Rick Erwin Dining Group
Rick Erwin Dining Group is a privately held owner-operated restaurant group operating six award-winning upscale steakhouses and seafood restaurants across the Upstate of South Carolina, serving fine-dining patrons and private-event hosts in Greenville, Greer, Spartanburg, and Clemson.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersGreenville, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Rick Erwin Dining Group does
Rick Erwin Dining Group is a privately held, owner-operated restaurant group headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina, that operates a portfolio of award-winning upscale steakhouses and seafood restaurants across the Upstate region. Founded in 2005 by Rick Erwin with the opening of West End Grille in downtown Greenville, the group has expanded to six active dining locations — West End Grille, Eastside, Level 10 (Spartanburg), Clemson, Greer, and The Vista — plus a Nantucket seafood restaurant that is currently relocating. The group has held the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence continuously since 2006 and the OpenTable Diners' Choice award every year since 2011.
The business is built on a fine-dining service model featuring expertly prepared steaks, seafood, curated wine lists, and private event hosting across nine event spaces accommodating 12 to 150 guests. Underlying operations rely on standard restaurant hospitality technology — OpenTable for reservations, ChowNow for takeout at The Vista, and a proprietary gift card storefront — without disclosed proprietary software, AI systems, or differentiated technical platform. Group identity is anchored in the founder's personal brand and consistent culinary standards across units, with each location maintaining a dedicated executive chef and general manager.
The revenue model is primarily transactional dine-in sales, supplemented by private event bookings with food-and-beverage minimums that vary by day of week and season (including elevated holiday minimums November 14-December 31), online gift card sales with a $3.50 mail-delivery convenience fee, and a small takeout channel. The group is owned by three individuals — Rick Erwin (Founder), Michael Ivey (Owner/CFO), and Jason McCarthy (Owner/Corporate Chef) — with no institutional investors, no external funding rounds, and no parent company. The 'Crab Cakes for a Cause' charitable initiative, launched in 2023, has generated over $100,000 in donations to Meals on Wheels of Greenville and The Meyer Center for Special Children and functions as a community-engagement brand lever rather than a revenue stream.
Rick Erwin Dining Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Rick Erwin Dining Group
- Legal name
- Rick Erwin Dining Group
- Website
- https://rickerwins.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Rick Erwin Dining Group is a privately held owner-operated restaurant group operating six award-winning upscale steakhouses and seafood restaurants across the Upstate of South Carolina, serving fine-dining patrons and private-event hosts in Greenville, Greer, Spartanburg, and Clemson.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Rick Erwin Dining Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Fine Dining Restaurants
- NAICS
- Full-Service Restaurants (722511), Restaurants and Other Eating Places (72251)
- SIC
- Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Retail-Eating Places (5812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Steakhouses & Seafood Restaurants (THAFACAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Fine Dining Restaurants (THAFACAA), Special Occasion & Destination Restaurants (THAFACAK)
Keywords
Where Rick Erwin Dining Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Greenville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices6 records
Markets served
Rick Erwin Dining Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Fine Dining Restaurant Sales: Revenue from dine-in restaurant operations across six restaurant locations featuring upscale steakhouse and seafood cuisine. Guests pay for menu items including steaks, seafood, and beverages.
- Gift Card Sales: Online gift card purchases with optional mail delivery. A $3.50 convenience fee applies for mail delivery to billing address. Revenue is recognized when gift cards are redeemed.
- Private Dining & Events: Private event hosting with room rental fees and food/beverage minimums. Nine unique event spaces across five locations accommodate 12-150 guests with varying minimums.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Private Dining - Wine Room at West End Grille |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Private Dining - Upper Room at Greer |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Private Dining - Semi-Private Space at Greer |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Private Dining - Small Private Dining Room at Clemson |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Private Dining - Small Dining Area at Eastside |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Private Dining - Board Room at Level 10 |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Private Dining - The Inn at Patrick Square |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Main Dining Room (all locations) |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | The Vista Happy Hour |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Gift Card Delivery |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Rick Erwin Dining Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Rick Erwin Dining Group operates a portfolio of upscale steakhouses and seafood restaurants across Upstate South Carolina, serving fine dining menus of steaks, seafood, and curated wines. The group also offers private dining and event hosting across nine event spaces, an online gift card program, and a charitable community initiative tied to its crab cake menu item.
