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Penguin Point (restaurant chain)

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Penguin Point
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryRestaurant
Founded1950
FounderWallace and Mary Stouder
Defunct2023
HeadquartersWarsaw, Indiana[1]
Area served
Northern Indiana
ProductsBurgers, fried chicken, tenderloin sandwich, fries, drinks, salads, seafood, and shakes.
ParentUS Assets, Inc.[2]
Websitewww.penguinpoint.com

Penguin Point Restaurant Group LLC, commonly referred to as Penguin Point, was an American regional fast-food restaurant chain that is mainly located in Northern Indiana. Founded by Wallace Stouder and Mary Stouder, the first restaurant was opened in Wabash, Indiana. After the restaurant chain was purchased by US Assets in Texas, the restaurant chain began to expand to other areas.

History

Northern Indiana

On June 6, 1950, Wallace Stouder and Mary Stouder founded Penguin Point and opened their first store at Wabash, Indiana. The restaurant was originally a carhop drive-in, and only operated during the summer.[3][4] In 1961, the original owners gave ownership of the company to their brothers, Lloyd Stouder and Heleta Stouder. Wallace Stouder became CEO of Penguin Point after the transfer of ownership.[5][6]

In spring of 2018, the restaurant chain was purchased by US Assets, Inc., a company located in Dallas, Texas.[2] Meier was promoted to CEO after the acquisition.[1] The new owner wanted to try out new changes to the restaurant. This first change was the start of selling breakfast foods to people. This idea was started in the Penguin Point restaurant in Warsaw, Indiana.[7] In the fall of 2020, new restaurants were opened in North Manchester and Columbia City, Indiana.[8]

In November, 2022 US Assets suddenly closed 7 locations leaving 9 still in operation. Wabash, Auburn, Elkhart at 1147 Center Street, Syracuse, Columbia City, North Manchester, South Bend and 2 in Warsaw remain open. [9]

Beyond Northern Indiana

Before US Assets acquired Penguin Point, a few Penguin Point restaurants were opened in Florida, Michigan, Ohio, and Texas. However, the restaurants eventually closed.[10]

In May 2019, a Penguin Point restaurant was planned to be opened on Fayetteville, Arkansas.[11][12] The restaurant officially opened on May 8, 2019.[13] In August 2019, Penguin Point announced that another restaurant is planned to be opened at Owensboro, Kentucky and Louisville, Kentucky, along with another location in Jacksonville, North Carolina.[14]

All restaurants outside of Northern Indiana are currently closed.

Products

Penguin Point primarily serves burgers and chicken. They also serve fish, pork, french fries, and salads. The company names their burgers "Wally", which is named after the former owner Wallace Stouder, and it features the chain's signature "Wally" sauce.[15][13] The chain is most famous for serving the pork tenderloin burger.[13] As of April 2019, it only offered breakfast in the restaurant located in Warsaw. The menu includes breakfast sandwiches, burritos, and chicken on waffle. Along with this, the chain introduced fish to the menu.[1]

Before the acquisition, their menu has changed little since 1950. This is due to poor reception of new food offerings when the restaurant tries to introduce them. For example, Penguin Point used to have sandwich wraps as part of their menu. However, due to poor sales, they were permanently removed from the menu.[3]

Closing

All Penguin Point locations will permanently close on November 12, 2023.[16]

References

  1. ^ a b c Spalding, Dan. "Updates On Texas Roadhouse, Dunkin' And Other Restaurants". Times Union Online. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Penguin Point – Us Assets, Inc". US Assets, Inc. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  3. ^ a b Salter Rodriguez, Rosa (2 December 2015). "Penguin Point like 2nd home". The Journal Gazette. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  4. ^ "Penguin Point Drive-in Restaurants". Roadside Architecture. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  5. ^ "Penguin Point Franchise Systems, Inc". Penguin Point. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  6. ^ "Penguin Point Promotes Two To Key Management". InkFreeNews.com. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  7. ^ Luca, Carli (5 October 2018). "Penguin Point launches breakfast menu at Detroit Street location". News Now Warsaw. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  8. ^ https://www.thepaperofwabash.com/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1599573202&ucat=1&template=FrontPage&
  9. ^ "Penguin Point closes seven locations in Northern Indiana".
  10. ^ Staff. "Penguin Point". Warsaw Community Development Corporation. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  11. ^ "LET'S EAT: New restaurant coming to White Oak Station in Fayetteville". Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette. 2 May 2019. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
  12. ^ "Business briefs". Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette. 5 May 2019. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  13. ^ a b c Bartholomew, Dustin (9 May 2019). "Indiana-based chain Penguin Point opens first Arkansas restaurant in Fayetteville". Fayetteville Flyer. Wonderstate Media, LLC. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  14. ^ Sorce, Ashley (August 6, 2019). "Penguin Point restaurant coming to Owensboro". Owensboro Times. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
  15. ^ Duffy, Reid (2006). Reid Duffy's Guide to Indiana's Favorite Restaurants (Updated ed.). Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press. p. 136. ISBN 978-0-253-21879-7.
  16. ^ Murphy, Monica (2023-11-10). "Penguin Point to permanently close all remaining restaurants on Sunday". [[WNDU-TV]. Retrieved 2023-11-11.

Further reading

  • "Penguin Point Reports A Net Income Gain Of 80 Per Cent". The Times-Bulletin. Van Wert, Ohio. February 28, 1974. p. 5.
  • Miller, Susan E. (November 8, 1995). "Pleasing people is his main objective". Tribune Business Weekly. South Bend, Indiana. p. 4.
  • Lesar, Geoff (July 8, 2015). "Penguin all aglow". The Elkhart Truth. Elkhart, Indiana. p. A3.
  • "Business Briefs: Penguin trucking division sold to Kosciusko company". Journal-Gazette. Fort Wayne, Indiana. October 7, 2002. p. 1C.
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