Doug Schmick, the co-founder of the seafood-focused McCormick & Schmick’s chain, died Tuesday after a long battle with cancer. He was 68.
McCormick & Schmick’s was founded in 1972 with the acquisition by co-founder Bill McCormick of Jake’s Famous Crawfish restaurant in Portland, Ore. The two a few years later launched the first McCormick & Schmick’s as a premium casual-dining concept focused on seafood.
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Over the next three decades, the family of restaurants grew to more than 90 locations. In 2004, the chain went public, but it was taken private in 2012 with the acquisition by Houston-based Landry’s Inc., a deal valued at $131.6 million.
Schmick served as chair and CEO of McCormick & Schmick’s from 1974 to 1999, and again from 2007 to 2008. He stepped down as chair in 2012 after the sale to Landry’s.
More recently he served on the boards of three restaurant chains: Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza, The Cheesecake Factory Inc., and Chuy’s Inc.
According to the Oregonian, Schmick and his wife Melanie were married for 45 years before she died of cancer in December 2014.
Schmick is survived by his two children, Sonya Carnes and Rory Schmick, as well as grandchildren.
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