O'Charley's Names Philip J. Hickey Jr. to Board of Directors

O'Charley's Inc. (Nasdaq: CHUX), a leading casual dining company, today announced that it has named Philip J. Hickey Jr. to its Board of Directors, increasing the total number of the Company's directors to twelve. Pursuant to the previously-announced Settlement Agreement with Crescendo Partners, the Board will be reduced to ten members at the Company's 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

Mr. Hickey served as Chief Executive Officer of RARE Hospitality International, Inc., the owner of LongHorn Steakhouse and The Capital Grille, from July 1998 until the sale of that company to Darden Restaurants Inc. in October 2007. He also served as Chairman of the Board of RARE between January 2001 and October 2007. From October 1997 until July 1998, Mr. Hickey, Jr. served as RARE's President and Chief Operating Officer and as a director. Under Mr. Hickey's leadership, RARE grew from 108 to 319 restaurants, and over $1 billion in annual revenue. Previously, Mr. Hickey served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Innovative Restaurant Concepts, Inc. and Rio Bravo International, Inc., operators and franchisors of casual dining restaurants that were acquired by Applebee's International, Inc. in March 1995.

'Phil Hickey is well known throughout the restaurant industry and the investment community as an outstanding leader and visionary with an admirable, long-term record of generating value for shareholders,' said Mr. Dale Polley, Lead Independent Director of O'Charley's Inc. 'He was instrumental in making RARE Hospitality a great success story through its focus on great food and customer service. As we strive to improve the performance of O'Charley's, we anticipate drawing on his 30-plus years of restaurant experience and leadership.'

O'Charley's Inc., headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., is a multi-concept restaurant company that operates or franchises a total of 371 restaurants under three brands: O'Charley's, Ninety Nine Restaurant, and Stoney River Legendary Steaks. The O'Charley's concept includes 244 restaurants in 20 states in the Southeast and Midwest, including 232 company-owned and operated O'Charley's restaurants, and 12 restaurants operated by franchisees and joint venture partners.

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