Landry's

Corporate brand

Landry's is a privately held American dining, hospitality, entertainment, and gaming group built around a large portfolio of restaurant and leisure brands.

Last updated October 19, 2026

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Overview

Landry's is the consumer-facing identity associated with Landry's, Inc., a privately held American corporation headquartered in Houston, Texas. The group operates a broad collection of restaurants, hotels, casinos, aquariums, amusement destinations, boardwalks, and related leisure businesses. Its restaurant portfolio spans seafood, steakhouses, casual dining, themed restaurants, and upscale hospitality concepts, while its non-restaurant assets include Golden Nugget casinos, the San Luis Resort, Kemah Boardwalk, the Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier, Downtown Aquarium locations, the Tower of the Americas, and other destination properties. The company reports a presence across more than 600 restaurants, hotels, casinos, and entertainment destinations in 35 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, together with international locations. The business traces its restaurant roots to brothers Bill and Floyd Landry and other partners from Lafayette, Louisiana, who opened Cajun-oriented restaurants in the Houston area during the 1970s. The first Landry's Seafood restaurant opened in Texas in 1980. Despite a common assumption that the name referred to former Dallas Cowboys coach Tom Landry, the restaurant was named for its original owners. Early concepts also included Willie G's, named after the brothers' father. Tilman Fertitta acquired a controlling interest on December 31, 1986, after most of the original partners decided to sell. He subsequently became chief executive and reshaped the operation by standardizing restaurant appearances and menus. The company went public in 1993, but Fertitta later consolidated ownership and acquired all outstanding shares in 2010, returning Landry's to private control. Expansion accelerated through acquisitions and development. During the 1990s and 2000s, Landry's added restaurant chains such as Joe's Crab Shack, Rainforest Cafe, Saltgrass Steak House, Chart House, and The Oceanaire. It also entered hospitality and entertainment through the San Luis Resort, Kemah Boardwalk, Downtown Aquarium, and Golden Nugget Hotel & Casinos. In the 2010s, the group expanded its premium dining portfolio through acquisitions including Morton's The Steakhouse, McCormick & Schmick's, Mastro's, BR Guest, Joe's Crab Shack again, Restaurants Unlimited, and Del Frisco's. In 2024 it acquired Keens Steakhouse. Landry's positions itself as an integrated hospitality and entertainment operator rather than a single-format restaurant chain. Its properties are designed to combine food and beverage with hotels, gaming, attractions, retail, real estate, and destination experiences. The resulting portfolio ranges from mass-market family and themed dining to luxury steakhouses and resort casinos, with the corporate group using recognizable restaurant brands and landmark venues to attract both local customers and tourists.

History

Landry's began with Cajun restaurants opened in the Houston area by brothers Bill and Floyd Landry and partners from Lafayette, Louisiana, during the 1970s. Willie G's, named for the brothers' father, and the first Landry's Seafood restaurant established the group's original identity. The first Landry's Seafood location opened in Texas in 1980. By 1986, most original partners wanted to exit. Tilman Fertitta purchased a controlling interest on December 31, 1986, and later bought out the remaining partner. As chief executive, Fertitta standardized restaurant designs and menus, creating a more uniform operating model while moving the business beyond its Cajun beginnings. Landry's became publicly traded in 1993 at a reported valuation of $30 million. During the 1990s it broadened its scope through restaurant acquisitions and new destination developments. Joe's Crab Shack was acquired in 1994, while Cadillac Bar and The Crab House were among other additions. The company also entered resort and entertainment operations, acquiring the San Luis Resort in 1996 and developing Kemah Boardwalk in 1998. The 2000s brought a major expansion of the portfolio. Landry's acquired Rainforest Cafe in 2000 and added Saltgrass Steak House, Chart House, and Muer Restaurants in 2002. It opened Downtown Aquarium Houston in 2003 and expanded the San Luis resort complex with nearby hotel properties and a convention center. In 2005, it acquired Golden Nugget Hotel & Casinos, initially including Las Vegas and Laughlin properties, and subsequently added casinos in Atlantic City, Biloxi, and Lake Charles. Landry's sold Joe's Crab Shack in 2006 after the chain had grown to more than 120 locations. The company continued developing themed and destination venues, including T-Rex Cafe at Walt Disney World Resort's Disney Springs in 2008. In 2010, it acquired Bubba Gump Shrimp Company and Claim Jumper, and Fertitta acquired all outstanding company shares, making Landry's privately controlled again. In 2011, the group purchased McCormick & Schmick's and Morton's The Steakhouse; in 2012 it opened the Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier; and in 2013 it acquired Mastro's. BR Guest joined the portfolio in 2016. Landry's reacquired Joe's Crab Shack in 2017, together with Brick House Tavern + Tap, after Ignite Restaurant Group sought bankruptcy protection. The company acquired Restaurants Unlimited in 2019 and bought Del Frisco's Grille and Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak Houses later that year. These deals reinforced the group's strategy of assembling a national platform of restaurant concepts at different price points and occasions. In 2024, Landry's acquired Keens Steakhouse, adding a historic New York fine-dining property to its steakhouse collection. The group remains privately owned by Fertitta and operates across dining, lodging, gaming, attractions, and related real estate.

