Luby's
Encyclopedia
As of March 2011, Luby's, Inc. (formerly Luby's Cafeterias, Inc. and NYSE: LUB) operates restaurants under the brands Luby's, Fuddruckers
and Koo Koo Roo. It was founded in 1947 in San Antonio, Texas
, United States
.
Its 95 Luby's cafeteria-style restaurants
are located in Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, the Rio Grande Valley and other cities throughout Texas
; with one in Arkansas
and two in Oklahoma
. Its headquarters is in the Near Northwest
district and in Houston, Texas
.
Its Fuddruckers restaurants include 56 company-operated locations and 129 franchises across the United States with one location in Saskatchewan, Canada, and four in Puerto Rico. Its three Koo Koo Roo Chicken Bistro serves fresh, better for you chicken, sandwiches, tossed salads, vegetables and soups in three locations in Southern California. Luby's Culinary Services provides contract food service management to 18 sites consisting of healthcare, higher education and corporate dining locations, such as Texas Children's Hospital, Lone Star College and Baylor College of Medicine.
. Luby's soon expanded outside of San Antonio, Texas
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.
Luby’s celebrated its 60th anniversary in December 2006 with publishing “Luby’s Recipes & Memories: A Collection of our Favorite Dishes and Heartwarming Stories,” a cookbook featuring its most requested recipes, helpful hints and tips and photography of real guests and their personal memories and stories throughout the book. The cookbook went on to win several awards, including the “USA Gourmand Award” for best cookbook photography and the “Independent Publisher Award” bronze winner for cookbooks. In 2008, Luby’s published a special edition of the cookbook that included 12 additional recipes. The 60th anniversary cookbooks were a response to the popularity of the original Luby’s cookbook, published in 1997 in honor of the Company’s 50th anniversary.
In 2009, due to the economic recession, Luby's closed 25 stores and laid off staff as a cost-cutting measure.
In 2010 Luby's Culinary Services introduced "What's Brewing?", a coffeehouse concept store in Downtown Houston
.
The same year, on June 18, Luby's announced it was buying Fuddruckers
and Koo Koo Roo for $61 million after parent company Magic Brands LLC
went bankrupt. The acquisition was final later in the summer.
On June 13, 2011, to celebrate the one-year anniversary of its milestone Fuddruckers acquisition, Luby’s launched its first, new company-owned Fuddruckers location. Situated in the heart of downtown Houston’s seven-mile (11 km) tunnel system, the 3330 square feet (309.4 m²) concept store showcases a more compact footprint.
Located in an upscale, mall-like setting below a 1300000 square feet (120,774 m²), 55-story office tower with more than 2,200 parking spaces, Fuddruckers – Houston Tunnel is easily accessible throughout the underground, pedestrian network and via street access to many of the area’s 140,000 workers and a growing residential population. It’s also in close proximity to a world-class theater district, Toyota Center, Minute Maid Field, George R. Brown Convention Center, several parks and numerous hotels. Adjacent retailers include homegrown Treebeard’s restaurant and Starbucks. The carefully abbreviated, express menu, designed specifically for busy workers and those on the go, features some of Fuddruckers’ most popular items and new selections.
district and in Houston, Texas
.
In July 2004, Luby's announced that it would move its headquarters from San Antonio, Texas
to Houston, where Pappas Restaurants
has its headquarters. At that time Luby's did not yet state where it would be moving to; the company stated that it would most likely move to a suburb in Greater Houston
. 80 jobs were transferred to Houston. After the Pappas takeover and before the move, several members of the Luby's management had traveled between Houston and San Antonio.
, Texas
, on October 16, 1991, when George Hennard gunned down 24 people. This location reopened after cleanup; it closed permanently on September 9, 2000. The building now houses a Chinese-American buffet restaurant.
