Steak and Ale
Encyclopedia
Steak and Ale was an American
chain of casual dining
restaurant
s, operated by S&A Restaurant Group. Steak and Ale was founded as an independent restaurant chain in Dallas, Texas
, on February 26, 1966, by Norman E. Brinker
. The remaining 58 locations closed as part of a Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceeding on July 29, 2008.
, Bennigan's
and other stores. At the time, the company had 113 locations of Steak and Ale and Jolly Ox (the name Steak and Ale used in markets that didn't allow a reference to liquor in a restaurant name). In 1982, Pillsbury spun off the company and Bennigan's into the independent S&A Restaurant Corp. Steak and Ale grew as one of the first chain dinner houses to its height in the late 1980s with 280 locations, before competition that the brand helped inspire eroded its market presence. In 1988, Metromedia purchased the company. In 1993, the company was merged with the Metromedia Steak Houses chains Bonanza and Ponderosa, and all three chains were operated under the S&A Restaurant Group brand.
The S&A Restaurant Corp bankruptcy in July 2008 also affected the Bennigan's
restaurant chain, also owned by that company; all of the company-owned stores closed the same day as the Steak and Ale restaurants. Franchised
Bennigan's locations remained open.
The MetroMedia Company also owns the Ponderosa and Bonanza Steakhouse
chains, which are not affected by the bankruptcy filing; they are operated by a different subsidiary of the company.
Even though the Steak & Ale brand was previously corporate-owned and closed in its entirety during the bankruptcy, the investment firm Atalaya Capital Management intends to acquire the brand and its trademark with the intent of leaving an option open in the future for franchisees to open independently-operated Steak & Ale restaurants.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
chain of casual dining
Casual dining
This is a list of casual dining restaurant chains around the world, arranged in alphabetical order. A casual dining restaurant is a restaurant that serves moderately-priced food in a casual atmosphere...
restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
s, operated by S&A Restaurant Group. Steak and Ale was founded as an independent restaurant chain in Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
, on February 26, 1966, by Norman E. Brinker
Norman E. Brinker
Norman Eugene Brinker was a prominent restaurateur who was responsible for the creation of new business concepts within the restaurant field, such as the salad bar.-Biography:He was born on June 3, 1931...
. The remaining 58 locations closed as part of a Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceeding on July 29, 2008.
History
Steak and Ale remained an independent chain until 1976, when Pillsbury purchased it and folded it into its restaurant group with Burger KingBurger King
Burger King, often abbreviated as BK, is a global chain of hamburger fast food restaurants headquartered in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. The company began in 1953 as Insta-Burger King, a Jacksonville, Florida-based restaurant chain...
, Bennigan's
Bennigan's
Bennigan's is an Irish pub-themed casual dining restaurant chain with locations throughout the United States, and in 14 countries and 15 territories outside the continental U.S...
and other stores. At the time, the company had 113 locations of Steak and Ale and Jolly Ox (the name Steak and Ale used in markets that didn't allow a reference to liquor in a restaurant name). In 1982, Pillsbury spun off the company and Bennigan's into the independent S&A Restaurant Corp. Steak and Ale grew as one of the first chain dinner houses to its height in the late 1980s with 280 locations, before competition that the brand helped inspire eroded its market presence. In 1988, Metromedia purchased the company. In 1993, the company was merged with the Metromedia Steak Houses chains Bonanza and Ponderosa, and all three chains were operated under the S&A Restaurant Group brand.
The S&A Restaurant Corp bankruptcy in July 2008 also affected the Bennigan's
Bennigan's
Bennigan's is an Irish pub-themed casual dining restaurant chain with locations throughout the United States, and in 14 countries and 15 territories outside the continental U.S...
restaurant chain, also owned by that company; all of the company-owned stores closed the same day as the Steak and Ale restaurants. Franchised
Franchising
Franchising is the practice of using another firm's successful business model. The word 'franchise' is of anglo-French derivation - from franc- meaning free, and is used both as a noun and as a verb....
Bennigan's locations remained open.
The MetroMedia Company also owns the Ponderosa and Bonanza Steakhouse
Ponderosa/Bonanza Steakhouse
Ponderosa Steakhouse and Bonanza Steakhouse are a chain of buffet/steakhouse restaurants. They are two of the most franchised subsidiaries of Metromedia Restaurant Group....
chains, which are not affected by the bankruptcy filing; they are operated by a different subsidiary of the company.
Even though the Steak & Ale brand was previously corporate-owned and closed in its entirety during the bankruptcy, the investment firm Atalaya Capital Management intends to acquire the brand and its trademark with the intent of leaving an option open in the future for franchisees to open independently-operated Steak & Ale restaurants.