Long John Silver

Long John Silver’s is a long-running U.S. quick-service seafood chain that focuses on battered and fried fish, shrimp, and traditional sides served through drive-thru and dine-in restaurants. The brand operates almost entirely in the United States and appeals to guests looking for seafood in a familiar fast-food setting rather than in casual or full-service dining. Its restaurants are typically freestanding, auto-oriented units, often positioned in visible retail corridors and along busy suburban arterials.

The company was founded in 1969, when Jim Patterson opened the first Long John Silver’s in Lexington, Kentucky. The name came from the pirate character in “Treasure Island” and set the tone for the nautical look and feel that defined the early restaurants. Through the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, the chain expanded across the country and became widely known for its signature batter, hushpuppies, and family meals. By 2007, the system had grown to roughly 1,100 U.S. locations before entering a long period of consolidation and closures that reshaped the footprint.

Ownership has changed over time. Long John Silver’s was once part of Yum! Brands before a group of franchisees and investors acquired the business in 2011, separating it from Yum! and placing the focus back on seafood. Control later shifted to an investor group led by Bob Jenkins and then to his family, tying the brand closely to operators with deep experience running multiple restaurant concepts. The company is privately held and based in Louisville, Kentucky, where its leadership and franchise support functions remain.

As of December 2024, Long John Silver’s operates approximately 485 restaurants in the United States. While the count is lower than its historic peak, the chain still maintains a meaningful national presence within the quick-service seafood segment. The system includes a mix of franchisee-owned and company-influenced locations, with multi-unit operators playing a central role in both day-to-day operations and new site decisions.

Over roughly the last decade, and particularly since the mid-2010s, Long John Silver’s has worked to modernize the brand while keeping its core menu intact. The company introduced an updated logo and refreshed restaurant design to move the look forward and respond to shifting guest expectations around seafood quality, variety, and convenience. Many older buildings have been remodeled or replaced to align with current prototypes and improve curb appeal. A recent example is the 2024 demolition and full reconstruction of a long-standing restaurant in Westland, Michigan, which illustrates how the brand is reinvesting in proven sites instead of simply exiting mature trade areas.

In the last five years, the growth strategy has centered on repositioning the footprint rather than rapid expansion. Long John Silver’s is concentrating on selective new builds, relocations, and replacements in its core U.S. markets, with development activity largely focused on infill opportunities instead of large-scale moves into new territories. This approach favors established suburban retail corridors and high-traffic arterial locations where freestanding, drive-thru formats can perform consistently and plug into existing retail lineups.

For landlords, brokers, and developers, Long John Silver’s represents a recognizable, category-specific quick-service user with a long operating history, a defined building type geared to car access, and a current plan that prioritizes reinvestment in durable trade areas. The chain’s measured posture, reliance on multi-unit franchisees, and focus on modernizing existing and replacement stores provide a clearer picture of how it is likely to use and hold space in the years ahead.