Colosi and, G.J. Hart, chief executive officer, presented hereat Wachovia Securities' Consumer Growth Conference, where theyspoke about Texas Roadhouse's growth plans. While hitting the sizeof Outback may be a long-term plan, the company only has 26 to 28new units in the works this year and l6% to 18% real estateexpansion annually during the next few years.

About 90% of the company's growth is in its existing markets,which are in mid-sized trade areas in 41 states. Executives areplanning partnerships with local operators to add one-to-two newmarkets per year.

Hart says the Texas Roadhouse's largest competitors, based onwho their customers alternately visit the most, are Applebee's,Chili's and T.G.I. Friday's. And Colosi points out that tougheconomic times have brought in a different customer based to thechain's lower-priced offerings. "As we've gone through this period,we see a lot more suits in our restaurants than we've ever seenbefore," he says.