Long John Silver's

Long John Silver's (formerly known as Long John Silver's Seafood Shoppes and sometimes abbreviated as LJS) is an American chain of fast-food restaurants that specializes in seafood. The brand's name is derived from the novel Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson, in which the pirate Long John Silver is one of the main characters.
Formerly a division of Yum! Brands, the company was sold to a group of franchisees in September 2011 and is now 80 percent franchise-owned.
History
The first restaurant opened on August 18, 1969, in Lexington, Kentucky. The original location, on 301 Southland Drive, was previously the Cape Codder seafood carry-out restaurant. The original Cape Codder concrete block building was redesigned by architect Druce Henn, who created the New England style of Long John Silver's early chain restaurants. That original location is now a styling salon.
Earlier restaurants were known for their Cape Cod style buildings, blue roofs with square cupolas, wood benches/tables, lobster pots, and ship's wheels. Later, more nautically themed decorations were added such as seats made to look like nautical flags.
The restaurant chain arrived in Singapore in 1983 and has had a continuous presence in the country ever since. It remains one of 30 countries outside of the United States to have Long John Silver's outlets.
Those early restaurants also featured separate entrance and exit doors, a corridor-like waiting line area, deep fryers with food heaters that were transparent so customers could view the food to be served, and wrought iron 'sword' door handles. These buildings had dock-like walkways, lined with pilings and thick ropes.
Newer restaurants retained the basic structural design and theme, but eliminated most of the interior features. Its parent company, Jerrico was taken private in 1989 through a highly leveraged management buyout, and one year later, the other restaurant concepts were divested to focus on Long John Silver's.
After struggling for the next several years under its heavy debt load, Jerrico Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in June 1998. In September 1999, A&W announced to acquire the chain out of bankruptcy. As a result, Yorkshire Global Restaurants was formed.
In 2000, Yorkshire Global Restaurants agreed to test multi-branded locations with Louisville, Kentucky-based Tricon Global, owner of the KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell chains.
The parent company of Long John Silver's and A&W, Yorkshire was acquired by Tricon Global and Tricon was renamed Yum! Brands, Inc in May 2002. By January 2011, Yum! announced it was seeking a buyer for its Long John Silver's and A&W All-American Restaurants divisions, citing poor sales and a desire to shift its focus to international expansion.
In September 2011, Yum! announced the impending sale of Long John Silver's to LJS Partners – a group consisting of franchisees and other private investors.
In July 2013, the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a nutrition and health policy watchdog group, named Long John Silver's "Big Catch" meal the worst restaurant meal in America, noting that it contained 33 grams of trans fat, 19 grams of saturated fat, 1,320 calories, and almost 3,700 milligrams of sodium. The company announced that it had eliminated trans fats from its menu, by January 2014.
In March 2015, James O'Reilly, who had previously worked for KFC (another Yum! Brands holding), was appointed as the CEO. He stated that he expected the chain to maintain its 1,132 stores, refocus its marketing following negative press about the fat and sodium content of the menu, and looked to the possibility of future expansion.
On May 22, 2018, Long John Silver's announced the acquisition of 76 franchised restaurants, primarily owned and renovated by ServUS, located primarily in Indiana. On October 19, 2019, Warren W. Rosenthal, former president of Jerrico and developer of 1,350 Long John Silver's restaurants, died, aged 96.
On January 18, 2021, Long John Silver's announced Blain Shortreed to take over as CEO.
Locations
United States
The chain has hundreds of restaurants in over 35 states.
Canada
Long John Silver's came to Canada in the 1970s but shut down in 2006 due to bad sales.
Singapore
Singapore has remained as Long John Silver's most dominant international market and is pretty successful.
Indonesia
The chain came to Indonesia in May 2023 and plans to open up further outlets in the country. Indonesia is also the first country to have the chain as of its Asian expansion.
New Zealand
The chain opened up at the LynnMall in New Zealand.
Malaysia
Long John Silver's operated in Malaysia for some time but shut down due to declining sales and being downplayed by competitors and rivals such as KFC and local seafood restaurants. However, as of the chain's Asian expansion it is planning on returning.
Taiwan
Long John Silver's operated in Taiwan for some time but shut down by 2009.
United Kingdom
A location open at Walsall in the United Kingdom in 2004 and grew popularity throughout the years. Despite this the chain lost much interest and was beat by competitor Harry Ramsden's who also specialized in similar food but was not only cheaper but also offered better efficiency than Long John Silver's.
Philippines
Long John Silver's operated in Philippines at SM City Manila for some time but shut down in by 2019 due to declining sales and low demand. It is planning on returning as of the chain's Asian expansion.
Saudi Arabia
Long John Silver's was in Saudi Arabia for some time. However, similar to restaurants like Dairy Queen, Taco Bell and Red Lobster, it didn't get that popular and shut down in the country.
Thailand
Long John Silver's existed in Thailand for some time but shut down by 2020. It is planning on returning as of the chain's Asian expansion.
United Arab Emirates
Long John Silver's shut down in United Arab Emirates due to bad sales.
Other countries
The chain also formerly had outlets in Vietnam, Cambodia, China, India, Australia, South Korea, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain and Hong Kong. It is planning on returning in Kuwait and Japan as of the chain's Asian expansion. It will also soon come to Myanmar, Brunei and Laos.
Overall locations
Current
(Since 1969)
(Since 1983)
(Since 2023)
(Since 2021; previously since 2010)
Former
(Closed 2006)
(Closed 2009)
(Closed 2010s)
(Closed 2000s)
(Closed 2000s)
(Closed before 2020)
Planned
(Previously closed 2020)
(Previously closed 2019)
(Previously closed 2020)
(Previously closed before 2014)
(Previously closed 1982)
See also
Arthur Treacher's
Captain D's
Fish and chips
List of fish and chip restaurants
List of seafood restaurants
Popeyes
References
External links
Companies based in Louisville, Kentucky
Fast-food chains of the United States
Fast-food chains of Singapore
Fast-food franchises
Fast-food seafood restaurants
Restaurants established in 1969
American companies established in 1969
Seafood restaurants in the United States
Treasure Island
Fish and chip restaurants
1969 establishments in Kentucky
1999 mergers and acquisitions
2002 mergers and acquisitions
2011 mergers and acquisitions
Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1998
Yum! Brands