Article Excerpt:
TWST: What is McCormick & Schmick's?Mr. Mosheni: The company was founded in 1972 by Bill McCormick and Doug Schmick in Portland, Oregon. The concept was really developed around fresh product, especially fresh seafood, and was also developed on providing a venue that has a very wide appeal to a very broad customer base. That was really the one way to succeed back in the early 1970s; the goal of every restaurant operator was to mean many things to many people. The same genesis that got us started has helped us continue to build a national brand throughout the company. Today, McCormick & Schmick are in 60 restaurants in 25 states, and we follow the same guidelines as we did 34 years ago ' to offer fresh seafood. Normally, you will find 30 to 40 different species of seafood at our restaurants. One thing that has been wonderful in the last 34 years is that the management team that started the company is still with the company. That's truly a testimony not only to the culture, but the concept. It attracts many great restaurant operators. The company has had various financial ownerships throughout the years, and finally went public in 2004. But, throughout all the various financial ownerships, the management team was the same and the concept continued to be focused on fresh seafood and using the freshest ingredients to produce the best product possible. We make sure that the menu still offers the broad guest appeal that McCormick & Schmick goes after. The concept also has a very broad customer base. Having started from Portland, Oregon, the goal was to appeal to a wide range of demographics; thus, when you go to our restaurant, you will find that 50% of our guests are female and, while Baby Boomers are a primary customer base, it also attracts every other age group. Consistency has been the key. For the last 34 years, one thing we have really tried to do is consistently offer the quality of service and quality of product that people have come to expect from McCormick & Schmick. Doug Schmick was one of the Founders. He is still involved in the company, and Bill McCormick was appointed as the Ambassador to New Zealand last year, so he has taken a three-year hiatus from the restaurant business.
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