RESOLUTION CELEBRATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF RICHARD MELMAN'S LETTUCE ENTERTAIN YOU ENTERPRISES
WHEREAS, In 2021, Richard Melman and Lettuce Entertain You celebrates 50 years of providing hospitality and eclectic cuisine to the people of Chicago and beyond; and
WHEREAS; The Chicago City Council has been informed of this momentous occasion by the Honorable Brian Hopkins, Alderman of the 2nd Ward; and
WHEREAS, Richard Melman founded his first restaurant, R.J. Grunt's, on June 10,1971 with his business partner, Jerry Orzoff, a man Richard described as "a guy I respected and related to. He believed in my ideas. Meeting him in 1970 was the turning point in my life"; and
WHEREAS, Soon after opening their first restaurant, the flagship R.J. Grunts became one of the hottest restaurants in Chicago and then the nation. It was iconoclastic injts day, establishing itself as a hip burger jolrjt'with an emphasis on rock music, casual clothes, healthy food and fun drinks; and;
WHEREAS, Richard Melman's Lettuce Entertain You grew quickly over the decades. Melman and his partners transformed and reinvlgorated Chicago's dining landscape with concepts such as The Pump Room, Food Life, Ed Debeylc's, Shaw's Crab House, and hewer concepts, Beatrix, M'Burger, Wab Bao and many more; and
WHEREAS, Richard Melman's philosophy is emblematic of Chicago's status as a world-class culinary destination, as described by one of his chefs: "with Rich, it's about the food. Whether it's lowbrow, highbrow, or middle of the road, good food is good food. He's as excited about a cheeseburger as he is about any elaborate, Michelin-starred meal"; and
WHEREAS, Lettuce Entertain You shows no signs of stopping, with Jerrod, R.J, and Molly following in their father's footsteps and taking the reins. Boasting 120 restaurants in 8 states, and having been recognized with the James Beard Outstanding Restaurateur Award in 2011 and the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015,' the future is bright for this native son of Chicago and the business he built; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, gathered here this twenty-third day of June, 2021, do hereby congratulate Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, and its Chairman and Founder, Richard Melman on its 50th anniversary; and
BRIAN HOPKINS Alderman, 2nd Ward
BE )T FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be prepared and presented to Richard Melman as a sign of our honor and respect.