Morrison's Cafeteria
Encyclopedia
Morrison's Cafeterias was a chain of cafeteria-style restaurants, located in the Southeastern United States
with a concentration of locations in Georgia
and Florida
. Generally found in shopping malls, Morrison's primary competition was Piccadilly Cafeterias
. It was particularly popular in Florida, with its high proportion of retirees. At its peak, the company operated 151 restaurants under the Morrison's name in 13 states.
The company began as a single cafeteria opened in 1929 in Mobile, Alabama
by J. A. Morrison. By 1950 the company had expanded to 17 locations, and steadily grew throughout the Southeast over the next two decades. After winning a contract to cater to the cast and crew of the film The Greatest Show on Earth
, Morrison's branched out into catering contracts for schools, corporate dining facilities and hospital
s.
An ill-fated attempt to diversify into non-dining businesses in the 1960s was reversed through sell-offs by new management in the early 1980s. In 1982, Morrison's acquired the 15-unit Ruby Tuesday
chain, and used this acquisition as the launching pad for several other restaurants concepts such as L&N Seafood Grill, Silver Spoon Café, Mozzarella's and Tia's Tex-Mex. It also acquired three other food-contract firms. By the mid-1990s, the new restaurant concepts — particularly Ruby Tuesday — were doing far better than the original cafeteria chain. Because of this, Morrison's decided to split the company into three new firms: Morrison's Fresh Cooking, the cafeteria chain; Ruby Tuesday, Inc., which also included the other casual dining concepts; and Morrison Health Care, which took over the food contracts for hospitals (the educational and business contracts had been previously sold to a competitor).
In 1996, Morrison's Fresh Cooking — unable to withstand the loss in popularity of cafeterias in general — sold out to Piccadilly Cafeterias
. A large number of the former Morrison's locations outside of Florida and Georgia have since been closed by Piccadilly.
Southeastern United States
The Southeastern United States, colloquially referred to as the Southeast, is the eastern portion of the Southern United States. It is one of the most populous regions in the United States of America....
with a concentration of locations in Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
and Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. Generally found in shopping malls, Morrison's primary competition was Piccadilly Cafeterias
Piccadilly Cafeterias
Piccadilly Cafeterias is a chain of cafeteria-style restaurants found primarily in the Southern United States.The company began with a single cafeteria in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 1944, founded by T.H. Hamilton. Today, the chain operates 130 locations in 15 states.The company expanded in 1998 when...
. It was particularly popular in Florida, with its high proportion of retirees. At its peak, the company operated 151 restaurants under the Morrison's name in 13 states.
The company began as a single cafeteria opened in 1929 in Mobile, Alabama
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
by J. A. Morrison. By 1950 the company had expanded to 17 locations, and steadily grew throughout the Southeast over the next two decades. After winning a contract to cater to the cast and crew of the film The Greatest Show on Earth
The Greatest Show on Earth
The Greatest Show on Earth is a 1952 drama film set in the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. The film was produced, directed, and narrated by Cecil B. DeMille, and won the Academy Award for Best Picture...
, Morrison's branched out into catering contracts for schools, corporate dining facilities and hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
s.
An ill-fated attempt to diversify into non-dining businesses in the 1960s was reversed through sell-offs by new management in the early 1980s. In 1982, Morrison's acquired the 15-unit Ruby Tuesday
Ruby Tuesday (restaurant)
Ruby Tuesday is an American casual dining restaurant chain named after the Rolling Stones' song of the same name.- History :The first restaurant was founded in 1972 by five University of Tennessee students, and is now headquartered in Maryville, Tennessee. The first location was adjacent to UT's...
chain, and used this acquisition as the launching pad for several other restaurants concepts such as L&N Seafood Grill, Silver Spoon Café, Mozzarella's and Tia's Tex-Mex. It also acquired three other food-contract firms. By the mid-1990s, the new restaurant concepts — particularly Ruby Tuesday — were doing far better than the original cafeteria chain. Because of this, Morrison's decided to split the company into three new firms: Morrison's Fresh Cooking, the cafeteria chain; Ruby Tuesday, Inc., which also included the other casual dining concepts; and Morrison Health Care, which took over the food contracts for hospitals (the educational and business contracts had been previously sold to a competitor).
In 1996, Morrison's Fresh Cooking — unable to withstand the loss in popularity of cafeterias in general — sold out to Piccadilly Cafeterias
Piccadilly Cafeterias
Piccadilly Cafeterias is a chain of cafeteria-style restaurants found primarily in the Southern United States.The company began with a single cafeteria in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 1944, founded by T.H. Hamilton. Today, the chain operates 130 locations in 15 states.The company expanded in 1998 when...
. A large number of the former Morrison's locations outside of Florida and Georgia have since been closed by Piccadilly.