McCormick & Schmick's closes its doors

Location is everything. Unfortunately for the McCormick & Schmick’s seafood restaurant in Burbank, its location appears to have led to its closure.

The restaurant, tucked in an office/commercial corridor along Olive Avenue near Warner Bros. and NBC studios, had already stopped opening on weekends prior to its closure last week, said Burbank Deputy City Manager Joy Forbes.

Forbes, who spoke with the restaurant’s assistant manager on its last day of operation on Jan. 3, said the business had been relying on lunchtime crowds and happy-hour patrons who might stay for dinner.

Houston-based Landry’s Inc. — which operates other restaurants, such as Claim Jumper, the Chart House and Bubba Gump’s Shrimp Co. — purchased the McCormick & Schmick’s chain, based in Portland, Ore., in November.

At the time of acquisition, McCormick & Schmick’s had about 75 restaurants across the country, including one in Pasadena, which remains open.

Landry’s officials said they were selective when deciding which restaurants to close.

“We bought a great concept in McCormick & Schmick’s,” Kris Guthrie, Landry’s vice-president of marketing, said in an emailed statement. “Only a handful of stores were closed for a variety of reasons, including market conditions and lease expirations.”

At least two restaurants in Arizona were closed, according to industry publications, as well as one in Alabama and another in Ohio.

Guthrie could not be reached for comment.

Many employees reportedly were given the opportunity to work at other restaurants owned by Landry’s.