Backing into the restaurant industry by evolving from a clothing manufacturer, wholesaler and importer into one of the highest grossing hottest restaurant/retail concepts in the country, Tommy Bahama’s has propelled fine resort wear and a "lifestyle experience" into four "compounds."

Tommy Bahama is a mythical character who appeals to our dreams and aspirations, a slim, relaxed, confident man who laughs often and wears clothing with aplomb. Both the clothing and the restaurant appeal to affluent men and women, age 25 to 60, who seek a relaxed island lifestyle approach to daily living. The company’s marketing photographs exude pure sex, in a refined, relaxed way.

Tommy Bahama is one of those names you hear that makes you stop and think for a second…sounds vaguely familiar…I think I know it…who is he again?

"He" is the suave archetype behind a high-end, mixed retail and restaurant concept. The Tommy Bahama lifestyle brand appeals to the 25 to 60 year old affluent gentry who secretly long for the "good life" on a small tucked away island. Think yuppified Jimmy Buffet…with big yachts and good linen.

From men's and women's clothing to furniture and home décor to fine dining on a Sunday afternoon, the casual, island-inspired theme extends to all facets of the retail and restaurant brand.

Part of the appeal of the clothes are the casual, classic styles with soft comfortable and even pretty fabrics (yes, even for the men) that look slightly aged but feel good to the touch. Even the brand's visual identity with its cursive style wordmark is slightly pretty—and dare we say—feminine. Home décor items are nothing particularly ground breaking with perhaps the sole exception of a martini lamp complete with olive and thatched umbrella as the shade.

Started in 1992, Tommy Bahama founders Tony Margolis, Lucio Dalla Gasperina and Bob Emfield manufactured and wholesaled clothing for premium department stores such as Nordstrom's, Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman-Marcus before opening their first branded retail store in Naples, Florida, four years later.

While clothing and dining may seem like the fruit of innovative strategy concocted behind closed meeting doors, the restaurant concept apparently was the result of the Naples' location landlord's suggestion to take additional space to open a restaurant with the retail store. Hence, Tommy Bahama's Tropical Café was born complete with fine dining under thatched umbrellas—an opportunity to extend the good life.