Paul Fleming (restaurateur)

Fleming is a native of Franklin, Louisiana, and was raised in New Iberia, Louisiana.[4][5] His parents were Betty Angers and Robert Martin Fleming, his father worked as a superior court judge.[6][7] His grandfather was a farmer. Fleming's access to fresh, local produce as a child was a large influence on his restaurant career.[3]

Fleming graduated from both Louisiana State University and Loyola University. As a student at Loyola in New Orleans, Fleming first worked in the hospitality industry.[5] When Fleming attended Louisiana State University, Fleming got his first restaurant job as a dishwasher at Saturday's.[3] From there, he became busboy, server, bartender, and finally, the manager.[3]

Fleming raised a family with his wife, Kelly, in Arizona. They moved to Calistoga, California in Napa Valley, where Kelly made wine from the organic grapes Paul grew.[3] They purchased the land in 1998, and in 2002 the Kelly Fleming Winery was founded.[8]

The couple are now divorced.[9]

Prior to working in restaurants, Fleming worked in the oil industry.[1] When the oil industry collapsed, Fleming moved to Los Angeles. There, he began purchasing franchise rights to Ruth's Chris Steak House,[1] which he acquired in three states: California, Arizona, and Hawaii.[10]

In 1984, Fleming opened his first Ruth's Chris in Beverly Hills. In 1985, he opened another in Phoenix. Fleming opened his third location in San Francisco and a fourth in Hawaii. He eventually sold all of the franchises back to Ruth's Chris.

Along with business partner and friend Philip Chiang, Fleming co-founded P.F. Chang's China Bistro. The first of the now-cross-country restaurant chain appeared in Scottsdale, Arizona in 1993. The name P.F.Chang's is derived from the two founder's initials, the "F" standing for "Fleming." He also conceptualized Pei Wei Asian Diner, a casual, quick-service offshoot of P.F. Chang's, that is no longer under Fleming's ownership. P.F. Chang's was sold in 2012 for $1.1 billion.[11]

Fleming's wife, Kelly, designed the interiors of Ruth's Chris steakhouses and P.F. Chang's.[9]

With partner Bill Allen, Fleming developed another restaurant chain that bears his name: Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar,[12] which started in 1998 in Newport Beach, California. Fleming's is operated as a joint venture with Bloomin’ Brands (NASDAQ:BLMN.O) and has grown to 65 locations across the U.S.

In 2006, Fleming began tinkering with a new concept, Paul Martin's American Grill,[13][14] with restaurant industry veteran Brian Bennett. Specializing in all-natural American cuisine,[15] the first grill opened in 2007 in Roseville, California.[16] In 2014, there were eight restaurants in California, one in Arizona, one in Austin, Texas, and one in Dallas, Texas.[17]

In 2019, Fleming made a minority investment in a Barcelona-inspired tapas restaurant Boqueria,[18] as well as the Tex-Mex restaurant Tacos & Tequila Cantina.[19]