Shari's Restaurants

Infobox Company
company_name = Shari's Restaurants
company_
company_type = private
foundation = 1978, Hermiston, Oregon
location = Beaverton, Oregon,
United States
key_people = Larry Curtis, CEO, President
industry = foodservice
products =
num_employees = 4,500 (2007)
parent =
revenue = $97.6 million (2006)
divisions =
subsid =
homepage = [http://www.sharis.com sharis.com]
footnotes = Company data. [http://www.hoovers.com/Shari's-Management-Corporation/--HD__fsxcxshfy,src__dbi--/free-co-dnb_factsheet.xhtml Hoovers: Shari's Management Corporation] ]

Shari's Restaurants is a chain of family dining restaurants in the western United States. Shari's is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Shari's currently has 98 locations in Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Wyoming, and Nebraska. The original restaurant was opened in Hermiston, Oregon in 1978. Its corporate offices are located in the Progress area of Beaverton, Oregon. In 2001 a Salem, Oregon location tied for best late night meal as judged by the "Statesman Journal", [Midnight diners will find variety at Shari's. "Statesman Journal", November 15, 2001.] and in 2005 came in second for best midnight meal. [Complete list of winners. "Statesman Journal", October 27, 2005.]

History

Shari’s began in Hermiston, Oregon in 1978 with Ron and Sharon Bergquist as proprietors. [http://www.sharis.com/history.html Shari’s: Our History] ] The two ran the company for seven years. By 1999 Shari’s was the ninth largest family restaurant chain in the United States based on total sales, and sixth in growth. [Family chains fight back with acquisitions, reduced unit size. "Nation's Restaurant News", July 26, 1999.]

In March 1999, the chain was acquired by Fairmont Capital Inc. for $60 million.Fairmont, execs buy Shari's chain for $ 60M. "Nation's Restaurant News", March 15, 1999.] At that time Shari’s operated 96 locations in seven states with 4,000 employees and $128 million in annual revenue. They were still the ninth largest family chain in 2003. [Most second-tier family brands seek recovery from sales slippage; Special Report: Second 100. "Nation's Restaurant News", July 28, 2003.]

Shari’s lost a gender discrimination lawsuit in April 2005 and were ordered to pay $122,225 in damages. [Gresham man wins gender-bias suit. "The Oregonian", April 20, 2005.] Then in December 2005 the company was purchased by New York private investment firm Circle Peak Capital.

External links

* [http://www.hoovers.com/Shari's-Management-Corporation/--HD__fsxcxshfy,src__dbi--/free-co-dnb_factsheet.xhtml Hoovers: Shari's Management Corporation]

References