Who founded The Cheesecake Factory restaurant chain?

David Overton founded The Cheesecake Factory restaurant chain. He opened the first restaurant in Beverly Hills, California, in 1978, building on the cheesecake business started by his parents, Oscar and Evelyn Overton.

Evelyn developed the family’s signature cheesecake recipe in Detroit in the 1940s. The family later moved to Los Angeles, where Oscar and Evelyn opened a bakery in 1972 and supplied cheesecakes to local restaurants. David believed the desserts could attract customers to a restaurant of their own.

A common mix-up is crediting Oscar or Evelyn alone. They created and produced the family’s cheesecakes, while David developed the restaurant concept and opened the first Cheesecake Factory location. The company later expanded into a large full-service dining brand, known for its extensive menu and unusually broad dessert selection.