The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated is an American restaurant company and distributor of cheesecakes based in the United States. It operates 370 full-service restaurants: 218 under the Cheesecake Factory brand, 47 under the North Italia brand, and 105 under other brands. The Cheesecake Factory also operates two bakery production facilities—in Calabasas, California, and Rocky Mount, North Carolina. David M. Overton, the company's founder, opened the first Cheesecake Factory restaurant in Beverly Hills, California, in 1978. The restaurant established the future chain's pattern of featuring an eclectic menu, large portions, and signature cheesecakes. In 2025, Fortune ranked the Cheesecake Factory at number 23 on their Fortune List of the Top 100 Companies to Work For in 2020 based on an employee survey of satisfaction. Additionally, The Cheesecake Factory's average unit volume consistently leads the casual restaurant industry. Wikipedia