McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood

McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood is a full-service restaurant group known for its focus on fresh seafood and steakhouse classics. The company was founded in 1979 in Portland, Oregon by Bill McCormick and Doug Schmick, who set out to create an upscale yet approachable dining experience centered on quality ingredients and seasonal menus. Over the years, McCormick & Schmick’s grew from a single location to a national presence, reaching more than 80 restaurants at its peak and earning recognition for its commitment to sustainability and regional menu variety.

A major milestone in the company’s history came in 2012, when Landry’s, Inc., a Houston-based hospitality group, acquired the brand. This acquisition brought new operational resources and integrated McCormick & Schmick’s into a larger portfolio of restaurant concepts. As of November 2025, the chain operates approximately 25 locations, with its footprint now concentrated in major urban and waterfront markets such as Chicago, Baltimore, Washington DC, Houston, and Boston.

In the past five years, McCormick & Schmick’s has experienced significant contraction, closing multiple restaurants in states like California, Florida, and Texas. These changes reflect broader trends in the casual dining sector, including shifting consumer preferences and rising operational costs. Rather than pursuing new openings, the brand has focused on maintaining strong performance at existing sites, especially those in high-traffic areas with steady tourism and business activity. Landry’s has occasionally converted former McCormick & Schmick’s locations to other concepts within its portfolio, signaling a strategic shift in growth priorities.

Today, McCormick & Schmick’s continues to operate as a destination for experiential dining, offering private events and wine dinners to set itself apart. The brand’s reputation for upscale service and flexible restaurant formats makes it a notable anchor for mixed-use developments and urban retail centers. With no franchise opportunities offered, all locations remain company-operated, benefiting from Landry’s scale and marketing support.