Olive Garden

Olive Garden is a well-established American restaurant chain specializing in Italian-American cuisine. The brand began in 1982 in Orlando, Florida, as a pilot project from General Mills, aiming to meet the growing demand for approachable Italian dining in the United States. The first location quickly attracted families and diners with its welcoming atmosphere and signature menu items, such as unlimited soup, salad, and breadsticks. By the early 1990s, Olive Garden had become the fastest-growing concept in its parent company’s restaurant portfolio, reaching over 145 locations and gaining national recognition.

A significant milestone occurred in 1995 when General Mills spun off its restaurant division, creating Darden Restaurants, Inc., which has owned Olive Garden ever since. Darden, headquartered in Orlando, operates several other major brands and has continued to support Olive Garden’s expansion and operational stability.

As of November 2025, Olive Garden operates 906 company-owned restaurants across the United States, Puerto Rico, and select international markets. The company does not franchise in the U.S., ensuring consistent quality and operational control. Olive Garden employs approximately 96,000 people systemwide, placing it among the largest employers in the casual dining sector.

Over the past five years, Olive Garden has continued to grow its footprint, opening new locations and remodeling existing stores in both established and emerging markets. The brand’s real estate approach targets high-visibility, high-traffic sites in suburban retail corridors, highway-adjacent parcels, and select urban infill areas. Olive Garden has also adapted to changing consumer preferences by introducing smaller urban prototypes alongside its traditional freestanding restaurants.

The chain’s scale, operational consistency, and brand recognition make it a reliable anchor for retail centers and mixed-use developments. Olive Garden’s flexible formats and steady expansion posture offer landlords, brokers, and developers a proven national operator with a track record of driving traffic and maintaining long-term occupancy. Recent growth has focused on priority markets such as Texas, Florida, California, the Midwest, the Southeast, and select urban areas, reflecting the brand’s commitment to both broad and targeted expansion.