Fuddruckers
Fuddruckers is an American fast casual, franchised, restaurant chain that specializes in hamburgers. In 2011 Fuddruckers had 56 company-operated restaurants and 129 franchises across the United States with one in Saskatchewan, Canada and four in Puerto Rico...
and Koo Koo Roo. It was founded in 1947 in San Antonio, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Its 95 Luby's cafeteria-style restaurants
Café
A café , also spelled cafe, in most countries refers to an establishment which focuses on serving coffee, like an American coffeehouse. In the United States, it may refer to an informal restaurant, offering a range of hot meals and made-to-order sandwiches...
are located in Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, the Rio Grande Valley and other cities throughout Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
; with one in Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
and two in Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
. Its headquarters is in the Near Northwest
Near Northwest, Texas
Near Northwest is a district located in Harris County, Texas, partly within the city limits of Houston and partly in an unincorporated area. It is governed by the Near Northwest Management District, with its headquarters in Suite 100 of the 5300 Hollister building, Houston.-Demographics:As of the...
district and in Houston, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.
Its Fuddruckers restaurants include 56 company-operated locations and 129 franchises across the United States with one location in Saskatchewan, Canada, and four in Puerto Rico. Its three Koo Koo Roo Chicken Bistro serves fresh, better for you chicken, sandwiches, tossed salads, vegetables and soups in three locations in Southern California. Luby's Culinary Services provides contract food service management to 18 sites consisting of healthcare, higher education and corporate dining locations, such as Texas Children's Hospital, Lone Star College and Baylor College of Medicine.
Food
Luby’s is a cafeteria restaurant, specializing in made-from-scratch comfort food and offering a variety of fresh salads, entrees, sides, vegetables, breads and desserts to choose from to “build” one’s perfect meal along the 30 feet (9.1 m) line. Luby’s Fried Fish, often referred to as the “square fish” since it is a block of cod, and homemade Macaroni and Cheese, made from real American cheese, are the two most popular items. During Thanksgiving and throughout the holiday season, Luby’s offers several complete meal packages as well as whole meats and sides for guests to purchase for their celebrations.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. In a 2010 promotion, Luby's had a "Luann" model visit stores.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 serviceCustomer service
Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase.According to Turban et al. , “Customer service is a series of activities designed to enhance the level of customer satisfaction – that is, the feeling that a product or service has met the customer...
. Luby's soon expanded outside of San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
to Tyler
Tyler, Texas
Tyler is a city in and the county seat of Smith County, Texas, in the United States. It takes its name from President John Tyler . The city had a population of 109,000 in 2010, according to the United States Census Bureau...
, Harlingen
Harlingen, Texas
Harlingen is a city in Cameron County in the heart of the Rio Grande Valley of south Texas, United States, about from the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. The city covers more than , and is the second largest city in Cameron County and the sixth largest in the Rio Grande Valley...
, El Paso
El Paso, Texas
El Paso, is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States, and lies in far West Texas. In the 2010 census, the city had a population of 649,121. It is the sixth largest city in Texas and the 19th largest city in the United States...
, and Beaumont
Beaumont, Texas
Beaumont is a city in and county seat of Jefferson County, Texas, United States, within the Beaumont–Port Arthur Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city's population was 118,296 at the 2010 census. With Port Arthur and Orange, it forms the Golden Triangle, a major industrial area on the...
.
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
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
for the first time when it opened Romana Cafeteria in 1965. Locations opened in New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
in 1966 and in Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
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
New York Stock Exchange
The New York Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located at 11 Wall Street in Lower Manhattan, New York City, USA. It is by far the world's largest stock exchange by market capitalization of its listed companies at 13.39 trillion as of Dec 2010...
. By 1987 Luby's had reached 100 locations.
In 2001, Chris and Harris Pappas
Pappas
Pappas or Papas is a Greek surname, which means "priest". The female version of the name is Pappa or Papa...
of Houston's Pappas Restaurants
Pappas Restaurants
Pappas Restaurants is a privately owned restaurant group with its headquarters in Houston, Texas. The founders are Greek-American brothers Pete and Jim Pappas. The first restaurant was The Brisket House in Houston. It opened in 1976. In 1996 its name was changed to Pappas Bar-B-Q. The current CEO...
(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.
Luby’s celebrated its 60th anniversary in December 2006 with publishing “Luby’s Recipes & Memories: A Collection of our Favorite Dishes and Heartwarming Stories,” a cookbook featuring its most requested recipes, helpful hints and tips and photography of real guests and their personal memories and stories throughout the book. The cookbook went on to win several awards, including the “USA Gourmand Award” for best cookbook photography and the “Independent Publisher Award” bronze winner for cookbooks. In 2008, Luby’s published a special edition of the cookbook that included 12 additional recipes. The 60th anniversary cookbooks were a response to the popularity of the original Luby’s cookbook, published in 1997 in honor of the Company’s 50th anniversary.
