Sizzler
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This article's citation style may be unclear. The references used may be made clearer with a different or consistent style of citation, footnoting, or external linking. (July 2010) |
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| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Restaurants |
| Founded | 1958 |
| Headquarters | Culver City, California, U.S. |
| Key people | Del and Helen Johnson (founders) |
| Products | Steak, seafood, salads |
| Owner(s) | Sizzler USA |
| Website | Sizzler |
Sizzler (founded in 1958) is a United States-based [1] restaurant chain with headquarters in Culver City, California.[2] The chain serves steak, seafood, and salad (from a large salad bar), as well as similar items.
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[edit] History
The chain was founded in 1958 as Del's Sizzler Family Steak House by Del and Helen Johnson in Culver City, California.[3] The chain is composed of more than 270 locations throughout the U.S.[4]. Most of Sizzler's U.S. locations are in the West.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Sizzler promoted mainly steak and combination steak dinners with the optional salad bar. The restaurant wanted to give the customer the feel of a full-service restaurant, but at a price just slightly more than that of a fast food chain. To keep costs down, many of the restaurants had their own in-house meat cutters where they would cut their own steaks and grind their own hamburgers. Heading into the mid 1980s, competition began to appear from other casual-dining restaurants. After promotions such as "All-you-can-eat" fried shrimp, the chain decided to expand its popular salad bar into a full buffet promoted as the "Buffet Court". Patrons began to use the buffet as their meal instead of an add-on to an entree. In response, Sizzler began to lower the quality of food in other areas of the menu.[5] Customers took notice and Sizzler's reputation suffered. It was a classic example of an arms race between Sizzler and their customers, with strategies and countermeasures to gain the advantage, but in the end both sides were losers. Sizzler filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1996 ("primarily to void leases"), closed 140 of 215 stores and changed their logo.[6] They reemerged from chapter 11 in 1997. During the late 1990s, new management upgraded the quality of food but also increased prices. Sizzler's revenue flat-lined, and 21 locations were closed in 2001. Sizzler began an image makeover around 2002. A new restaurant concept was created featuring a lighter and more open dining room. The changes were accompanied with a new menu. In an effort to return to their roots, steaks, seafood, and the salad bar are now being reemphasized while the all-you-can-eat buffet is being phased out.[5]
Sizzler was sold to Pacific Equity Partners, a Australian-based investment firm, who bought the company in 2005.[1] In January 2008, Sizzler announced it was planning to take action against the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) of Urbandale, Iowa, over the use of the name The Sizzler (Hot Lotto).[7]
In June 2011, it was announced that Sizzler USA, a USA management group led by the Sizzler CEO, would buy the restaurant chain from Pacific Equity Partners. The headquarters will remain in Culver City, California where the chain was founded.[8]
[edit] International locations
Sizzler also has restaurants throughout the world including Australia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Puerto Rico, Singapore, and Thailand.
[edit] Photos
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Sign for Sizzler at
The Myer Centre (photo taken at Elizabeth Street in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia) -
Sizzler restaurant at Toowong Village in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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Sizzler sign at The Myer Centre at Queen Street Mall in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
[edit] Food safety
In 2006, all 28 Sizzler restaurants across Australia suspended salad bar service after rat poison was found in two restaurants.[9] Sizzler Australia referred to the incidents as "sabotage".[10] The culprit turned out to be a mentally unstable woman from Brisbane.[11]
In 2000, over 60 people became ill and a young girl died in an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 that originated at a Sizzler restaurant in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Health officials said that the likely source of contamination was meat supplied by the Excel Corporation meat packer. They believe that cross contamination to other food items occurred when Sizzler employees handled the meat near areas where salad bar items were prepared.[12] This was similar to an outbreak in Washington state and Oregon in 1993. In the 1993 case, as in 2000, the tainted meat apparently came from Excel, and contaminated salad bar items.[13]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b The Sizzler Story
- ^ Sizzler FAQs
- ^ Sizzler USA Franchise, Inc. | http://chainleader.com
- ^ Sizzler.com - Our History
- ^ a b Norris,Maya (2006-09-01). "Cast in a New Light". Chain Leader. http://www.chainleader.com/archives/2006/09/sizzler.asp. Retrieved 2007-01-01.
- ^ Sizzler Closes Outlets
- ^ Sizzler said to be considering trademark suit against lottery group Retrieved June 9, 2011
- ^ Sizzler sold to team led by CEO Retrieved June 9, 2011
- ^ Police seek Sizzler rat poison victim[dead link]
- ^ Media Statement
- ^ Sizzler woman too sick for court
- ^ Beef grinder close to salad prep area, official says[dead link]
- ^ Cross contamination caused outbreak
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Sizzler |
