Tumbleweed Southwest Grill
Encyclopedia
Tumbleweed Southwest Grill is a chain restaurant based in Louisville, Kentucky
, having originated in New Albany, Indiana.
-style foods. The original restaurant opened in 1975 in New Albany, Indiana
, just across the Ohio River
from Louisville. George R. Keller and wife Linda started the chain across the road from New Albany High School
. Then later in 1978 Linda would utilize her parents’ Hillside Manor restaurant and bar to turn it into a Tumbleweed. This location in Louisville became the flagship for the restaurant chain.
Shortly after, the restaurant expanded to locations across the river and now operates over 60 locations restaurants in Indiana
, Kentucky
, Ohio
, Illinois
, and Wisconsin
, including company-owned and franchise locations.
In 1995, the Kellers sold the business to sixty local area investors for US$9.8 million and an additional US$1 million in a clause not to compete against the company's new owners. The company then became a publicly traded company to help fuel its expansion in the Midwest and overseas markets. John Butorac, Jr., took over as president of the company, he was also the former vice president for Chi-Chi's
.
In 2002, Terrance Smith, CEO of the establishment, was seeking ownership of the company with two other investors. However on December 18, 2007, it was reported by local media in Louisville that Terrance Smith resigned as President and CEO after seven years. Mathew Higgins may have become the new President and CEO of the company. Tumbleweed is the parent company of the upscale southwestern concept known as Sedona Grill. After Terry Smith's departure, Tumbleweed closed the doors to the upscale theme.
Tumbleweed serves an American
-Mexican cuisine
in a combination Tex-Mex
and Southwest style
. They specialize in a chili con queso
. Tumbleweed's menu includes Continental food, encompassing such foods as chicken and steak. The other major style of cuisine is a Mexican-themed menu, including burrito
s, chimichanga
s, and a variety of house salads. All locations in Wisconsin were scheduled to close 29 November 2008.
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
, having originated in New Albany, Indiana.
History
Tumbleweed Southwest Grill serves SouthwestTex-Mex cuisine
"Tex-Mex" is a term used to describe a regional American cuisine that blends food products available in the United States and the culinary creations of Mexican-Americans influenced by the cuisines of Mexico. The cuisine has spread from border states such as Texas and those in the Southwestern...
-style foods. The original restaurant opened in 1975 in New Albany, Indiana
New Albany, Indiana
New Albany is a city in Floyd County, Indiana, United States, situated along the Ohio River opposite Louisville, Kentucky. In 1900, 20,628 people lived in New Albany; in 1910, 20,629; in 1920, 22,992; and in 1940, 25,414. The population was 36,372 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of...
, just across the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
from Louisville. George R. Keller and wife Linda started the chain across the road from New Albany High School
New Albany High School (Indiana)
Founded in 1853, New Albany High School is one of the oldest public high schools west of the Alleghenies and the first in Indiana. New Albany High School has the first rastafarian-run FM radio station to be licensed by the Federal Communications Commission and has had their own cable TV channel ...
. Then later in 1978 Linda would utilize her parents’ Hillside Manor restaurant and bar to turn it into a Tumbleweed. This location in Louisville became the flagship for the restaurant chain.
Shortly after, the restaurant expanded to locations across the river and now operates over 60 locations restaurants in Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, and Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, including company-owned and franchise locations.
In 1995, the Kellers sold the business to sixty local area investors for US$9.8 million and an additional US$1 million in a clause not to compete against the company's new owners. The company then became a publicly traded company to help fuel its expansion in the Midwest and overseas markets. John Butorac, Jr., took over as president of the company, he was also the former vice president for Chi-Chi's
Chi-Chi's
Chi-Chi's was a popular Mexican restaurant chain from 1975 to 2004. It ceased to exist within the United States following a 2003 Hepatitis A outbreak that began at one of its locations in suburban Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Chi-Chi's is still in operation in Belgium, Luxembourg, United Arab...
.
In 2002, Terrance Smith, CEO of the establishment, was seeking ownership of the company with two other investors. However on December 18, 2007, it was reported by local media in Louisville that Terrance Smith resigned as President and CEO after seven years. Mathew Higgins may have become the new President and CEO of the company. Tumbleweed is the parent company of the upscale southwestern concept known as Sedona Grill. After Terry Smith's departure, Tumbleweed closed the doors to the upscale theme.
Cuisine
Cuisine of the United States
American cuisine is a style of food preparation originating from the United States of America. European colonization of the Americas yielded the introduction of a number of ingredients and cooking styles to the latter...
-Mexican cuisine
Mexican cuisine
Mexican cuisine, a style of food that originates in Mexico, is known for its varied flavors, colourful decoration and variety of spices and ingredients, most of which are native to the country. The cuisine of Mexico has evolved through thousands of years of blending indigenous cultures, with later...
in a combination Tex-Mex
Tex-Mex cuisine
"Tex-Mex" is a term used to describe a regional American cuisine that blends food products available in the United States and the culinary creations of Mexican-Americans influenced by the cuisines of Mexico. The cuisine has spread from border states such as Texas and those in the Southwestern...
and Southwest style
Cuisine of the Southwestern United States
The Cuisine of the Southwestern United States is food styled after the rustic cooking of the Southwestern United States. It is also known to be very popular in the west coast state of California...
. They specialize in a chili con queso
Chili con queso
Chile con queso , usually known simply as queso, is an appetizer or side dish of melted cheese and chile pepper typically served in Tex-Mex restaurants.- Background :...
. Tumbleweed's menu includes Continental food, encompassing such foods as chicken and steak. The other major style of cuisine is a Mexican-themed menu, including burrito
Burrito
A burrito , or taco de harina, is a type of Mexican food. It consists of a wheat flour tortilla wrapped or folded around a filling. The flour tortilla is usually lightly grilled or steamed, to soften it and make it more pliable. In Mexico, refried beans or meat are sometimes the only fillings...
s, chimichanga
Chimichanga
Chimichanga , also known as chivichanga or chimmy chonga is a deep-fried burrito that is popular in Southwestern U.S. cuisine, Tex-Mex cuisine, and the Mexican states of Sinaloa and Sonora...
s, and a variety of house salads. All locations in Wisconsin were scheduled to close 29 November 2008.
International
Tumbleweed has been expanding its market overseas with the following places.
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