"Ryan's was founded by Alvin McCall Jr., a native of South Carolina, though he pursued several other businesses before starting Ryan's in 1977. While today it is largely remembered as a buffet, Ryan's was originally a casual family steakhouse chain, and it was even named "America's favorite steakhouse chain" in 1991 by Restaurants & Institutions Magazine, per Greenville News. However, it soon added the "Mega Bar," which would become more iconic than the chain's original offerings of steak."
"Unfortunately, this merger marked the beginning of the end for Ryan's. Over the next several years, Buffets, Inc. declared bankruptcy twice, first in 2008 and again in 2012. Numerous stores were closed during this time period. FMP Management then bought the company in 2015 but declared bankruptcy only a year later in 2016. From then on, it was a series of continued bankruptcies and closures."
Ryan's Buffet began in 1977 as a casual family steakhouse founded by Alvin McCall Jr. The chain later added a "Mega Bar" and was named "America's favorite steakhouse chain" in 1991, growing to over 300 locations by a 2006 merger with Buffets, Inc. The merger preceded multiple bankruptcies by Buffets, Inc. in 2008 and 2012 and further financial trouble after acquisition by FMP Management in 2015, which itself declared bankruptcy in 2016. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 prevented buffet-style dining, delivering a final blow that led to all remaining Ryan's locations closing by 2021; Golden Corral survived.
Read at Tasting Table
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]