Long John Silver’s Opens Global Corporate Headquarters

By Lane Report Staff

Local leaders and company officials gathered on Feb. 9 for the official ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil Long John Silver’s new worldwide corporate headquarters in Louisville.

The new headquarters will be home to approximately 70 employees and represents a $3.8 million investment.

Newly formed LJS Partners acquired Long John Silver’s from Louisville-based YUM! Brands last December following YUM!’s decision to sell Long John Silver’s and A&W Restaurants to focus on more aggressive international expansion and improving the U.S. position of its Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC brands.

YUM! sold Long John Silver’s and A&W to separate buyers, but both have decided to keep their headquarters in Kentucky, with A&W locating in Lexington and Long John Silver’s in Louisville.
Long John Silver’s was founded in Lexington in 1969, but moved its headquarters to Louisville in 2003 when it became part of YUM! Brands.

The company has grown to become America’s largest quickserve seafood chain with more than 1,300 franchised restaurants and 8,400 employees worldwide. To encourage LJS Partners to keep the headquarters operation in Kentucky, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority preliminarily approved LJS Partners for tax incentives up to $1.5 million through the Kentucky Business Investment Program. The performance-based incentive can be earned over the term of the agreements through corporate income tax credits and wage assessments by meeting specific job and wage targets.