Once Purchased for $92 Million, This Seafood Restaurant Just Sold for a Fraction of ThatIn 2008, Ruth's Hospitality Group bought Mitchell's Fish Market for $92 million. Then, the recession hit.

ByKate Taylor

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

The company behind Ruth's Chris steakhouse just sold a seafood chain for $82 million less than it paid six years ago.

Ruth's Hospitality Group announced on Monday that the company agreed to sell Mitchell's Fish Market and Mitchell's/Cameron's Steakhouse to Landry's for $10 million. The deal includes all 21 restaurants and is set to close early next year.

Ruth's bought Mitchell's in early 2008 for $92 million, the first time the company ventured outside of the "Ruth's Chris" brand. When the recession hit, the restaurant chain struggled to meet expectations and turn a profit.

Related:Will Ferrell's 'Funny Or Die' Seeks Up to $300 Million in Possible Sale

Even as Ruth's Chris recovered, Mitchell's failed to do so. Earlier in November, the company reported same-store sales for Mitchell's declined nearly 3 percent in the third quarter, while Ruth's Chris Steak house increased nearly 5 percent. Thus, it's unsurprising that Ruth's decided to return to solely focusing on what it does best: Ruth's Chris.

"While the Mitchell's restaurants continue to be profitable and generate positive cash flows, the sale of these restaurants will enable us to direct all of our resources towards the continued growth and expansion of our flagship Ruth's Chris Steak House brand," Michael P. O'Donnell, Ruth's Hospitality Group CEO, said in astatement. "We are confident that Mitchell's will complement Landry's existing seafood restaurant portfolio and are very proud of the effort put forth by all our hardworking "aFISHionado" teammates."

销售将留给露丝的138露丝的克里斯teak House restaurants, about half of which are franchised. At Laundry's Mitchell's will join a roster of more than 500 restaurant concepts, including Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Rainforest Café and Landry's Seafood.

Related:Activist Investor Gains Control of Olive Garden Parent's Board

Kate Taylor

Reporter

Kate Taylor is a reporter at Business Insider. She was previously a reporter at Entrepreneur. Get in touch with tips and feedback on Twitter at @Kate_H_Taylor.

Related Topics

Marketing

How to Use Data-Driven Marketing Strategies to Maximize Your Investments

Delve into the ever-evolving realm of data-driven marketing and its profound influence on businesses across diverse sectors and scales

Business Ideas

This Retiree's Yummy Hobby Is Now a Remote Side Hustle That Makes $250 an Hour: 'I Attached My Bank Account And the Money Just Flowed Automatically'

Since 1972, in his downtime, Bill Reichman has been dedicated to one delicious diversion. When the pandemic hit, he turned his passion into a lucrative side hustle. Here's how he did it.

Business News

Facial Recognition Tech Even Google Determined Was 'Too Dangerous' Raises Alarm Bells, Privacy Concerns

PimEyes, a facial recognition website, enables individuals to find someone's identity on the internet by uploading their picture.

Business Process

How Do Your Customers Experience Your Company Culture? 5 Ways to Create Customer Loyalty

By integrating your core values into your CX design, you manifest a more comprehensive and unified approach to customer loyalty and business success.

Business Solutions

Get a ChatGPT Plugin for Your WordPress Site, Just $40 for Life

Work more efficiently with help from AI to create all kinds of content for your website.

Starting a Business

These Sisters Who Just Struck a Major Deal on 'Shark Tank' Reveal How They Caught Producers' Attention During the Application Process

Coco and Mafe Cabezas launched Latin American staple brand TOAST-IT because they couldn't find their Venezuelan favorites in the U.S.