Does last week’s announcement that Landry’s Restaurants intends to buy the Oceanaire Seafood Room chain out of bankruptcy mean there will be too many fish in downtown Denver’s restaurant sea under the same ownership?
Big fish Landry’s, which operates more than 100 restaurants under various brand names, owns Willie G’s Seafood & Steak at 1587 Lawrence St., barely a clam’s toss away from Oceanaire at 14th and Arapahoe streets.
But Terry Ryan, president and chief executive of Minneapolis- based Oceanaire Inc., doesn’t foresee a fish fight.
“I think (Willie G’s and Oceanaire) are different enough that (Landry’s) will keep both pieces separate,” Ryan said. “And Oceanaire is much closer to the performing-arts complex.”
Denver-based restaurant consultant John Imbergamo agrees that there’s room downtown for both brands under the same parent company.
“I see Oceanaire as being quite a bit more sophisticated than Willie G’s,” Imbergamo said. “(Oceanaire) has a better build-out; it’s higher- priced, more interesting and more specifically seafood. I don’t real ly see them as being direct competitors any more than Oceanaire competes with many other restaurants in downtown.”
Pending court approval, expected to come down April 26 in Texas, Landry’s will pay $6.6 million for the 12 Oceanaire locations and assume $17 million in debt. Oceanaire filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last year and shuttered four locations.
“All the debt will be removed, and the creditors get back almost all of their money,” Ryan said. “That’s unheard of in bankruptcy. At the end of the day, our management and employees will be able to stay and be comfortable, and the opportunity for growth in the future will come quicker than what we could have done ourselves.”
In addition to Willie G’s, Landry’s owns Landry’s Seafood House off Interstate 25 in Englewood, the Genesee Chart House in Golden, Simms Steakhouse and the Downtown Aquarium.
Race case.
The CBS hit reality series “The Amazing Race,” hosted by Phil Keoghan, is holding an open casting call beginning at noon Friday at Sports Authority at Southlands, E-470 and Smoky Hill Road.
The first 200 teams to arrive at the Rocky Mountain Honda Dealers Amazing Race Casting Call will get to audition on camera for an upcoming season of the show that takes contestants on a worldwide whirlwind.
Eligibility requirements and application form are available online at . More info: 303-861-4444.
Unsung heroes.
If you’re a biz boss, you may want to celebrate the person who makes sure your business boat stays afloat during Administrative Professionals Week through Friday.
You can show your administrative assistant you care by treating them to the Palm for a three-course business lunch, including a starter, entree, side dish and dessert, starting at $18.95 per person. Reservations: 303-825-7256.
EAVESDROPPING
An older gentleman walking at a rapid pace in Washington Park as he was about to pass a middle-aged woman walking at a slower speed:
“Hey, you aren’t going to let an old fat man pass you, are you?”
“Oh, you’re not that old.”
Penny Parker’s column appears Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Listen to her on the Caplis and Silverman radio show between 4 and 5 p.m. Fridays on KHOW-630 AM. Call her at 303-954-5224 or e-mail pparker@denverpost.com.
