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Last Updated:
2024-09-22 08:20:01

Outback Steakhouse

American chain of Australian-themed restaurants
American chain of Australian-themed restaurants

Outback Steakhouse is a casual dining chain founded in 1988 in Tampa, Florida. With over 1,000 locations worldwide, it offers American cuisine with an Australian twist. Originally owned by OSI Restaurant Partners, it is now under Bloomin' Brands.

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1986
Outback Steakhouse Concept Inspired by Crocodile Dundee Movie

In 1986, the founders of Outback Steakhouse were inspired by the success of the movie Crocodile Dundee to create an Australian-themed restaurant concept. Despite never having been to Australia, they aimed to capture the fun-loving and casual atmosphere associated with Australians, giving their restaurants a unique twist on the traditional 'western' steakhouse.

1987-03-09
First Outback Steakhouse Founded

The first Outback Steakhouse was established in Florida in 1987 by Tim Gannon, Bob Basham, and Chris Sullivan.

1988-03-15
Founding of Outback Steakhouse

Outback Steakhouse was founded on March 15, 1988, in Tampa, Florida by Bob Basham, Chris T. Sullivan, Trudy Cooper, and Tim Gannon. It is an American chain of Australian-themed casual dining restaurants.

1989-01-01
Outback Expansion

By late 1989, Outback expanded to various locations including Orlando, Jacksonville, Louisville, Houston, Dallas, Indianapolis, and Washington D.C.

1990
Company operating 23 restaurants

By the end of 1990, the company was operating a total of 23 restaurants.

1991
Founders decided to go public

In late 1991, Outback's three founders made the decision to take the company public.

1992-05
Outback named third best small company by Business Week magazine

In May 1992, Outback Steakhouse was recognized as the third best small company by Business Week magazine. The company's rapid growth was attributed to key principles established by its founders.

1993-01-25
Steak Bucks Trend on the Menu

A piece in the New York Times from January 25, 1993, highlights how steak is defying the current trends in the culinary world.

1993-03-13
Toledo Welcomes Outback Steakhouse

On March 13, 1993, the Toledo Blade covers the opening of a new Outback Steakhouse location in Toledo, with locals embracing the Australian-themed eatery.

1993-11-01
Australia, American-style

An article in F&B Magazine from November/December 1993, discussing the fusion of Australian and American cuisine.

1994-05-05
Outback's Specialties Stand Out

The Charleston Post and Courier reports on May 5, 1994, how Outback Steakhouse's signature dishes are larger than life.

1995-03-27
Outback's Founders Rewrite the Rules

An article in Nation's Restaurant News from March 27, 1995, discusses how the founders of Outback Steakhouse are breaking new ground in the restaurant industry by changing the traditional rules.

1996-10-14
Robert Basham in the Spotlight

Nation's Restaurant News covers Robert Basham in an article from October 14, 1996, shedding light on his role in the restaurant industry.

1997
Outback Steakhouse surpasses $1 billion in revenue

In 1997, the Outback Steakhouse chain achieved a significant milestone by surpassing $1 billion in revenue, showcasing its continued success and popularity.

1999-08
Joint venture with Roy Yamaguchi for Roy's Restaurants

In August 1999, Outback Steakhouse entered into a joint venture with chef-restaurateur Roy Yamaguchi to further develop Roy's Restaurants, an upscale east-meets-west concept with a per-person check average of about $35.

1999-09
Joint venture for Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar

In September 1999, Outback Steakhouse entered into a joint venture for the operation and development of Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar, known for its prime cuts of meat and premium wine selection.

2000-01
Avery and Merritt: Outback's Key Figures

In January 2000, Nation's Restaurant News profiles Avery and Merritt, key executives at Outback Steakhouse, who have played a crucial role in its mainstream success.

2001
Outback Steakhouse acquires Bonefish Grill

Following the acquisition of Fleming's in 2000, Outback Steakhouse purchased the seafood-centric Bonefish Grill brand in 2001, adding to its growing list of restaurant chains.

2003
Brett Walrath Tragedy

In 2003, Brett Walrath was fatally hit by a driver with a blood alcohol level of .13%, who had been served alcohol at Outback Steakhouse. The incident resulted in a lawsuit naming the restaurant.

2004
Outback Steakhouse PAC Contributions to Republican Party

Outback Steakhouse and its founders contributed $334,197 to the Republican Party via the Outback Steakhouse PAC for the 2004 election cycle.

2005
Employee Considerations by Outback Steakhouse

In 2005, Outback Steakhouse emphasized employee satisfaction and comfort by implementing unique practices like dedicating half of the restaurant space to the kitchen, limiting servers to three tables, and reducing layers of management. This approach aimed to create a different and successful restaurant environment.

2007-06-14
OSI Restaurant Partners Goes Private

On June 14, 2007, OSI Restaurant Partners, the then-owner of Outback Steakhouse, completed a stock repurchase plan and transitioned to a privately held company.

2008
Bloomin' Brands sells Lee Roy Selmon's

In 2008, Bloomin' Brands, the parent company of Outback Steakhouse, sold Lee Roy Selmon's chain of Florida restaurants as part of its business restructuring.

2011-09-13
Closure of Outback Steakhouse in the UK

Outback Steakhouse opened locations in the UK but faced closures over the years. By September 13, 2011, the last remaining stores in Basildon and Romford closed, marking the end of Outback's presence in the UK market.

2012-04
Bloomin' Brands IPO

In April 2012, Bloomin' Brands, the current owner of Outback Steakhouse, filed for an initial public offering to raise up to $300 million. The company later became publicly traded on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol 'BLMN'.

2013
Native Australian review of Outback Steakhouse

In 2013, native Australian Besha Rodell reviewed Outback Steakhouse for LA Weekly and confirmed that it's nothing like authentic Australian cuisine. The restaurant was founded by Americans who had never been to Australia and aimed to capitalize on stereotypes.

2015
Outback Steakhouse introduces lunch to improve employee work-life balance

Outback Steakhouse introduced lunch service in 2015 to prevent employees from working long hours and split shifts, ensuring they have a better quality of life. This change also aimed to maintain food freshness and enhance customer satisfaction.

2016
Political donations by Outback Steakhouse in 2016

In 2016, Outback Steakhouse made donations totaling around $350,200, with 88% of the contributions going to the Republican party through the brand's PAC. This was part of the company's ongoing support for Republican causes.

2017
Outback's parent company announced closures

In 2017, Outback's parent company, Bloomin' Brands, announced the closure of many locations due to various factors such as the shift from casual dining to fast-casual, resulting in significant financial losses.

2020-04-06
Outback CEO forgoes salary to support employees during pandemic

In April 2020, Outback Steakhouse's CEO, David Deno, decided to forgo his $900,000 per year salary to help cover the salaries of frontline workers during the pandemic. This sacrifice, along with the board of directors also forgoing their salaries, helped the company retain employees and be prepared for reopening.

2022-01
Outback Steakhouse using microwave for cooking

In January 2022, an Outback staff member posted a TikTok video showing how the chain prepares lobster tails by cooking them in the microwave. The use of microwave for cooking various dishes at Outback has been confirmed by employees on platforms like Quora and Reddit.

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Outback Steakhouse
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