Texas Roadhouse
 | |
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Nasdaq: TXRH | |
| Industry | Restaurants |
| Founded | Clarksville, Indiana (1993) |
| Founder | Kent Taylor |
| Headquarters | , |
Key people | Willie Nelson (spokesman) |
| Products | Steak, ribs, chicken, and seafood |
| Revenue | $880.4 million (2008) |
| $38.1 million (2008) | |
| Website | Texas Roadhouse.com |
Texas Roadhouse is an American chain restaurant that specializes in steaks and promotes a Western theme.[1] Texas Roadhouse Corporation is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky. The first restaurant was opened in Clarksville, Indiana, in 1993 at the Green Tree Mall across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky. The chain operates about 320 (July 2009) locations in 46 states. It is known for its free buckets of peanuts at each table.
About
The company was founded on February 17, 1993, at the Green Tree Mall in Clarksville, Indiana, by Kent Taylor.[2] Founder Kent Taylor lived in Colorado and worked at nightclubs and restaurants there, having aspirations to attend a culinary school. Taylor was his own executive chef. In 1990, Taylor divorced his wife and returned to his hometown of Louisville.[3] He began work as a Kentucky Fried Chicken manager, and had dreams to open a Colorado-themed restaurant. Former Kentucky Governor John Y. Brown, Jr. helped Taylor fulfill his dream by backing him with $80,000.[3] In 1991, Taylor opened Buckhead Hickory Grill, the chain would eventually become Buckhead Mountain Grill.[4] Brown invested more money and wanted to open a second store in Clarksville. Complications in the partnership caused it to fall apart as they were preparing to open the Clarksville location.[3] Taylor found new partners and was forced to use a new name, Texas Roadhouse. A year later he sold his shares in the Buckhead restaurant. The second Texas Roadhouse opened in Gainesville, Florida. Texas Roadhouse would expand rapidly in the late 1990s; and by the end of 1999, there were 67 restaurants. In 2004, the chain began public offerings.[3]
Most restaurants offer entertainment in the form of line dancing. The waiters and waitresses learn line dances to popular country songs and perform line dances throughout the night. Certain restaurants require an hourly dance and other restaurants do not embrace dancing at all. The Champaign, IL location made up one original line dance and required a performance every hour during dinner service. The Bedford, TX location taught authentic country line dances and the employees knew anywhere from 5 to 10 different line dances. The Friendswood, TX location knows 5 different line dances and performs them at the top of every hour. The employees also participate in inter-company competitions. Bartenders compete in "The Real Bar" competition. Meat cutters participate in the annual "Meat Hero Competition."[5] There is also a line dancing competition.
The Roadhouse Corporation supports the homebuilding program Habitat for Humanity International.[6] The company also sponsors a road cycling team of about 20 cyclists, along with Willie Nelson tours.[7] Each restaurant has a table called Willie's Corner, with pictures and memorabilia of Willie Nelson. In 2002, Nelson signed a deal to become the official spokesman of Texas Roadhouse. Since then, Nelson has heavily promoted the chain, including a special on Food Network.
In September 2011, Texas Roadhouse started their international expansion. The first international Texas Roadhouse is located in Dubai. "We're a casual themed restaurant, we have country music, we cut our own meat in the house and we fresh-bake our own bread," said Kent Taylor, founder and chairman of Texas Roadhouse. He also said he planned to open 35 in the next 10 years. Also in next 10 years their strategy is expansion in China.
Cuisine
Texas Roadhouse serves American Cuisine, including steak, ribs, chicken, and seafood. Their main suppliers are Tyson Foods and Smithfield Foods.[8] The chain boasts several cooking championships across the country with their ribs and steaks. The menu follows a theme of mushrooms, cheese, and barbecue. Everything on the menu is made from scratch, with the exception of children's menu items Kraft Macaroni & Cheese and hot dogs. This includes the salads and dressings, sauces and side dishes. Their steaks are never frozen,with the exception of the 18 oz. T-Bone steak, which are cut and packaged out of house, however the rest are hand-cut in the restaurant. The restaurant provides free in-shell peanuts in the waiting room and at all tables, and unlimited dinner rolls (with honey cinnamon butter) to seated guests. Their slogan is "Legendary Food, Legendary Service". Their mascot is an armadillo named Andy.
Controversy
The Texas Roadhouse store in Chantilly, Virginia outraged local police over its conduct following a shooting at the Sully District station of the Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD). After a gunman had opened fire at the station, eventually killing two officers, police cordoned off the area, forcing some local businesses to close for a few hours. In the following days, some business closed again during the funeral processions for the two officers due to the large number of people lining the route. Eric Rainwater, the manager of the local Texas Roadhouse, claimed losses of $9000 due to these closures and requested that this lost revenue offset the $5000 of fines the store had accrued due to alarm malfunctions. The claim was denied and prompted the FCPD to contact the Texas Roadhouse corporate headquarters, eventually receiving an apology weeks later.[9] The story of this controversy has been circulating as a viral email beginning in approximately 2006, and verified by urban legend website snopes.com.[10] Also, a crisis management firm has used this controversy as an example of poor crisis management and public relations.[11]
Restaurant concepts
References
- ^ "Texas Roadhouse (TXRH) shares forming bullish "flag" pattern". BloggingStocks. 2007-11-15. Retrieved 2011-06-24.
- ^ It’s What Makes Us Legendary!, Texas Roadhouse, retrieved 2013-01-28
- ^ a b c d "Texas Roadhouse, Inc". Reference for Business. Retrieved 2011-06-24.
- ^ Business First - by Rick Redding (1999-09-27). "Bizjournal - Texas-sized growth fuels Roadhouse". Bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2011-06-24.
{{cite news}}:|author=has generic name (help) - ^ General Info, Texas Roadhouse, retrieved 2013-01-28
- ^ Roadhouse Habitat for Humanity[dead link]
- ^ The South Beach Diet Dining Guide by Arthur Agatston (2005 Rodale) Page 129 ISBN 1-59486-360-1
- ^ Texas Roadhouse - Menu[dead link]
- ^ Fisher, Marc (2006-09-12). "It's Enough to Make Your Stomach Turn". The Washington Post.
- ^ "Texas Roadhouse". snopes.com. Retrieved 2012-01-24.
- ^ "The Four Ps Of Crisis Preparation | Crisis Management | Crisis Public Relations". Bernsteincrisismanagement.com. 2005-02-23. Retrieved 2012-01-24.
- ^ Texas Roadhouse founder opens new concept, Business First, 2009, retrieved 2013-01-28