Restaurants

The Capital Grille Corporate Office

Ned Grace envisioned an upscale steak restaurant that business persons and top politicians would flock to for meetings, dinners, and drinks. He opened his first restaurant in Providence, Rhoad Island, in 1990. Some thought this was a strange time and place since the nation was experiencing a recession and Providence was too far from D.C. for dinner.

Grace was correct, however. Within 7 years, the business had more than $4 million in annual sales. By 1996, the company had expanded to 3 locations, with the other two being located in D.C. and Boston.

The company was acquired by Darden Restaurant Group in 2007 for $1.19 billion. The Capital Grille now operates as a subsidiary of Darden Restaurant Group.

The company is best known for its upscale decor which simulates an American country club, along with very large, top quality steaks, seafood dishes, and desserts.

The company has been known to overtake the competition by winning numerous awards, including being named one of the top 50 American restaurants in Open Table’s Diners’ Choice Awards, along with winning a number of “Best of Awards of Excellence” from Wine Spectator magazine. The chain also has received top marks on the Consumer Reports Restaurant Satisfactory Survey for the past few years.

In 2013, the Capital Grille location in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, opened for the first time on Thanksgiving day. Both Capital Grille employees and members of the Resturant Opportunities Center protested having to work on Thanksgiving without receiving holiday pay or any other type of extra compensation. In addition, the Pittsburgh City Council passed a Will of Council, opposing Capital Grille’s decision to force employees to work on Thanksgiving without additional compensation or holiday pay.

The Capital Grille has headquarters located in Orlando, Florida. As of the end of 2017, the company has 57 locations in twenty states, as well as the District of Columbia.

The Capital Grille

History

The company was acquired by Darden Restaurant Group in 2007 for $1.19 billion. The Capital Grille now operates as a subsidiary of Darden Restaurant Group.

The company is best known for its upscale decor which simulates an American country club, along with very large, top quality steaks, seafood dishes, and desserts.

The Capital Grille has headquarters located in Orlando, Florida. As of the end of 2017, the company has 57 locations in twenty states, as well as the District of Columbia.

Ranch One Corporate Office

Ranch One was founded in 1988 by brothers Michael and Aaron Serruya. The first restaurant was opened in 1990 in New York City, next to the Ed Sullivan Theater. The original restaurant closed in 2008. The company specializes in grilled, marinated chicken sandwiches, wraps, strips, and salads.

At one time, the company had more than 100 franchises but today there appears to be only about a half dozen in three states along with a few locations in Kuwait. Ranch One operates as a subsidiary of Kahala Brands.

In 2001, co-owner and vice-chairman James Chickara and Sebastian Rametta, along with another executive of the company, pleaded guilty to stock fraud in connection with the Colombo mafia crime family. James Chickara was reportedly caught on tape by the FBI admitting that he used donations to Abraham Fruchthandler of the Mesivta Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin orthodox Jewish university to launder money used to pay brokers who hyped up the stock of The Manhattan Soup Man.

Ranch One is hoping to open more locations in the very near future and appears to be actively seeking franchisees. Headquarters is now located in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Ranch One

History

Ranch One is hoping to open more locations in the very near future and appears to be actively seeking franchisees. Headquarters is now located in Scottsdale, Arizona.

SmashBurger Corporate Office

Smashburger was founded in 2007 by Tom Ryan and Rick Schaden, and a little help from Consumer Capital Partners. Ryan had been in the restaurant business for many years, first working with McDonald’s and later, he helped Quizno’s roll out some of the most iconic sandwiches ever! What most people are unaware of is that Ryan has a PhD in flavor and fragrance. Using this knowledge, Ryan created a burger unlike any other.

The company began with one location in Denver, Colorado. Today, the company has more than 350 locations in 8 countries, as well as the US. The secret behind Smashburger is in the name. Each burger flavor has its own list of ingredients and is made the same way each time. An Angus chuck steak is ground down to a particular consistency, placed beneath a weight (smashed) and set on the griddle for 10 seconds. The weight is then removed and in another 90 seconds, the burger is done.

