Ruby Tuesday
Ruby Tuesday (NYSE: RT) is a Maryville, Tennessee-based casual restaurant chain with several locations in the Birmingham metropolitan area and a total of over 900 locations in 44 states and 13 countries. The first restaurant was opened in 1972 by five graduates of the University of Tennessee at a site adjoining the university's Knoxville campus. Its name was inspired by the Rolling Stones' 1967 song "Ruby Tuesday"
In 1982 the brand was bought by the Mobile-based Morrison Restaurants Inc. and placed in its specialty-restaurant division. In 1996 that division was split into its component companies. The resulting firm, Ruby Tuesday, Inc., managed operations of its own brand, as well as the L&N Seafood Grill, Silver Spoon Café, Mozzarella's Café, The American Café, and Tia's Tex-Mex. The company's restaurant support center moved from Mobile to Maryville, Tennessee in 1998. A training and development center was constructed as part of the new headquarters. The company sold its non-Ruby Tuesday holdings to Specialty Restaurant Group LLC in November 2000.
In 2007 Ruby Tuesday purchased a casual Asian restaurant in Knoxville called "Wok Hay". It converted one of its stand alone restaurants into a second Wok Hay location in 2008. Also in 2007 the Ruby Tuesday chain began a three-year, $75 million menu makeover and remodeling campaign. As part of the advertising campaign announcing the changes, the company created a web video purporting to show them demolishing the last "old style" Ruby Tuesday. Using special effects, the filmmakers made it appear as if the company had accidently demolished a neighboring restaurant.
Birmingham area locations
- 20th Street South at Highland Avenue (1994 – 2010)
- Eastwood Village (proposed, but unbuilt)
- 2000 Riverchase Parkway
- 9232 Parkway East, Roebuck
- 5957 Chalkville Mountain Road, near Trussville
- 2023 Village Drive, Leeds
- 425 Fieldstown Road, Gardendale
- 1041 Montgomery Highway, Vestavia Hills
- 615 Cahaba Valley Road, Pelham
- 710 Colonial Promenade Parkway, Colonial Promenade Alabaster
- 808 Academy Drive, Bessemer
- 258 U. S. Highway 78 West, Jasper
References
- "Ruby Tuesday (restaurant)". (March 2, 2010) Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia - accessed March 6, 2010
- Cooper, Lauren B. (March 5, 2010) "Ruby Tuesday on Southside closes after 16 years." Birmingham Business Journal