1993
Cameron Mitchell signed a lease for a small piece of storefront property, tucked in the northwest corner of Columbus, Ohio. The space would be transformed into our first restaurant, “Cameron’s.” This contemporary American bistro wowed Columbus diners with diverse flavors selected from across the American culinary landscape as well as extraordinary attention to hospitality.
1994 – 1998
With the success of Cameron’s American Bistro, Cameron Mitchell Restaurants (CMR) opened seven additional restaurant concepts ranging from an upscale diner to Italian, Steak, and more.
1999
Cameron Mitchell Restaurants opened “The Ocean Club” at Easton Town Center in Columbus, Ohio, an oceanic ambiance featuring new American seafood with coastal cuisine fusions.
2001
Our catering company, Cameron Mitchell Premier Events (CMPE), was created and became the premier catering and event planning company for Columbus and central Ohio. CMPE is the requested catering company for signature events such as the Memorial Tournament, presidential visits, and Nationwide Children’s Hospital charitable events.
2002
Our sister company, The Rusty Bucket Restaurant & Tavern, opened its first location in Dublin, Ohio. The Bucket is a casual American restaurant and tavern where people come to share laughter, smiles, and great conversation. Today, there are 17 locations in three states.
2003
CMR hosted our first Leadership Conference in Orlando, FL. Over the years, we have had the opportunity to take our leaders to cities like Napa, Sonoma, Chicago, Boston, Las Vegas, New Orleans and more. The tradition of stopping to smell the roses together still continues to this day.
1999 – 2006
Between 1999 and 2006, CMR opened 23 restaurants under nine different concepts in 16 cities. This growth also included the expansion of Mitchell’s Fish Market, Cameron’s Steakhouse, Mitchell’s Steakhouse, and Columbus Fish Market, which were sold to Ruth’s Hospitality Group in 2008 (now owned by Landry’s).
2006
After seven years, The Ocean Club concept was reimagined and re-concepted to Mitchell’s Ocean Club, with a new menu, logo, and design combining a traditional, modern steakhouse with the finest seafood and lively lounge environment.
2008 – 2013
With the sale of the Fish Market & Steakhouse locations, CMR was ready to expand once again. In 2008, the first Ocean Prime opened in Troy, Michigan, inspired by Mitchell’s Ocean Club. Between 2008 and 2013, nine more Ocean Prime locations opened in seven states.
2011
Buckeye Hospitality Construction (BHC) was formed on March 15.
2013
After a 7-year hiatus, CMR opened its first new concept in the heart of the Short North Arts District - a gastropub, The Pearl Restaurant, Tavern & Oyster Room.
2014
The Guild House opened adjacent to The Joseph Hotel. Named after CMR's culinary "guild," this was CMR's first restaurant to open 365 days a year for breakfast, lunch & dinner.
2015
Ocean Prime opened in Midtown Manhattan, truly giving CMR a coast-to-coast presence.
2016 – 2019
CMR continued to expand the Ocean Prime brand nationally as well as in our hometown of Columbus, Ohio, opening nine additional restaurants. Celebrating our company’s 25th anniversary in 2018, Cameron Mitchell published “Yes is the Answer, What is the Question?” which was rated one of the “Top 12 Business Memoirs of All Time” by Forbes.
2019
Committed to fostering the next generation of restauranteurs, CMR pledged $3.5 million for the new Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts building at Columbus State Community College, Mitchell Hall. Since opening in the fall of 2019, Mitchell Hall has enabled the school to double enrollment capacity to 1,500 culinary students.
2020
In March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the world, CMR temporarily closed all restaurants and furloughed more than 4,500 associates. During this time, our company was a valuable voice for the industry, having lobbied state and national legislators for PPP loans and loan forgiveness amendments to enable thousands of restaurants across the country to survive.
2021
Budd Dairy Food Hall opened in Columbus' Italian Village neighborhood. A chef driven incubator that provides opportunities for culinary adventurers to refine their concept, grow their business and build a loyal following all while sharing space with other like-minded entrepreneurs.
2021
CMR opened its first specialty concept originating outside of Columbus, Prime Social, in Kansas City, MO, on the 16th floor of the new Penn Centre Building.
2021 – 2022
With the return of dining out and “comeback” of the industry, CMR refocused on creating extraordinary restaurants and opened five additional locations in three states.
2023
Ocean Prime Las Vegas, located on the iconic Las Vegas Strip, was a $20M investment, opened to numerous accolades in the first year including Best Steakhouse, Best Seafood Restaurant, Best of Award of Excellence, Best New Seafood Restaurant, 8 Best Restaurants on Las Vegas Strip and Top 100 Restaurants.
2023
Cameron Mitchell Premier Events celebrated 10 years of catering the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday at Muirfield Village.
2023
Cameron Mitchell Restaurants continues to grow with three more successful openings - The Pearl (Tampa, FL), Valentina's (Dublin, OH), and Cento (Columbus, OH).
2023
Cento Italiano, Cameron Mitchell Restaurants’ 100th restaurant, opens.
Hear Cameron Mitchell describe why this restaurant has special meaning for him and the team or
read the transcript.
October 5th, 2023
Celebrating 30 years, Cameron Mitchell Restaurants continues the tradition of Great People Delivering Genuine Hospitality.
2024-2025
The Pearl Tampa was honored in the prestigious Michelin Guide during its first two years in business.
2024-2026
CMR continues to expand both Ocean Prime locations and specialty concept growth with openings in Tampa, Sarasota, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Nashville and Naples.
May 2026
Cameron Mitchell Premier Events celebrates 25 years in Business.