RARE Expands Steakhouses

ATLANTA-With negotiations underway to sell its Bugaboo Creek Steak House division, RARE Hospitality International will grow its remaining Long Horn Steakhouse and Capital Grille units, executives said during a fourth quarter conference call.

The company plans to open 32 to 34 LongHorn restaurants and four Capital Grille restaurants during the fiscal year. Some 80% of the new units will be “back fill” in existing markets.

“We have made significant progress on the strategic initiatives announced in 2006,” said Philip J. Hickey, Jr., chairman and CEO of RARE. “The competitive environment in 2007 will continue to be challenging.”