In 2009, due to the economic recession, Luby's closed 25 stores and laid off staff as a cost-cutting measure.
In 2010 Luby's Culinary Services introduced "What's Brewing?", a coffeehouse concept store in Downtown Houston
Downtown Houston
Downtown Houston is the largest business district of Houston, Texas, United States. Downtown Houston, the city's central business district, contains the headquarters of many prominent companies. There is an extensive network of pedestrian tunnels and skywalks connecting the buildings of the district...
.
The same year, on June 18, Luby's announced it was buying Fuddruckers
Fuddruckers
Fuddruckers is an American fast casual, franchised, restaurant chain that specializes in hamburgers. In 2011 Fuddruckers had 56 company-operated restaurants and 129 franchises across the United States with one in Saskatchewan, Canada and four in Puerto Rico...
and Koo Koo Roo for $61 million after parent company Magic Brands LLC
Magic Brands
Magic Brands, LLC was the owner of Fuddruckers and Koo Koo Roo and was based in Austin, Texas. The company acquired Fuddruckers in 1998. On April 22, 2010, Magic Brands filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. On June 18, 2010, Luby's announced it was buying Fuddruckers and Koo Koo Roo, and the...
went bankrupt. The acquisition was final later in the summer.
On June 13, 2011, to celebrate the one-year anniversary of its milestone Fuddruckers acquisition, Luby’s launched its first, new company-owned Fuddruckers location. Situated in the heart of downtown Houston’s seven-mile (11 km) tunnel system, the 3330 square feet (309.4 m²) concept store showcases a more compact footprint.
Located in an upscale, mall-like setting below a 1300000 square feet (120,774 m²), 55-story office tower with more than 2,200 parking spaces, Fuddruckers – Houston Tunnel is easily accessible throughout the underground, pedestrian network and via street access to many of the area’s 140,000 workers and a growing residential population. It’s also in close proximity to a world-class theater district, Toyota Center, Minute Maid Field, George R. Brown Convention Center, several parks and numerous hotels. Adjacent retailers include homegrown Treebeard’s restaurant and Starbucks. The carefully abbreviated, express menu, designed specifically for busy workers and those on the go, features some of Fuddruckers’ most popular items and new selections.
Headquarters
Luby's has its headquarters in Suite 600 of the 13111 Northwest Freeway building in the Near NorthwestNear Northwest, Texas
Near Northwest is a district located in Harris County, Texas, partly within the city limits of Houston and partly in an unincorporated area. It is governed by the Near Northwest Management District, with its headquarters in Suite 100 of the 5300 Hollister building, Houston.-Demographics:As of the...
district and in Houston, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.
In July 2004, Luby's announced that it would move its headquarters from San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
to Houston, where Pappas Restaurants
Pappas Restaurants
Pappas Restaurants is a privately owned restaurant group with its headquarters in Houston, Texas. The founders are Greek-American brothers Pete and Jim Pappas. The first restaurant was The Brisket House in Houston. It opened in 1976. In 1996 its name was changed to Pappas Bar-B-Q. The current CEO...
has its headquarters. At that time Luby's did not yet state where it would be moving to; the company stated that it would most likely move to a suburb in Greater Houston
Greater Houston
Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown is a 10-county metropolitan area defined by the Office of Management and Budget. It is located along the Gulf Coast region in the U.S. state of Texas...
. 80 jobs were transferred to Houston. After the Pappas takeover and before the move, several members of the Luby's management had traveled between Houston and San Antonio.
Luby's massacre
A deadly shooting spree occurred at a Luby's restaurant at 1705 East Central Texas Expressway in KilleenKilleen, Texas
Killeen is a city in Bell County, Texas, The United States. The population was 86,911 at the 2000 census. As of 2009, Killeen had 119,510 people. In 2010 Killeen's population shot to 127,921...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, on October 16, 1991, when George Hennard gunned down 24 people. This location reopened after cleanup; it closed permanently on September 9, 2000. The building now houses a Chinese-American buffet restaurant.