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McCormick & Schmick’s co-founder Doug Schmick dies at 68McCormick & Schmick’s co-founder Doug Schmick dies at 68

Schmick also served on several restaurant chain boards

Lisa Jennings, Executive Editor

June 16, 2016

1 Min Read
McCormick & Schmick’s co-founder Doug Schmick dies at 68
McCormick & Schmick’s

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.

[CHARTBEAT:3]

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.

Contact Lisa Jennings at [email protected]
Follow her on Twitter: @livetodineout

About the Author

Lisa Jennings

Executive Editor, Nation's Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality

Lisa Jennings is executive editor of Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality. She joined the NRN staff as West Coast editor in 2004 as a veteran journalist. Before joining NRN, she spent 11 years at The Commercial Appeal, the daily newspaper in Memphis, Tenn., most recently as editor of the Food and Health & Wellness sections. Prior experience includes staff reporting for the Washington Business Journal and United Press International.

Lisa’s areas of expertise include coverage of both large public restaurant chains and small independents, the regulatory and legal landscapes impacting the industry overall, as well as helping operators find solutions to run their business better.

Lisa Jennings’ experience:

Executive editor, NRN (March 2020 to present)

Executive editor, Restaurant Hospitality (January 2018 to present)

Senior editor, NRN (September 2004 to March 2020)

Reporter/editor, The Commercial Appeal (1990-2001)

Reporter, Washington Business Journal (1985-1987)

Contact Lisa Jennings at:

[email protected]

@livetodineout

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-jennings-83202510/

 

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