Luby's
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Luby's, Inc. | |
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| Type | Public (NYSE: LUB) |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1947 in San Antonio, Texas |
| Headquarters |  Houston, Texas, USA |
| Key people | Christopher J. Pappas, President and CEO; Ernest Pekmezaris, Sr. VP and CFO; Harris J. Pappas, COO |
| Industry | Casual dining restaurant |
| Products | Homestyle food |
| Revenue |  $324.64 million USD (2006) |
| Net income | $19.56 million USD (2006) |
| Employees | 8,210 (2006) |
| Slogan | Tastes Like Texas, Feels Like Home |
| Website | www.lubys.com |
Luby's, Inc. (formerly Luby's Cafeterias, Inc.) is a cafeteria-style restaurant chain originally founded in 1947 in San Antonio, Texas. As of November 3, 2006, Houston, Texas-based Luby's operated 128 locations, of which 126 are traditional cafeterias and two primarily serve seafood. All but seven of its locations are in Texas. The remaining seven locations are in Arizona, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma.
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[edit] History
Bob Luby was only 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.
[edit] Lu Ann Platter
The "Lu Ann Platter" is a popular combination platter served at this cafeteria chain, and 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.
[edit] Killeen
A deadly shooting spree occurred at a Luby's restaurant in Killeen, Texas on October 16, 1991 when George Hennard gunned down 24 people.[1] This location was later reopened after cleanup, but it was later closed for good on September 9, 2000.[2] It has not been positively determined whether the Killeen location's closing was due in part to the stigma surrounding it after the incident, or simply the result of the overall financial problems of the Luby's chain. The building today houses a Chinese buffet restaurant, "Yank Sing".
[edit] References
- ^ 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
