Bennigan's was established in 1976 in Atlanta, Georgia, as part of the Pillsbury Corporation. The first significant Bennigan's location was opened in Tysons Corner, Virginia, the following year. The concept was the brainchild of company vice president and Steak and Ale founder Norman E. Brinker. By the early 1980s Bennigan's hadbecome one of the best known of the new style mid-range casual dining franchised "fern bar" eating and drinking establishments in the United States. In 1983, Brinker led an exodus of senior management from the S&A and Bennigan's division, purchasing a small regional restaurant concept that focused on gourmet hamburgers, Chili's.[ Bennigan's continued to grow across the United States, as well as opening locations in fourteen countries. When Pillsbury was acquired by Grand Metropolitan in 1989 (Grand Met later merged with Guinness in 1997 to become Diageo), the company was spun off. As a major liquor distributor selling such brands as Bombay gin, J&B and other spirits, Grand Metropolitan was bound by "Tied house" laws that prohibited liquor distributors from owning liquor retailers. S&A management, underwritten by Metromedia, led the leveraged buyout of S&A in 1991. Paul Mangiamele later bought out the world-recognized brands. Investor, Kimberly Casey Carr then acquired 30% of Legendary Restaurant Brands recently and is now 1 of 3 Principal partners in the 2021 relaunch. Bennigans has both national and international franchises currently open and operating as well as Bennigans On the Fly new locations.

Legendary Restaurant Brands

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