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Max & Erma's facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Max & Erma's
Subsidiary
Industry Restaurant
Founded 1972
Headquarters
Key people
Todd Barnum and Barry Zacks (co-founders)
Parent Glacier Restaurant Group

Max & Erma's is an American casual dining restaurant chain based in Columbus, Ohio. As of April 2024, the company operates 7 locations in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1972 by Todd Barnum and Barry Zacks. The two businessmen purchased a local tavern in Columbus's German Village which had been operated by Max and Erma Visocnik since 1958. They retained Max & Erma's name and created the theme restaurant which featured a converted bathtub that served as a sundae bar.

Max & Erma's was purchased by Pittsburgh-based equity investor G&R Acquisition Inc. in a $10.2 million deal in April 2008. The company declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy on October 26, 2009. It was acquired by American Blue Ribbon Holdings, owners of the Village Inn and Bakers Square restaurant chains, in 2010.

On January 25, 2016, it was announced that Glacier Restaurant Group had purchased Max & Erma's from American Blue Ribbon Holdings. This sale occurred after the closing of 19 of the restaurant's locations that were described as underperforming.

On July 28, 2017, Glacier announced that the original German Village Max & Erma's location would close on August 7, 2017, citing a lack of financial viability.

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