The Mirage Casino-Hotel imagines itself an oasis in the desert of Las Vegas. Part of the MGM Resorts International (formerly MGM MIRAGE) family of about a half dozen Vegas resorts, The Mirage offers guests more than 3,000 rooms and 100,000 square feet of gambling space along with a spa, over a dozen restaurants, shops, and a handful of attractions including the famed Siegfried and Roy's Secret Garden and the Kim V Salon. The $630 million Mirage Casino-Hotel had its grand opening in 1989. Parent MGM Resorts is controlled by founder Kirk Kerkorian.

John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts has several rooms with a view. The hotel development company owns and operates approximately 80 hotels in about 25 states across the US. Most of its properties are upscale, operating under the brands such as Embassy Suites, Holiday Inn, Marriott, Radisson, and Renaissance. John Q. Hammons company targets locations for its hotels near state capitals, universities, airports, corporate headquarters, or office parks in mid-sized and smaller markets. Management services include human resources, sales and marketing, and food and beverage administration. John Q. Hammons company was founded by John Q. Hammons in 1958 with the purchase of 10 Holiday Inn franchises.

Peel back the layers of this restaurateur and you'll find more than a bloomin' steakhouse. OSI Restaurant Partners is the #2 casual-dining company in terms of revenue (behind Darden Restaurants) with about 1,470 locations in the US and more than 20 other countries. Its flagship Outback Steakhouse chain boasts about 970 outposts offering steak, chicken, and seafood in Australian-themed surroundings. OSI Restaurants also operates the Carrabba's Italian Grill chain, along with Bonefish Grill and Fleming's Prime Steakhouse. A small number of the restaurants are franchised. Kangaroo Holdings, a group including co-founders Chris Sullivan and Bob Basham and private equity firm Bain Capital, owns the company.

Woody's Bar-B-Q operates and franchises more than 30 barbecue restaurants in Florida and Tennessee. The eateries specialize in barbecue ribs and chicken; the menu also includes sandwiches, sides, and deserts. Many locations offer catering services in addition to dining. Woody's also markets a branded line of barbecue sauces through its Web site. CEO Woody Mills founded the chain with his first wife, Yolanda, in 1980 and began franchising in 1989.

When Mom wants a salad, Dad craves fried chicken, and little Johnny is screaming for enchiladas, what's an all-American family to do? A simple trip to the cafeteria line at Luby's may do the trick. Luby's owns and operates about 95 cafeteria-style restaurants that offer dozens of different entrees, salads, vegetable dishes, and desserts. The chain's menu is heavy on such comfort foods as mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, and fried chicken. Nearly all of the restaurants are found in Texas; Luby's has a small number of eateries in three other states. In addition to its core restaurant business, Luby's offers contract foodservices to a small number of clients in the health care and education industries.

Tully’s Coffee has been focused on creating remarkable handcrafted coffees that truly stand apart from the rest. Now the last independent Seattle-pedigreed coffee company in the world, TC Global, Inc. look forward to sharing our passion for small-batch roasted specialty coffee with every customer who walks through our door. TC Global, Inc. neighborhood stores have an amazing ability to bring people together. Perhaps it’s the welcoming aroma of fresh-roasted, just-brewed coffee. Maybe it’s the warm greeting and expert advice you’ll get from our highly skilled baristas. Or it could be the comfortable atmosphere and lively hum of laughter and conversation. Whatever draws you in, you’re surrounded by others who share your appreciation of exceptional, handcrafted coffee—and all the knowledge, hard work, and care that goes into creating it.

Hoist a pint for the local! Heavitree Brewery operates some 100 pubs in the southwest of England. Operations include such pubs as The Bishop John De Grandisson in Teignmouth, The Ship Inn in Kingswear, and The Jolly Sailor Inn and the Royal Oak Inn, both in Newton Abbot. Although Heavitree Brewery operates some of its pubs, it leases the majority to tenant managers. Heavitree Brewery touts its strong presence in the communities where it operates. Heavitree Brewery was founded in 1790 and moved out of brewing operations in 1970. The company is controlled by the Tucker family, including executive director Nick Tucker, who owns more than 35% of the company's stock.

The Milwaukee Bucks professional basketball franchise joined the National Basketball Association in 1968 and earned a championship title just three years later with the help of Hall of Fame player Lew Alcindor (later Kareem Abdul-Jabbar). The team has made one other appearance in the NBA Finals in 1974. Hometown fans support the Bucks at Milwaukee's aging Bradley Center. Local businessmen Wesley Pavalon and Marvin Fishman were originally awarded the basketball franchise. Wisconsin Senator Herb Kohl, whose family started the Kohl's department store chain, has owned the Bucks since 1985.

Snow King Resort Hotel knows how to make its guests feel like their on top of a mountain. The company owns the Snow King Resort, a 400-acre property near Jackson, Wyoming, that includes a 200-room hotel and ski area. The resort also includes two condominium developments, Snow King Condominiums and Love Ridge Resort Lodges, as well as meeting rooms, a restaurant, and a lounge. In addition to winter skiing, Snow King offers year-round activities, including golfing, hiking, and the 2,500 foot Alpine Slide. The resort has been in business since the mid-1970s.

Despite it's name, don't try ordering a peanut butter and jelly sandwich at PB&J Restaurants. The company operates a handful of casual-dining locations in the Kansas City area, including Yia Yia's (a Mediterranean-style bistro) and Coyote Grill. The company also operates a small number of franchised Red Robin Gourmet Burger outlets in Kansas and parts of Missouri. Founders Paul Khoury and Bill Crooks opened their first restaurant, Paradise Diner, in 1987.

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