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July 13, 1994
Charlotte had never seen anything quite like Morton's of Chicago (now called Morton's, The Steakhouse) when it came blaring into town the summer of 1994.
At the time, the idea of an upscale, well known national chain restaurant choosing to locate in downtown Charlotte was just short of ludicrous. There were barely a handful of upscale restaurants downtown that stayed open past 5 p.m. Compared to the local steak houses, Morton's steaks were huge with prices to match.
The restaurant kicked off Charlotte's rise as a restaurant city. Other national chains such as the Palm and Capital Grille, encouraged by Morton's success, opened in Charlotte. Local establishments ramped up. Downtown, or the Charlotte dining scene, would never be the same.
Richard Thurmond
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