The Cheesecake Factory, Inc. (NASDAQ: CAKE) is a restaurant company in the United States. The company operates 139 full-service, casual dining restaurants under The Cheesecake Factory name in major metropolitan areas in the United States. Cheesecake Factory restaurants are characterized by extensive menus, custom lavish décor, and large portions. 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 offering an eclectic menu, big portions, and signature cheesecakes, and the chain became a multi-million-dollar sales performer. The company went public in 1992, and was the first restaurant chain to reach a billion dollars in revenues with fewer than 100 restaurants in operation.