2024
Keens Steakhouse acquired
[1]Landry'sen.wikipedia.org
Landry's acquired Keens Steakhouse in New York.
2019
Del Frisco's acquired
[1]Landry'sen.wikipedia.org
Landry's added Del Frisco's Grille and Double Eagle Steak House to its premium dining portfolio.
2012
Galveston Pleasure Pier opens
[1]Landry'sen.wikipedia.org
The Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier opened as a Landry's amusement and tourism property.
2010
Private ownership restored
[1]Landry'sen.wikipedia.org
Fertitta acquired all outstanding shares, consolidating sole ownership of the company.
2005
Golden Nugget acquired
[1]Landry'sen.wikipedia.org
Landry's entered a larger role in casino hospitality through its acquisition of Golden Nugget Hotel & Casinos.
2000
Rainforest Cafe acquired
[1]Landry'sen.wikipedia.org
The acquisition expanded Landry's into themed dining and retail entertainment.
1998
Kemah Boardwalk developed
[1]Landry'sen.wikipedia.org
Landry's developed the Kemah Boardwalk as a Gulf Coast entertainment and dining destination.
1993
Landry's goes public
[1]Landry'sen.wikipedia.org
The company became publicly traded at a reported valuation of $30 million.
1986
Tilman Fertitta acquires control
[1]Landry'sen.wikipedia.org
Tilman Fertitta purchased a controlling interest after most of the original partners sought to sell their shares.
1980
First Landry's Seafood opens
[1]Landry'sen.wikipedia.org
The first Landry's Seafood restaurant opened in Texas, establishing the name that later became the corporate group's best-known identity.

Products and positioning

A diversified destination-hospitality group combining restaurants, resorts, casinos, entertainment attractions, and experiential dining under a large multi-brand portfolio.

Seafood restaurant · 1980
Landry's Seafood
The group’s original seafood concept, rooted in the Houston-area restaurants opened by the Landry brothers. It anchors the corporate identity and appears in several destination properties, including Kemah Boardwalk. The concept emphasizes seafood dining and is part of the wider portfolio of casual and upscale restaurants operated by Landry's.
Casino hotel
Golden Nugget Hotel & Casinos
A casino-resort brand acquired by Landry's in 2005. Its portfolio has included properties in Las Vegas, Laughlin, Atlantic City, Biloxi, and Lake Charles, combining gaming, accommodation, restaurants, entertainment, and event facilities.
Fine dining steakhouse and seafood · 2013
Mastro's Restaurants
An upscale restaurant group acquired by Landry's in 2013. Mastro's is associated with premium steaks, seafood, formal service, and live entertainment, and complements Landry's other luxury dining concepts.
Fine dining steakhouse · 2011
Morton's The Steakhouse
A premium steakhouse chain acquired by Landry's in 2011. The brand serves as one of the group's national upscale dining platforms, alongside Mastro's, Del Frisco's, Vic & Anthony's, and other steakhouse concepts.
Entertainment and dining destination · 1998
Kemah Boardwalk
A Gulf Coast destination in Kemah, Texas, developed and operated by Landry's. The property includes restaurants, amusement rides, midway games, shops, a marina, a hotel, attractions, and event-oriented facilities, with free pedestrian access and separately ticketed rides.
Aquarium and entertainment venue · 2003
Downtown Aquarium
An aquarium-centered entertainment format developed by Landry's, beginning in Houston and later expanding to Denver, Nashville, and Kemah. The venues combine aquatic exhibits with restaurants, bars, attractions, private events, and family entertainment.
Fine dining steakhouse · 2019
Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House
A high-end steakhouse brand acquired by Landry's in 2019 together with Del Frisco's Grille. It broadened Landry's presence in premium steak dining and complemented its existing national restaurant portfolio.

