition and moved company operations to its own headquarters in Houston.

Support for Brett Kavanaugh

In July 2022, Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh attended a dinner at Morton's location in Washington, DC, but left before his dessert course due to the presence of pro-choice protesters from the activist group "ShutDownDC" demanding his removal. Kavanaugh reportedly did not see, hear, or encounter the protestors, nor was he harassed in any way. Nonetheless, Morton's was "outraged" and sided with Kavanaugh in a press statement, citing what it termed a "right to congregate and eat dinner".

Morton's was subsequently targeted by pro-choice activists, receiving a flood of fake reservations. Morton's Chief Operating Officer acknowledged that the company's statement was extremely unpopular, and reportedly told restaurant managers that "Currently we are experiencing a massive wave (trending at #2 on social media now) of negative response to our comments yesterday."

Affiliates

• Bubba Gump Shrimp Company
• Cadillac Bar
• Landry's, Inc.
• Landry's Seafood
• Rainforest Cafe

References

References

1. "Experience Our Culture". Morton's The Steakhouse.
2. "Company Overview of Morton's Restaurant Group, Inc.". Bloomberg.
3. "Morton's Restaurant Group Inc Revenue and Financial Data".
4. "Company Overview of Morton's Restaurant Group, Inc.". Bloomberg.
5. "Locations". Morton's The Steakhouse.
6. (2005-05-29). "Arnold 'Arnie' Morton". [[Chicago Tribune]].
7. (2011-12-16). "Landry's to beef up with Morton's purchase". [[Houston Chronicle]].
8. (2011-12-16). "Landry's CEO to buy Morton's Steakhouse". [[San Antonio Business Journal]].
9. "Experience Our Culture". Morton's The Steakhouse.
10. "History of Morton's Restaurant Group, Inc.".
11. (2005-05-29). "Restaurateur Arnold 'Arnie' Morton Dies at 83". [[Fox News]].
12. (2005-05-31). "Morton's Restaurant Group Remembers Arnie Morton, Who Died in Chicago on May 28; Legendary Restaurateur was Co-Founder of Morton's Steakhouses.". PRNewswire.
13. (2020-11-19). "Morton's closes original location on State Street".
14. [http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/morton-s-restaurant-group-inc-history/ Funding Universe: "Morton's Restaurant Group, Inc. History"] retrieved August 3, 2015
15. (2011-12-16). "Morton's steakhouse chain to be sold". Chicago Tribune.
16. "Morton's inches closer to being owned by Landry's Inc.". [[Crain's Chicago Business]].
17. Plumb, Tierney. (2022-07-08). "Activists Crash Brett Kavanaugh's D.C. Dinner at Morton's This Week".
18. "POLITICO Playbook: Schumer ups pressure on McConnell in USICA-reconciliation dance".
19. Folmar, Chloe. (2022-07-08). "Morton's condemns abortion rights protesters for disrupting Kavanaugh's freedom to 'eat dinner'".
20. (9 July 2022). "Morton's has been flooded with phone calls and fake reservations after it said Brett Kavanaugh had a 'right' to 'eat dinner' without protestors gathering outside".