IT'S LOADS OF FUN?ON THE KEMAH BOARDWALK: Landry's Restaurants' Kemah Boardwalk Offers Fun Family Entertainment

Houston, Texas - SEPTEMBER 30, 2002

HOUSTON - A 65-foot Ferris wheel. Midway arcade games to test one's skill. A first class nautical-themed hotel. Seven outstanding themed restaurants. Dancing fountains in which to play and cool off. Boutiques and shops for fun gifts and fashions. Sound like the perfect getaway? Kemah Boardwalk, developed in 1997 by Landry's Restaurants Inc., is an ideal 40-acre destination for family-oriented entertainment.

With its carnival-like atmosphere, attractive design and beautifully well-maintained grounds, Kemah Boardwalk is an unrivaled tourism destination in Texas. Just one step inside the Kemah Boardwalk entrance welcomes visitors to a relaxing and enjoyable experience.

"Every major city has a waterfront or festival marketplace that is the showplace for the city," said Tilman Fertitta, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Landry's Restaurants, and visionary of the development. "Houston has the third largest port in the United States, and we saw the opportunity to create an exciting destination such as Kemah Boardwalk. People enjoy spending recreational time at waterfront locations, and this entertainment complex truly is a destination for millions of visitors."

The centerpiece of Kemah Boardwalk is Aquarium, a specialty restaurant featuring a 50,000 gallon tank of tropical fish. "Aquarium, which we call an 'underwater dining adventure,' has added a tremendous amount of excitement to the area," Fertitta said. "This one-of-a-kind specialty restaurant features three large aquariums, sea-themed decor, porthole windows, two bars, banquet facilities, and a gift shop with sea-related merchandise. The restaurant provides a unique dining experience and the illusion of being in an underwater garden."

A 50,000 gallon aquarium allows exceptional floor-to-ceiling viewing through its four-inch thick fabrication acrylic observation panels. Colorful, tropical fish - some as large as six feet long - reside in the tank, while a diver makes twice a day feedings.

A third floor ballroom is available for banquets and other pre-booked special events. The ballroom's balcony and three walls of windows offer spectacular views of the channel, bay and plaza.

The Boardwalk Inn, a first class hotel featuring Gulf coast architecture, is a highlight of the waterfront development. The hotel features 52 rooms, including four luxury suites, each with waterfront views, custom interiors and a balcony overlooking the plaza. The hotel also offers an executive boardroom and ballroom for meetings and special gatherings up to 100. The first floor of the hotel contains more than 25,000 square feet of space devoted to a collection of retail specialty shops, anchored by two themed-type stores. Some of the retail shops include Kemah Fun Shirts, Boardwalk Supply Co., Blayne's Boardwalk Fashions, Toy Crossing, On the Park Thomas Kincade Gallery.

One need not go hungry while visiting Kemah Boardwalk. In addition to Aquarium, diners can select from Landry's Seafood House, Joe's Crab Shack, Kemah Crab House, Willie G's for great seafood, as well as Cadillac Bar, a festive Mexican restaurant offering "the best Mexican food north of the border." The Pizza Oven is a cozy pizzeria, and The Flying Dutchman, round out the boardwalk eateries.

Several of the amusements aligning the boardwalk include the C.P. Huntington, a gas-powered train which is a handcrafted replica of an 1863 Central Pacific Railroad train; a 36-foot Classic Carrousel featuring elaborate designs of horses and menagerie figures, Dentzel-style crests, head shields, panel art and distinctive music; a 65-foot Century Ferris Wheel with gondola seating; the Rockwall, a 24-foot stationary wall with over 100 handholds for climbers at any level; and Pharaoh's Fury, an Egyptian style ship that swings 70 feet in the air. "Visitors to Kemah Boardwalk are captivated by the many activities and dining and shopping options that are available to them," Fertitta said. "They may feel they have traveled many miles to experience such an exciting and adventurous place, when in fact, Houston is so close and easily accessible."

As Kemah is located less than 20 miles from downtown Houston, it has long been a destination for generations of Houstonians seeking an easy getaway for boating, fishing, dining or shopping for crafts, collectibles and other unique items. With the recent addition of Kemah Boardwalk, visitors are finding much more to enhance their enjoyment and fun. Located on the south side of Clear Creek Channel, connecting Clear Lake with Galveston Bay, Kemah was founded in 1898 by John Henry Kipp, a veteran of the Magnolia Rangers, and James H. Bradford.

Gulf-related businesses including boat building, commercial fishing and tourism helped Kemah grow into a town of 1,300 by 1922. During the 1930s, Kemah was Houston's playground with wide-open gambling, drinking and prostitution. Long-time resident Matt Wiggins' grandfather began operating a cafe on the bottom floor of The Edgewater Casino in 1950, and called it Jimmie Walker's Edgewater Restaurant and Supper Club. It was closed down in 1954 because of gambling, and then a fire.

After surviving two hurricanes and bankruptcy, the family re-established the restaurant as Jimmie Walker's in 1987. In 1989, Fertitta approached the family to sell him the location, and they agreed to name the restaurant Landry's at Jimmie Walker's.

"We have been very pleased with business at that location," Fertitta said. "It is the largest location of all of Landry's, and has welcomed such distinguished visitors as Shirley MacLaine, Doris Day, Teri Garr, Gene Hackman, many astronauts and a Prince from Saudi Arabia," he added.

Kemah, which was incorporated in 1965, means "wind in the face" and comes from the Karankawa Indians, who once inhabited the area. Today, 1,500 residents live in Kemah.

Landry's Restaurants Inc., is the nation's second largest and fastest growing casual-dining, full-service seafood restaurant chain. Publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange, Landry's owns and operates approximately 279 restaurants, including Landry's Seafood House, Joe's Crab Shack, The Crab House, Rainforest Caf?, Charley's Crab, Willie G's Seafood & Steak House, The Chart House, and Saltgrass Steak House, as well as Kemah Boardwalk, a magnificent 40-acre, family-oriented themed entertainment destination. The company employs 28,000 workers in 35 states.

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