Houlihan's facts for kids
A Houlihan's restaurant in Holmdel Township, New Jersey.
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| Wholly owned subsidiary | |
| Industry | Restaurants |
| Founded | 1972 in Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. |
| Founders |
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| Headquarters |
Houston, Texas
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U.S.
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Number of locations
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34 (2023) |
| Products | |
| Owner | Landry's, Inc. |
Houlihan's is a popular American restaurant chain. It has many locations across the United States. These restaurants offer a relaxed place to eat and enjoy a meal. The first Houlihan's opened its doors on April 1, 1972. It was in Kansas City, Missouri. Today, there are Houlihan's restaurants in many different states.
The company is owned by a group called Fertitta Entertainment. They also own other restaurant brands.
Contents
How Houlihan's Started
The Founders Meet
The story of Houlihan's began with two men, Paul Robinson and Joe Gilbert. They met in 1961. Paul Robinson managed a restaurant called the Golden Ox. Joe Gilbert had created another restaurant called Four Winds.
Creating a Restaurant Company
Paul and Joe decided to work together. They formed a company called Gilbert-Robinson. They opened several successful restaurants. One of these was Plaza III Steakhouse, which opened in 1963.
The Idea for Houlihan's
Later, they thought about expanding Plaza III. A men's clothing store next door, owned by Tom Houlihan, was closing. Instead of just making Plaza III bigger, they decided to create a brand new, casual restaurant.
During construction, they couldn't think of a name. People kept calling it "Tom Houlihan's place." So, they decided to name it Houlihan's Old Place. They even got Tom Houlihan's permission to use his name. They promised him a special table in the restaurant forever. However, Tom Houlihan never actually visited the restaurant. Houlihan's Old Place officially opened on April 1, 1972.
Growing Across the Country
Because the first Houlihan's was so popular, Gilbert-Robinson quickly started opening more locations. A second restaurant opened in New Orleans in July 1973. The third opened in Atlanta in December 1974. More locations followed, helping the chain grow nationwide.
Changes and New Designs
Moving the Original Location
In November 2002, the original Houlihan's in Kansas City closed. The building's owner decided not to renew their lease. Houlihan's then moved its original location to a new spot nearby in Fairway, Kansas, in January 2003. At that time, the company owned 48 restaurants in 15 states.
A Fresh Look for Houlihan's
In May 2006, Houlihan's introduced a new design for its restaurants. This new look was called "Houlihan's of the 21st Century." It included new building styles, interior decorations, and even new uniforms for staff. The menu format also changed, and they added patio dining areas. The goal was to make the restaurants feel modern and inviting.
Ownership Changes
Since January 2006, a company called Goldner Hawn Johnson Morrison has owned most of Houlihan's Restaurants, Inc. By 2007, there were 92 Houlihan's restaurants operating in the United States. Some were owned by the company, and others were run by different owners as franchises.
Recent Times
In November 2019, the company that owned Houlihan's faced some financial challenges. They needed to find a way to keep the restaurants running smoothly. A large restaurant group called Landry's, Inc. stepped in. Landry's, which owns other well-known restaurants, offered to buy Houlihan's. This helped the company continue to operate and serve its customers.