Product overview
Rick Erwin Dining Group is a portfolio of award-winning upscale restaurants across the Upstate of South Carolina, consisting of six distinct restaurant brands (West End Grille, Greer, Eastside, Level 10, Clemson, and The Vista) plus a relocating Nantucket location. The group also offers private dining and event services across multiple venues, gift card programs, and the Crab Cakes for a Cause community initiative. Each restaurant offers fine dining experiences with steaks, seafood, and carefully curated wine selections, while The Vista provides a more casual neighborhood bar atmosphere. The restaurants share common leadership, culinary standards, and service values while maintaining individual identities and menus.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- West End Grille Downtown Greenville's original upscale steakhouse, offering the finest quality steaks, seafood, and delectable dishes with an extensive wine list and full bar. Located at 648 S Main St, Greenville, SC.
- Rick Erwin's Eastside Modern American cuisine meets classic southern hospitality, featuring an elegant yet relaxed atmosphere with dishes sourced from local and sustainable suppliers. Located at 8595 Pelham Rd, Greenville, SC.
- Level 10 Spartanburg restaurant featuring a stylish dining room and outdoor terrace on the 10th floor, offering panoramic views and a contemporary culinary experience. Located at 225 W Main St 10th Floor, Spartanburg, SC.
- Rick Erwin's Clemson Restaurant located in Patrick Square, Clemson, featuring expertly prepared dishes, extensive wine list, and impeccable service for locals and visitors. Holds the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence every year since 2006 and the OpenTable Diners' Choice award since 2011. Includes The Inn at Patrick Square for events up to 150 guests. Located at 127 Market Street, Clemson, SC.
- Rick Erwin's Greer Upscale steakhouse located in the heart of Greer, SC, featuring expertly prepared cuts of beef and an award-winning dining experience. Located at 104 E Poinsett St, Greer, SC.
- The Vista Augusta Road neighborhood restaurant and bar in Greenville featuring happy hour specials (Mon-Fri 4pm-6pm: $2 off wines by the glass, $1 off draft beers, $5 champagne on tap), casual dining, community-focused atmosphere, and Order To Go via ChowNow. Located at 2017 Augusta St, Greenville, SC.
- Rick Erwin's Nantucket Seafood Seafood restaurant currently relocating; expected to reopen soon. Awarded the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence in 2022.
- Private Dining & Events Private dining and event catering services offering nine unique settings across five locations, accommodating 12 to 150 guests with customizable spaces for corporate events, rehearsal dinners, and special occasions. Includes the Wine Room at West End Grille, Upper Room at Greer, Semi-Private Space at Greer, Small Private Dining Room at Clemson, Small Dining Area at Eastside, Board Room at Level 10, The Inn at Patrick Square, and Main Dining Room options.
- Gift Cards Online gift card program allowing purchase of monetary gift cards with optional mail delivery to billing address ($3.50 convenience fee). Balance checking available online.
Quantifiable outcome
- $100,000 in community donations to local charities since 2023
Companies that use Rick Erwin Dining Group
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Rick Erwin Dining Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Rick Erwin Dining Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Meals on Wheels of GreenvillecoreCharitable partner for 'Crab Cakes for a Cause' initiative. A portion of proceeds from crab cake orders donated to support local seniors and community members in need.
