Behind the bar at the Cedars Social.
The inspiring story of Steele Platt You've no doubt heard of the Yard
House Restaurants—the highly successful 42-unit, beer-centric dining chain that was just sold to Darden Restaurants for a whopping $585 million. But how much do you know about the concept's founder Steele Platt? The visionary and industry leader will share his adventurous climb to the
top with Yard House during his keynote at the 2013 Cheers Beverage Conference in Dallas on Feb. 12. But Platt's ascent wasn't without its fallbacks. He began his restaurant career washing dishes while attending high school on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, and worked his way through college as a busboy, bar back, server and bartender. After graduating from the University of Denver, Platt
created his first Denver restaurant, Kailua's at the Tivoli. Within five years his portfolio grew to include a half-dozen themed restaurants, including beer bar The Boiler Room and EFEX—Denver's largest nightclub. Platt left his mini- empire in 1991 and headed to Southern California, where he enjoyed life—and essentially went through his fortune. Two years later, Platt declared personal bankruptcy, and had to
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work as a car salesman by day and bartender by night just to make ends meet. So how did Platt manage to bounce back just three
years later and found an innovative restaurant concept that generates some of the highest unit sales volume in the restaurant industry? His CBC keynote will cover his ups and downs and detail how he conceived and implemented his vision for a restaurant offering huge selection of draft beer (poured from a center island bar), a continuous playlist of classic rock, and an eclectic menu. The concept's success speaks for itself: Since its first
location opened along the Long Beach waterfront in 1996, The Yard House has grown steadily, each year achieving double-digit growth. The sale of the chain this past summer to Darden marks one of the highest purchase prices ever paid for a private restaurant chain. So join us in Dallas on Feb. 12 to learn more about Platt's
journey in what's sure to be an engaging and enlightening keynote. For more information on the 2013 show, which will also include executive panels, celebrity mixologists, tastings, the Cheers Beverage Excellence and Supplier Awards presentation, an all-new crafts spirits pavilion and much more, visit www.CheersConference.com.
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