Richard Melman Is the Founder and Chairman of Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, a Chicago Based Corporation That Owns over Ninety Restaurants Nationwide.

Richard Melman is the Founder and Chairman of Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, a Chicago based corporation that owns over ninety restaurants nationwide. As a teenager Melman worked in fast food eateries, at a soda foundation, and selling restaurant supplies. He then later realized that he was not cut out to be a college student, and also failed to convince his father that he should be made a partner in the family business. He then met a man, Jerry A. Orzoff, who immediately and unconditionally believed in Melman's ability to create and run restaurants. In 1971, the two men opened R.J. Grunts, a hip burger joint that soon became one of the hottest restaurants in Chicago. Orzoff then past way in 1982 leaving his young entrepreneur Richard, with his share and other responsibilities behind, nevertheless, Melman's commitment, hard work and dedication ensure that the company will be around for another 42 years.

Richard has been married for 37 years and has three children who are now successful restaurateurs themselves. Jerrod, Molly and RJ Melman were all in their 20's when they opened their first restaurant, Hub 51, in 2008. With their father's acceptance and guidance of a young adult clientele, they now own nine successful venues throughout Chicago and Los Angeles. Hub 51, headed by that next generation of Melmans, comprises several properties: Sub 51, Hub's lower-level lounge; casual French restaurant Paris Club; Studio Paris; RPM Italian; and BBQ joint Bub City all in Chicago; plus M Street Kitchen and two Stella Barra Pizzeria locations in Los Angeles. The siblings' approach was to focus on "gaps and opportunities" in their existing businesses. They evaluated the hours and saw that at 11 p.m. most of the company's restaurants were shutting down, but they wanted to be gearing up for the second phase of the night. After meeting the owners of popular Vegas nightclub Tao, the siblings took a gamble on starting a venue that would capture the interest of patrons coming out of dinner. In June 2011 they opened Studio Paris, an indoor-outdoor nightclub that now