Landry acquires McCormick & Schmick's

Landry's Inc. will acquire McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurants Inc., the companies announced today.

Among the holdings of the Houston-based Landry's are two restaurant brands familiar to Baltimore diners. A Rainforest Cafe operated for nine years at Towson Town Centre before its 2009 closing, and an Oceanaire Seafood currently operates in Harbor East. Another Landry's brand, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., has been announced for Harborplace's Light Street Pavilion. When Bubba Gump arrives, it will have family nearby.

The Portland-based MSSR operates two Baltimore-market restaurants. An Inner Harbor McCormick & Schmick's opened in 1998; an M & S Grill opened at Harborplace in 2003.

"McCormick & Schmick's complements Landry's signature seafood concepts and expands our presence in highly prized locations," said Landry's owner Tilman J. Fertitta in the corporate press release announcing the acquisition.

The press release goes on to list those prime locations: "Beverly Hills, Baltimore's Inner Harbor -- "

Just checking.