Investor Relations

The Cheesecake Factory Opens Its First Arizona Restaurant

August 31, 2000

CALABASAS HILLS, Calif., Aug. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated (Nasdaq: CAKE) announces the opening of its first restaurant in the Phoenix/Scottsdale market. Located in the new upscale shopping center of Kierland Commons, the 11,000 square foot restaurant contains approximately 275 interior seats and 80 patio seats. The Scottsdale restaurant is The Cheesecake Factory's second freestanding built by the Company from the ground up, similar to its San Diego restaurant.

"We are very excited to open our first restaurant in Arizona," said David Overton, Chairman and CEO. "We received a tremendous reception from our guests which contributed to one of the best opening nights in our Company's history. Another Cheesecake Factory restaurant is currently under construction at Biltmore Fashion Park in Phoenix and we believe the Arizona market offers additional development potential."

The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated operates 36 upscale, casual dining restaurants under The Cheesecake Factory(R) name that offer an extensive menu of more than 200 items with an average check of approximately $15.00. The Company also operates a bakery production facility that produces over 50 varieties of quality cheesecakes and other baked products for the Company's restaurants and for third-party foodservice operators and distributors. Grand Lux Cafe(R), the Company's upscale casual dining restaurant created for the Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, was opened in May 1999. The Company operates two self-service, limited menu foodservice operations under The Cheesecake Factory Express(R) name inside the DisneyQuest(TM) family entertainment concepts in Orlando, Florida and Chicago, Illinois. Additionally, the Company licenses three bakery cafe outlets to another foodservice operator under The Cheesecake Factory Bakery Cafe(R) name.

SOURCE The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated
Web Site: http://www.thecheesecakefactory.com