Luby's
| File:Lubys.png | |
| Company type | Public (NYSE: LUB) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Casual dining restaurant |
| Founded | 1947 in San Antonio, Texas, USA |
| Headquarters |  Houston, Texas, USA |
Key people | Christopher J. Pappas, President and CEO; Ernest Pekmezaris, Sr. VP and CFO; Harris J. Pappas, COO |
| Products | Homestyle food |
| Revenue |  $324.64 million USD (2006) |
| $19.56 million USD (2006) | |
Number of employees | 8,210 (2006) |
| Website | www.lubys.com |
Luby's, Inc. (formerly Luby's Cafeterias, Inc.) is a cafeteria-style restaurant chain founded in 1947 in San Antonio, Texas, United States. As of January 1, 2010, Houston, Texas-based Luby's operates 103 locations, of which 101 are traditional cafeterias and two primarily serve seafood. All but seven of its locations are in Texas. The others are in Arkansas and Oklahoma. The sole Louisiana location closed in late 2008.
History
Bob Luby was one year old when his father, Harry, opened his first cafeteria called the New England Dairy Lunch. Bob opened his first Luby's Cafeteria in 1947, focusing on fresh food and customer service. Luby's soon expanded outside of San Antonio to Tyler, Harlingen, El Paso, and Beaumont.
In 1959, the original partners formed Cafeterias, Inc. Luby's continued to grow, entering other Texas cities and locations in contiguous states. Luby's entered Houston for the first time when it opened Romana Cafeteria in 1965. Locations opened in New Mexico in 1966 and in Oklahoma in 1980.
In 1973, Cafeterias, Inc. became a publicly traded company. To honor Bob Luby, Cafeterias, Inc., was renamed Luby's Cafeterias, Inc., in 1981. One year later, Luby's shares were listed on the New York Stock Exchange. By 1987 Luby's had reached 100 locations.
In 2001, Chris and Harris Pappas of Houston's Pappas Restaurants (owners of Pappasito's Cantina, Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen, etc.) joined the Luby's management team. Three years later, Luby's moved its corporate headquarters from San Antonio to Houston. The addition of the Pappas management team saw several Luby's restaurants begin to transition from traditional cafeteria-style establishments to hybrid cafeteria/fine dining establishments, replacing drink cart attendants with traditional waitstaff and extensively remodeling selected locations.
In 2009, due to the economic recession, Luby's closed 25 stores and laid off staff as a cost-cutting measure.[1]
Lu Ann Platter
The "Lu Ann Platter", a popular combination platter served at Luby's, is a half portion entree with vegetables. This plate was the inspiration for the character name Luanne Platter from the animated Texas comedy/drama, King of the Hill. The cafeteria itself is characterized as "Luly's" on the show.
Luby's massacre
A deadly shooting spree occurred at a Luby's restaurant at 1705 East Central Texas Expressway in Killeen, Texas, on October 16, 1991, when George Hennard gunned down 24 people.[2] This location reopened after cleanup; it closed permanently on September 9, 2000.[3] The building now houses a Chinese-American buffet restaurant.
References
- ^ Luby's closes 25 stores
- ^ Shooting rampage at Killeen Luby's left 24 dead Houston Chronicle, August 10, 2001
- ^ Luby's in Killeen, Texas, site of 1991 massacre, closes its doors CNN.com, September 11, 2000
External links
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