CHICAGO – Morton’s Restaurant Group Inc. plans to open a new Morton's The Steakhouse in Shanghai, China, in a joint venture structure with a local investor group. The company has signed a lease to open a new Morton’s steakhouse in the Shanghai International Finance Center (I.F.C.), which is strategically located in the city’s financial center,

The Shanghai I.F.C. is the largest commercial development in the heart of the Lujiazui finance and trade zone of Pudong, China's financial and commercial hub. The restaurant is planned to open later this year.

Not only will the joint venture expand Morton's growing international presence in Asia, the new restaurant will become the sixth Morton's steakhouse outside the U.S.

“We're excited about the opportunity to open our first Morton's in beautiful and historic Shanghai with its thriving business and retail environment,” said Christopher Artinian, president and chief executive officer of Morton’s Restaurant Group Inc. “We believe our new Shanghai restaurant can serve as a gateway for future Morton’s in Asia.”

Morton's Restaurant Group Inc. calls itself the world's largest operator of company-owned, upscale steakhouses. The company owns and operates 76 Morton's steakhouses located in 64 cities across 27 states, Puerto Rico and five international locations -- Hong Kong, Macau, Mexico City, Singapore and Toronto.