Investor Relations

The Cheesecake Factory Opens in Winter Park, Florida; Provides an Update on Future Restaurant Locations

May 31, 2001

CALABASAS HILLS, Calif., May 31 /PRNewswire/ -- The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated (Nasdaq: CAKE) announces the opening of its 43rd Cheesecake Factory restaurant in Winter Park, Florida. Located in Winter Park Village, the uniquely designed 370-seat restaurant recorded first-week sales that were well in excess of initial expectations.

"This week, we signed two additional leases for potential fiscal 2001 openings at the new International Plaza in Tampa, FL and Bellevue Square in Bellevue, WA," commented David Overton, Chairman and CEO. "In addition to these signed leases, we currently have signed leases on hand for potential 2001 openings in Seattle, WA; Sherman Oaks, CA; Los Angeles, CA (Grand Lux Cafe); King of Prussia, PA; and Chandler, AZ. We are also well underway with our fiscal 2002 development plan, with signed leases or letters of intent already in hand for potential locations in Chicago, IL (Grand Lux Cafe); San Jose, CA; Austin, TX; San Antonio, TX; Minneapolis, MN; Ft. Lauderdale, FL; Boston, MA; and Orlando, FL. Negotiations are in progress for several other attractive locations, including potential sites in St. Louis, MO and Littleton, CO. One of our key growth objectives is to increase our total restaurant operating weeks by 24% to 25% during fiscal 2001 and 2002." Overton also commented that, for the June 2001 quarter to date, comparable sales comparisons are positive for the Company's restaurants.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. The development and opening processes for the Company's planned new restaurants are subject to a number of factors both within and outside of its control, including factors under the influence and control of landlords. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise unless required to do so by the securities laws. Investors are referred to the full discussion of risks and uncertainties associated with forward-looking statements in general, and the restaurant development and opening processes in particular, included in the Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2001 and other periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated operates 43 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 $15.40. 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 other leading foodservice operators, retailers 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(R) 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.

                    MAKE YOUR OPINION COUNT -  Click Here
               http://tbutton.prnewswire.com/prn/11690X48157481

SOURCE The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated

CONTACT: Jane Vallaire of The Cheesecake Factory, 818-871-3000/