Furr's Explained

Furr's
Type:Subsidiary
Industry:Food
Fate:Filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
Founded: in
Founders:-->
Hq Location City:San Antonio, Texas
Hq Location Country:U.S.
Parent:Independent (1946–1980 and 2000–2003)
Kmart (1980–1988)
Limited National Partnership (1988–2000)
CIC-Buffet Partners (2003–2014)
Food Management Partners (2014–2020)
Fresh Acquisitions, LLC (2020–2021)

Furr's (also known as Furr's Cafeteria, Furr's Family Dining, Furr's Fresh Buffet, and Furr's All-You-Can-Eat Marketplace) is a defunct chain of family restaurants in the United States started by Roy Furr. The first location opened in 1946 in Hobbs, New Mexico. For many decades, Furr's was known for cafeteria-style dining but eventually redeveloped into buffet-style dining.

History

In 1946, brothers Roy and Key Furr founded the first Furr's restaurant, which opened in Hobbs in southeastern New Mexico. A second location was opened in Odessa, Texas, in 1947.

Furr's was purchased by the Kmart Corp. in 1980,[1] and subsequently sold by Kmart to Michael Levenson's Limited National Partnership in 1988.

In 1998, its corporate history was notable for having its board of directors ousted by an institutional investor TIAA-CREF.

In 2000, the company established a new name, Furr's Restaurant Group.[2] In December 2002, Furr's closed its two locations in Las Vegas as part of a corporate downsizing plan to close 11 under-performing restaurants across the United States by the end of the year.[3] [4] The company reorganized under Chapter 11 bankruptcy in January 2003.[5] Shortly afterward, the company was sold to a private investment firm, CIC-Buffet Partners, an affiliate of Cardinal Investment Co.[6]

In January 2014, Furr's closed several locations, including Las Cruces, New Mexico,[7] Big Spring, Texas,[8] Wheat Ridge, Colorado, and Wichita, Kansas.[9] "We are closed for business," says assistant general manager Tim Arnoldussen. "It’s just a corporate decision."[10]

In June 2014, Furr's Fresh Buffet was sold to a San Antonio company (Food Management Partners), which planned to begin opening new sites.[11] The following year, the parent company of Furr's acquired Ovation Brands.

In April 2019, a Furr's location closed unexpectedly in Plainview, Texas.[12] On August 26, 2019, another Furr's location did the same in Lubbock, Texas across from the South Plains Mall.

In April 2021, Furr's parent companies Fresh Acquisitions LLC and Buffets LLC had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and all Furr's were permanently closed.[13] [14]

Notes and References

  1. News: Yoshihara. Nancy. K mart Breaks Away From Its Pattern of 1960s. Los Angeles Times. January 28, 1985. July 13, 2015.
  2. Web site: Furr's Restaurant Group, Inc . IGHRM . March 8, 2015 . July 8, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110708020550/http://www.hospitalityguild.com/Financial/Restaurants/Furr%27s.htm . dead .
  3. Web site: Two Vegas cafeterias close. December 20, 2002. Las Vegas Sun. December 11, 2016.
  4. Web site: Closure of Furr's cafeterias leaves longtime workers, clientele in the lurch. Smith. John L.. December 20, 2002. Las Vegas Review-Journal. https://web.archive.org/web/20050320024856/http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2002/Dec-20-Fri-2002/news/20319728.html. March 20, 2005.
  5. Web site: Furr's files reorganization plan . Dallas Business Journal. April 4, 2003. 2011-12-07 .
  6. News: Furr's Restaurant Group to sell 54 restaurants . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304061353/https://www.amarillo.com/stories/071503/new_furrsrestaurant.shtml . 2016-03-04 . dead . . 2003-07-15 . December 1, 2019.
  7. Web site: Stockberger . Brook . Furr's Fresh Buffet in Las Cruces closes . Sun-News report . The Las Cruces Sun-News . 20 January 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140204023104/http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-news/ci_24950097/furrs-fresh-buffet-las-cruces-closes . 4 February 2014 .
  8. Web site: Furr's in Big Spring to be Demolished, New Businesses Coming . 31 March 2014 . Staff Report/Mike Henry/KBYG . 9 December 2018 . 10 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181210063324/http://www.newswest9.com/story/25116853/furrs-in-big-spring-to-be-demolished-new-businesses-coming/ . dead .
  9. Web site: Calhoun. Patricia. Furr's could be gone for good from Colorado. Denver Westword, LLC. 2014-01-29. 2014-02-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20140202174855/http://blogs.westword.com/cafesociety/2014/01/furrs.php. dead.
  10. Web site: Rengers . Carrie . Last Furr's Family Dining restaurant closes WICHITA — The last remaining Furr's Family Dining restaurant in Wichita has closed. . The Wichita Eagle . 16 January 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140119223404/http://blogs.kansas.com/haveyouheard/2014/01/16/last-furrs-family-dining-restaurant-closes/ . 19 January 2014 .
  11. Web site: Furr's Fresh Buffet sold to San Antonio company . https://web.archive.org/web/20181009212900/https://www.dallasnews.com/business/business/2014/06/23/furrs-fresh-buffet-sold-to-san-antonio-company . 2018-10-09 . dead . Dallas News . June 2014 . 2019-12-01.
  12. Web site: Furr's in Plainview Closes Unexpectedly . April 15, 2019 . . 2019-12-01.
  13. Web site: The parent of Old Country Buffet and Furr's declares bankruptcy .
  14. Web site: Slice of Americana fades as Furr's goes bankrupt . 27 April 2021 .

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