Kevin Brown

Executive Chairman of Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants

Kevin Brown brings more than 50 years of experience and leadership in the restaurant industry to his position as Executive Chairman of Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants. Lettuce is one of the most highly regarded multi-concept restaurant companies with more than 100 restaurants and over 60 concepts nationwide.

As Executive Chairman of Lettuce, Kevin works with Chairman and Founder Richard Melman, President and CEO R.J. Melman, and other key members of the executive team to continue the trend of innovation and creating new concepts while strategically growing existing concepts.

Kevin is a Pittsburgh native and a graduate of Michigan State University. In 1977, he was the first candidate Rich Melman interviewed on a college campus. Kevin accepted the job offer at R.J. Grunts, Lettuce’s first restaurant.

In his early years at Lettuce, Kevin held management positions at The Pump Room and Un Grand Café, and was awarded his first partnership opportunity in 1981. He later developed some of the group’s most popular concepts including Shaw’s Crab House, Wow Bao, Mity Nice Bar & Grill and Big Bowl, which has grown to more than seven locations in Chicago, Minnesota and Virginia.
Throughout his career, Kevin’s successes were rewarded with increased responsibilities. He became President in 2000, was named the CEO of Lettuce in 2003 and in January 2025 was appointed the Executive Chairman.

Kevin is a committed participant in the community and dedicates time to civic duties as a Trustee of the University of Chicago Medical Center.