King's Seafood Company
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Restaurant services, Seafood distribution |
| Founded | 1983 |
| Founder | Jeff King, Sam King |
| Headquarters | Costa Mesa , United States |
Area served | California, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, Washington |
Key people | Jeff King (Chairman, deceased 2017), Sam King (CEO) |
| Products | Restaurants (Water Grill, King's Fish House, 555 East, Lou & Mickey's, Meat On Ocean, Pier Burger) |
King's Seafood Company is a privately held, family-operated enterprise specializing in both restaurant services and seafood distribution, with its main office located in Costa Mesa, California. The company conducts business across several states, including California, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, and Washington. Its dining establishments comprise seven Water Grill venues, a dozen King's Fish House locations, three steakhouses (namely 555 East in Long Beach, Lou & Mickey's in San Diego, and Meat On Ocean in Santa Monica), along with Pier Burger.
History
In 1983, cousins Jeff and Sam King established the business under the name University Restaurant Group, drawing upon their family's extensive background in the restaurant industry. Their fathers, Mickey and Lou King, originally opened King's Coffee Shop in Huntington Park, California back in 1945 before selling it to Tiny Naylor's in 1982. Two years following that sale, the cousins launched the 555 East steakhouse. The initial company name was inspired by their respective universities—USC and UCLA. Jeff King took on the role of chairman, while Sam King was appointed CEO. The organization adopted the current name, King's Seafood Company, in 1998.
At present, the company operates twelve King's Fish House restaurants, seven Water Grill locations, Meat On Ocean and Pier Burger in Santa Monica, the 555 East steakhouse in Long Beach, and Lou & Mickey's steakhouse in San Diego.
Throughout the 2000s, Jeff King contributed to the Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau board and served as chair for the California Restaurant Association until his passing in 2017 at age 77. Sam King co-founded the Sustainable Seafood Forum and has continued as CEO since at least 2007, residing in Coto de Caza, California.