Controversies

2020
Landry’s discloses potential payment-card data breach
Landry’s warned customers that a data breach may have compromised credit card information. The breach likely affected cards swiped between March 13 and October 17, 2019; the company advised potentially affected customers to monitor their statements.
Source
2019
Landry's discloses possible payment-card data exposure
Landry's warned that customer payment-card data may have been compromised after its investigation identified malware designed to access card data from cards mistakenly swiped on restaurant order-entry systems. The company said 63 of its brands may have been involved. The disclosure concerned possible exposure of payment-card data and did not, in the source account, specify affected individuals, locations, or the outcome of the investigation beyond the identification of the malware and the number of brands potentially involved.
Source
2016
White tiger enclosure controversy
The Animal Legal Defense Fund and allied organizations notified Landry's of an intended Endangered Species Act action concerning four white tigers exhibited at Downtown Aquarium Houston. The groups alleged that the animals' enclosure lacked appropriate access to sunlight, fresh air, natural surfaces, space, and behavioral enrichment. Before the notice period expired, Landry's sued the organizations and associated parties, alleging defamation, business disparagement, interference with prospective business relations, and abuse of process. The dispute became a prominent animal-welfare and free-speech controversy surrounding the aquarium operation.
Source

2024
Acquisition of Keens SteakhouseM&A
Background
Landry's continued adding established premium restaurant properties to its steakhouse portfolio.
Action taken
Landry's acquired Keens Steakhouse in New York in a reported $30 million transaction.
Aftermath
Keens became part of the group's collection of upscale and historic dining brands.
Reported transaction value. $30 million (2024)
Source
2019
Acquisition of Del Frisco'sM&A
Background
Landry's pursued additional premium restaurant scale and brand coverage.
Action taken
The company acquired Del Frisco's Grille and Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak Houses in a reported transaction of approximately $650 million.
Aftermath
The deal strengthened Landry's position in upscale steakhouse and polished-casual dining.
Reported transaction value. Approximately $650 million (2019)
Source
2017
Reacquisition of Joe's Crab ShackM&A
Background
Ignite Restaurant Group and its predecessor had owned Joe's Crab Shack after Landry's sold the chain in 2006. Ignite filed for bankruptcy protection in 2017.
Action taken
Landry's reacquired Joe's Crab Shack and Brick House Tavern + Tap from the distressed restaurant group.
Aftermath
The transaction returned a formerly owned seafood chain to the Landry's portfolio and added another casual-dining brand.
Source
2010
Return to private ownershipStrategy
Background
After Landry's had operated as a public company, Tilman Fertitta sought full control of the business.
Action taken
Fertitta acquired all outstanding shares and consolidated ownership of Landry's.
Aftermath
The company continued as a privately held hospitality group and expanded through additional restaurant, casino, hotel, and entertainment acquisitions.
Source

Recent events

2024
Landry's acquires Keens Steakhouse[1]Landry'sen.wikipedia.org
M&A
Landry's acquired the historic New York steakhouse Keens Steakhouse in a reported transaction valued at $30 million.
2019
Landry's acquires Del Frisco's restaurants[1]Landry'sen.wikipedia.org
M&A
The company acquired Del Frisco's Grille and Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak Houses, expanding its upscale steakhouse portfolio.
2019
Landry's acquires Restaurants Unlimited[1]Landry'sen.wikipedia.org
M&A
The acquisition added a group of West Coast restaurant brands, including Palisade, Kincaid's, Skates on the Bay, and Portland City Grill.
2017
Landry's reacquires Joe's Crab Shack[1]Landry'sen.wikipedia.org
M&A · Bankruptcy
Landry's reacquired Joe's Crab Shack and Brick House Tavern + Tap from Ignite Restaurant Group during Ignite's bankruptcy proceedings.

Sources12 sources

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