![]() In 1990, China Coast was launched as an attempt to create a (U.S.) national casual dining restaurant that featured American Chinese cuisine. The company eventually became the largest chain of Italian-themed full-service restaurants in the United States. While Olive Garden did not meet critical success, it was popular, and its per-restaurant sales soon grew to match those of Red Lobster. ![]() The chain took off, and by 1989 General Mills had opened over 145 restaurants, making the chain the fastest-growing unit in the company's restaurant holdings. In 1982, Darden opened the first Olive Garden concept restaurant in Orlando. These restaurants were very similar to Ruby Tuesday now. By the end of the 1980s, the chain had been mostly closed down, though one independent location still exists. The franchised steak and potatoes restaurant was a cafeteria-style restaurant with a salad bar and hot station. One of the company's first ventures into the diversification of its portfolio was the York Steak House chain of English-themed steak and chop restaurants in the 1970s. The company underwent several restructurings and transformed itself from an inexpensive fast-food seller into a chain of casual dining seafood restaurants by 1988. Under General Mills ownership, Red Lobster expanded into a chain of almost 400 locations by 1985. ![]() Lee, the company's first restaurant manager, was promoted as President of Red Lobster. In 1975, when Darden was promoted to Vice President of General Mills, Joseph (Joe) R. General Mills upgraded the chain to a more casual dining/family fare-oriented format, opened a new company headquarters in Orlando, and retained Darden as company manager. As such, Darden sold the company to food giant General Mills that year. While the locations were profitable, the company lacked the resources to expand further. The restaurant became successful and by 1970 had expanded to three locations in the state with two more under construction. The initial Red Lobster franchise was applauded by diners and critics alike. ĭarden chose Lakeland because he wished to see how a seafood restaurant would fare in a non-coastal region, and Lakeland was the innermost city in Florida. Red Lobster, which grew quickly, formed the basis of the organization that later became known as Darden Restaurants. He later founded the Red Lobster Inns of America and opened the first Red Lobster restaurant in Lakeland, Florida in 1968. William (Bill) Darden opened his first restaurant, The Green Frog, in Waycross, Georgia in 1938 at age 19. The company's former logo, used until 2009.
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