Foodies with a burning passion for seafood might turn to this company. Formerly JCS Holdings, Ignite Restaurant Group operates Joe's Crab Shack, a leading casual dining chain with more than 110 locations in Texas, California, Florida, and about 25 other states. The eateries feature a wide variety of grilled, fried, and stuffed seafood, along with sandwiches and sides. The seafood chain is known for its fun and quirky surf-inspired atmosphere where the servers are often part of the entertainment. In addition to its flagship restaurant brand, Ignite operates a small number of Brick House Tavern + Tap locations. The company is backed by private equity group J. H. Whitney Capital Partners.

If you want some Italian cooking from this company, apparently all you have to do is ASK. ASK Restaurants is a leading casual dining operator in the UK with about 120 locations. The chain's menu features a variety of pasta dishes and rustic-style pizzas, as well as several choices of antipasti. In addition to its flagship brand, ASK operates the Zizzi chain of upscale Italian eateries that offer authentic Italian favorites in a contemporary setting at about 100 locations. ASK is a unit of Gondola Group, which also owns the PizzaExpress chain. Brothers Adam and Sam Kaye started the company in 1993.

American Leisure Facilities Management designs, builds, and manages on-site physical fitness and recreational facilities for corporate clients, schools and universities, municipalities, and real estate developers. Services include planning, construction, installation, and management of facilities as well as marketing and ongoing staffing. The company has created private and corporate fitness centers, wellness and commercial spas, country clubs, and YMCAs for customers including Sheraton, Hilton, Starwood Hotels, Bulova, the NFL, and Avatar Holdings. American Leisure was founded in 1967 by CEO Steve Kass.American Leisure is a dedicated team of experienced professionals providing consulting, design, marketing and operations of lifestyle facilities, spas and fitness centers, as well as community lifestyle property management services. We have over 30 years of successful experience as innovators in designing and operating cutting-edge fitness/wellness centers, spas, recreation and lifestyle facilities.

Executive Inn Group Corporation manages upscale hotels and resorts under the Executive Hotels & Resorts brand. It operates about 20 hotels located in Canada and the western US (San Francisco and Seattle), targeting both business and leisure travelers. The company also offers franchising and hotel management services to other facility owners. Executive Inn Group operates and co-owns Vancouver's Hotel LeSoleil and Oritalia Restaurant through a joint venture. Previously listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, the company delisted its shares and became private in 2007.

Maccioni Restaurants (and the Maccioni family) operate five restaurants - three locations of the upscale Le Cirque and two of its Italian cousins, Osteria Del Circo. The flagship Le Cirque in New York City reopened in 2006 in a new location that seats 150. The other locations are in Las Vegas' Bellagio Hotel (owned by MGM Resorts) and the Camino Real hotel in Mexico City (owned by RealTurismo). The Le Cirque concept is known for its elegant design and its stunning menu of French and Italian cuisine. Osteria Del Circo is located in New York City and the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas. Maccioni opened the original Le Cirque in the Mayfair Hotel in 1974.

Table Trac markets information management systems designed to help casino operators monitor their gaming operations. Its Table Trac system records and analyzes win-loss percentages, dealer performance, and cash movements. It also makes self-service kiosks for customer service and administering players club promotional programs. The company's customers are located mostly in the US; it also sells to markets in Central and South America. Chairman and CEO Chad Hoehne owns nearly 30% of Table Trac.

coffeeheaven international plc has about 90 coffeeheaven and Coffee Nation shops in Poland and a half dozen other Eastern European countries. Its shops serve a variety of food and beverages, including sandwiches, salads, cakes, and juices. Most coffeeheaven outposts are found in high traffic locations such as airports, retail centers, and office complexes. coffeeheaven international plc has agreed to be acquired by Costa Coffee, the coffee shop subsidiary of UK-based hospitality and foodservice giant Whitbread.

Knitting Factory Entertainment operates the Knitting Factory, a downtown New York City music venue that has played host to such artists as Sonic Youth, John Lurie's Lounge Lizards, and Lou Reed. The club is now at the center of a media company that includes four clubs (in New York; Hollywood; Boise, Idaho; and Spokane, Washington) and several record labels, including Shimmy Disc (neo-psychedelic), Knit Classics (jazz standards), and Instinct Records (dance and acid jazz). Founder Michael Dorf opened the Knitting Factory in 1987 and owns a majority of the company.

Chef Trotter did not come from a "food focused" family. His interest in food was developed while he was in college and his roommate, Joel Fish (who was an avid cook) would prepare various courses for his friends to taste. Trotter became interested in what Joel was doing, and soon found himself immersed in the world of cookbooks and preparing meals as a way of entertainment for his friends and roommates! Mid way through his college tenure (University of Wisconsin in Madison, WI) he decided to take a year off and read every book he could. This included cookbooks. As a way to make a living while on this break from school, Trotter took a job as a waiter. Upon return to college, where he earned his Bachelor's of Science degree in Political Science, he began once again cooking and actually doing small catering parties.

Life Time Fitness wants to help you keep your New Year's resolutions. The company operates more than 85 exercise and recreation centers in some 20 states, including Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Texas, and Virginia. Life Time Fitness facilities offer swimming pools, basketball and racquet courts, child care centers, spas, dining services, and climbing walls, in addition to some 400 pieces of exercise equipment. Most facilities are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and average about 100,000 sq. ft. in size. They target a membership of about 5,500 to 11,500, and are designed to serve as an all-in-one sports and athletic club, professional fitness facility, family recreation center, and spa and resort.

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