Besides smashing burgers, the company is perhaps best known for localized burger flavor that pertains to the region where the restaurant is located; Windy City Burgers and Sin City Burgers, for example. In addition to burgers, the company offers chicken sandwiches, milkshakes, fries, onion rings, and fried pickles. Beer and alcohol are also sold in most locations.

In 2015, Philipino based fast-food operator Jollibee Foods Corporation stated that they had acquired a 40% interest in the company for $335 million.

In early 2017, there was a shakeup in the executive structure of the company. At least 40 persons have been fired or asked to resign, including the CEO Michael Nolan and CFO Dennis Smythe. Reasons for the removal and change in management remains unclear.

Jollibee Foods Corporation announced in April of 2019 that they had now acquired a 100% share of Smashburger.

A Las Vegas, Nevada, Smashburger location demanded that a child’s service dog be removed from the building in June 2019. The corporate office for Smashburger stated that they are investigating the incident.

Smashburger

History

In 2015, Philipino based fast-food operator Jollibee Foods Corporation stated that they had acquired a 40% interest in the company for $335 million.

Jollibee Foods Corporation announced in April of 2019 that they had now acquired a 100% share of Smashburger.

Gus’s World Famous Chicken Corporate Office

Gus’s World Famous Chicken started out in 1957 when Napoleon Vanderbilt, and his wife Maggie, began playing with a fried chicken recipe which would soon become famous. In Mason, Tennessee, word of this super crunchy, spicy chicken quickly spread. Not able to afford a place of their own, the Vanderbilt’s were selling their chicken out the back door of a tavern.

Friends and customers encouraged the pair to open their own restaurant, but the Vanderbilt’s were of modest means. Finally, friends bought or donated the materials to build and Mr. Vanderbilt, along with more friends, worked to construct their own brick and mortar restaurant.

Mr. Vanderbilt’s only son, Vernon “Gus” Bonner took over the restaurant before his father’s death. Gus loved the business and he found a devoted follower with the current CEO Wendy McCrory. McCrory began franchising operations and has expanded the company from 2 locations to 22 locations in less than 5 years. Current plans are to expand at a rate of 5 to 10 franchises each year. McCrory has also stated that she has received requests about franchising in China and South America, though those plans have yet to be finalized.

Gus’s famous recipe is known to only a handful of persons. The frying batter is made behind locked doors in Mason, Tennessee, and is given to franchises in frozen batches. In addition to fried chicken, the company offers fried sweet potatoes, potato salad, fried green tomatoes, coleslaw and pecan pie.

Headquarters for the company as still located in Mason, Tennessee.

Gus's World Famous Chicken

History

Headquarters for the company as still located in Mason, Tennessee.

White Fence Farm Corporate Office

White Fence Farm was founded in 1973 by Charles Wilson. The original restaurant is located in Illinois, however, the owners of the original location allowed only one franchise, the farm located in Colorado. Until recently, this franchise was operated by the Wilson family. The main farm is located in Lakewood, Colorado, with a few restaurants also being operated in Chicago, Illinois.

The company bills itself as having the “World’s Best Fried Chicken.” Chicken is pressure cooked, then quick frozen, where it remains until it is flash fried when ordered. In addition to having a restaurant, the farm also has a gift shop, petting zoo, candy shop, and large banquet facilities. The petting zoo is open most of the year, along with a kid’s playground and tree house. Live entertainment is frequently offered on weekends, with room for dancing.

The restaurant sits on beautifully landscaped grounds with a large pond. Peacocks and ducks are frequently seen and old time photography, as well as animated chickens, keep visitors entertained.

In November of 2014, the farm was purchased for an undisclosed amount by P&C Family Farms, LLC. Company headquarters at this time are still located in Lakewood, Colorado.

White Fence Farms

History

The restaurant sits on beautifully landscaped grounds with a large pond. Peacocks and ducks are frequently seen and old time photography, as well as animated chickens, keep visitors entertained.

In November of 2014, the farm was purchased for an undisclosed amount by P&C Family Farms, LLC. Company headquarters at this time are still located in Lakewood, Colorado.