Our world-famous cheesecakes started from a newspaper recipe in a basement kitchen.

In the 1940s, Evelyn Overton found a recipe in her local Detroit newspaper that inspired her Original Cheesecake. Everyone loved her recipe so much she decided to open a small bakery in her basement kitchen and offer cakes to some of the best restaurants in town, while raising her children, David and Renee. In 1972, Evelyn and her husband Oscar moved to Los Angeles and opened The Cheesecake Factory Bakery, supplying her cheesecakes to restaurants throughout L.A.

In 1978, David was inspired to open a restaurant in Beverly Hills with his mother’s cakes showcased in the lobby and a made-from-scratch menu big enough to offer “something for everyone”. The restaurant was an immediate hit on opening day with a line out the door that many say has never stopped. Today, with more than 40,000 “so Cheesecake” staff and managers providing a unique upscale-casual dining experience at over 225 locations worldwide, we are proud to be known as one of Fortune Magazine’s 100 Best Companies to Work For® and a welcoming place for all.

OUR PEOPLE MAKE US A GREAT PLACE TO WORK
We’re proud to be recognized on the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For^®list for 10 years in a row. In 2023, we ranked #47 based on feedback from our people around teamwork, leadership, growth opportunities, values and culture.

"For more than 40 years, we have strived to create a very special place with a rich culture. This award is a wonderful recognition of what our staff and managers have helped us achieve.
- David Overton, Founder, Chairman and CEO