- The Meyer Center for Special ChildrencoreCharitable partner for 'Crab Cakes for a Cause' initiative. Donations support programs for children with special needs in the Greenville community.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Rick Erwin Dining Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Darden Restaurants: Multi-concept full-service restaurant parent that owns Capital Grille, Eddie V's, and LongHorn Steakhouse; relevant as a scaled, public-market comparable and potential acquirer for Rick Erwin's regional upscale platform.
Direct peers
- STK Steakhouse: Upscale steakhouse concept blending fine dining with a lounge/bar atmosphere; aligns with The Vista's more casual bar component and the group's broader steakhouse-with-bar positioning.
- The Capital Grille: Darden-owned upscale steakhouse with dry-aged steaks, an acclaimed wine program, and private dining — directly comparable to Rick Erwin's combination of premium steaks, Wine Spectator-recognized wine list, and nine private event spaces.
- Eddie V's Prime Seafood: Darden's upscale prime seafood and steak concept with a deep wine program and live jazz; comparable to Rick Erwin's seafood-led concepts (Nantucket, Eastside) and premium positioning.
- Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar: Upscale steakhouse chain with a curated 100-wine list and private dining rooms; very close analogue to Rick Erwin's wine-program-driven, private-event-heavy operating model.
- Morton's The Steakhouse: Classic upscale steakhouse serving prime steaks, seafood, and extensive wines with private dining — overlapping guest occasions and check size with Rick Erwin's portfolio.
- Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse: Premium steakhouse known for high-end cuts, wine list, and large private dining rooms — closely aligned with Rick Erwin's check sizes, wine emphasis, and event-space strategy.
- Ruth's Chris Steak House: National upscale steakhouse chain with comparable menu (prime steaks, seafood) and similar fine-dining service model; Rick Erwin's steakhouses target the same special-occasion, premium-check guest profile.
- Mastro's Restaurants: Collection of upscale steakhouses and seafood houses with live entertainment and private dining; comparable to Rick Erwin's combination of premium cuts, seafood, and higher-end private-event infrastructure.
Regional players
- Husk Restaurant: Chef-driven Southern upscale concept based in the Southeast with strong beverage program; comparable as a regional, fine-dining, award-winning Southern hospitality brand operating in an adjacent geography.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Rick Erwin Dining Group social profiles
Digital presenceRick Erwin Dining Group compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Rick Erwin Dining Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Rick Erwin Dining Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles15 records
Rick Erwin Dining Group subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries7 records
Rick Erwin Dining Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Rick Erwin Dining Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Rick Erwin Dining Group
What does Rick Erwin Dining Group do?
Rick Erwin Dining Group operates a portfolio of upscale steakhouses and seafood restaurants across Upstate South Carolina, serving fine dining menus of steaks, seafood, and curated wines. The group also offers private dining and event hosting across nine event spaces, an online gift card program, and a charitable community initiative tied to its crab cake menu item.
Is Rick Erwin Dining Group a public or private company?
Rick Erwin Dining Group is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Rick Erwin Dining Group founded?
Rick Erwin Dining Group was founded in 2005. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Rick Erwin Dining Group based?
Rick Erwin Dining Group is headquartered in Greenville, United States, in the North America region.
How does Rick Erwin Dining Group make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Fine Dining Restaurant Sales are the primary driver. The others are gift Card Sales and private Dining & Events.
Who are Rick Erwin Dining Group's main competitors?
Darden Restaurants is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are STK Steakhouse, The Capital Grille, Eddie V's Prime Seafood, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, Morton's The Steakhouse, Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse, Ruth's Chris Steak House and Mastro's Restaurants. Husk Restaurant is listed as a regional player.
Does Rick Erwin Dining Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for Rick Erwin Dining Group.
What industry is Rick Erwin Dining Group in?
Rick Erwin Dining Group's product category is Fine Dining Restaurants. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFACAE, Steakhouses & Seafood Restaurants, with a secondary code of THAFACAA, Fine Dining Restaurants. Its NAICS code is 722511 and its SIC code is 5810.