Paul Fleming (restaurateur)

Paul 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

The New Iberia, Louisiana native^[4] grew up with a love of food, enjoying squab among other things,^[3] and first worked in the hospitality industry while a student at Loyola University in New Orleans. His first job in the restaurant industry was at a local restaurant called Saturday’s. He began as a dishwasher and progressed to become a busboy, server, bartender and finally, the manager.^[3] It is unknown if he graduated from college.

Career

Fleming is the P.F. in P.F. Chang's China Bistro, which he co-founded with Philip Chiang. This restaurant chain made its debut in Scottsdale, Arizona in 1993. He then built the infrastructure that led the company to national expansion and a public offering. He also conceptualized Pei Wei Asian Diner, a casual, quick-service offshoot of P.F. Chang's.

Together with partner Bill Allen, Fleming developed another restaurant chain that bears his name: Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar,^[5] 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,^[6][7] with restaurant industry veteran Brian Bennett. Specializing in all-natural American cuisine,^[8] the first grill opened in 2007 in Roseville, California.^[9] In 2014, there were seven of these restaurants in California, one in Arizona, and plans for expanding to more markets.^[10]

References