The flagship Yard House, which opened on December 7, 1996, at Shoreline Village in Long Beach, will celebrate its 15th Anniversary this Wednesday from 11am-9pm. Guests who donate $25 or more to Miller Children’s Hospital of Long Beach on Wednesday, December 7, between 11am and 9pm at the Yard House Long Beach location will receive a $25 Yard House gift card while supplies last. Gift cards can be used on a future visit at any of the company’s 35 locations.
When Steele Platt, founder and chairman of Yard House Restaurants, embarked on a leisurely bike ride back in the early 1990s little did he know that he was about to formulate an innovative restaurant concept. Pedaling along the bike path, he happened upon an abandoned waterfront restaurant at the water’s edge in Long Beach. As he peered through its dust-covered windows, Platt had a light bulb moment as he envisioned a new and pioneering restaurant concept that would have three key components: Great Food, Classic Rock, and The World’s Largest Selection of Draft Beer. And, on December 7, 1996, Platt’s vision became a reality when Yard House, boasting a two-story Keg Room coupled with 250 taps of beer, opened its doors to the public. Fifteen years later Yard House has 35 restaurants in 12 states and more than 5,000 employees.
To commemorate the 15th Anniversary, a bicycle will be on display to symbolize the company’s humble beginnings that started with a two-wheel ride and a simple idea.
