Fuddruckers
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| File:Fuddruckers-logo.jpg | |
| Company type | Casual Dining |
|---|---|
| Industry | Restaurants |
| Founded | 1980 |
| Headquarters | Austin, Texas |
Key people | Philip J. Romano, Michael Cannon |
| Website | Fuddruckers |
Fuddruckers is an American fast casual franchised chain restaurant that specializes in hamburgers. It was founded in 1980 in San Antonio, Texas, by Philip J. Romano, in a location converted to a restaurant from an old bank. The store's website says Romano chose the name "because the man had a sense of humor." Fuddruckers has over 260 locations around the world, most of which have a 1950s and 1960s Rock and roll theme. The current owner, Michael Cannon, purchased the chain in November 1998, and it is currently based in Austin, Texas.
Fuddruckers is notable for its large burger patties (up to one pound) and self-service toppings bar. Customers first order a base burger, either plain or with specialty toppings (like sauces, sautéed onions or guacamole). The burger is then provided open-faced to the customer, who then takes it to the toppings bar and adds fresh vegetables and seasonings. Fuddruckers also offers multiple cheese toppings, including nacho cheese.
Foxwoods Resort Casino's executive sous chef, Scott Ferguson, made one of the largest commercially available hamburgers — weighing 29.6 pounds and costing US$250 — for the Fuddruckers restaurant in the casino. The burger is 18.5 inches wide and 8 inches tall. At one time this was the Guinness World Records-verified world's largest burger; however, that record has since been taken by Bobs BBQ in Thailand.
Fuddruckers has expanded out of the United States and now has branches in Middle Eastern countries such as Egypt, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
Fuddruckers has one restaurant in Canada, located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan,[1] which remains popular. Other restaurants were tried in other parts of Canada with no success. There are currently four restaurants in Puerto Rico. There were also restaurants in Mexico City, but eventually all closed after a few years. A restaurant was opened in Australia at a suburban Sydney shopping centre Macquarie Centre in the mid-1990s; however, this restaurant has since closed.
In the Fall of 2007, Fuddruckers was sued in an Austin, Texas District Court by a five-year-old child and her mother who alleged that a heavy brass bell fell off the wall inside a South Austin Fuddruckers and hit the five-year-old child on the front of the head. The suit alleges that the heavy bell caused the five-year-old child to sustain a permanent brain injury. At the time of the injury, Fuddruckers had a sign under the bell that stated "Please Ring the Bell if you Enjoyed Your Visit" and, as alleged in the suit, acitvely encouraged patrons and their children to ring the bell after each meal. The civil trial is set for February 2009 in Austin, Texas. See A.B., a Minor, et. al. v. Fuddruckers, Inc., Cause No. D-1-GN-07-003360, 250th Judicial District Court, Travis County, Texas. See also, www.barryloewy.com/news-february-2008.html.