Koo Koo Roo facts for kids
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| Independent | |
| Industry | Restaurants |
| Fate | Closed by parent |
| Founded | 1988 in Los Angeles, California |
| Founders | Mike and Ray Badalian |
| Defunct | 2014 |
| Headquarters |
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Area served
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California, Florida, Nevada, New Jersey |
| Parent |
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Koo Koo Roo was a restaurant chain in America. It was known for its charbroiled chicken. The first restaurant opened in 1988. It was started by two brothers, Mike and Ray Badalian, in Los Angeles, California.
The name "Koo Koo Roo" was inspired by the sound a rooster makes. Over the years, the company grew and changed owners many times. It faced challenges in making money during the 1990s. The very last Koo Koo Roo restaurant closed in 2014 in Santa Monica, California. In 2021, the company was sold to a new owner.
Contents
History
How It Started
The Badalian brothers began with two restaurants in Los Angeles. One was in Koreatown and the other on Beverly Boulevard. They opened their first restaurant in 1988.
Their special chicken was skinless and marinated in vegetable juices. It was cooked over open flames. They also served a unique flatbread called "Koo Koo Roo bread." At first, they only offered a few side dishes. These included a cucumber and onion salad, an eggplant salad, and a mix of beans. For dessert, they had frozen yogurt. All the early menu items were low in calories.
Growing Bigger
In 1990, a retired real estate broker named Kenneth Berg tried the food. He was very impressed. He decided to invest money in the restaurant. He became a "silent partner," meaning he invested but didn't run the daily business. Later, he took more control.
The company then started selling shares to the public. This happened in 1991 on the NASDAQ stock market. By 1992, Koo Koo Roo had 15 locations. However, two years later, the number of restaurants dropped to 8.
New Adventures and Challenges
Koo Koo Roo tried to expand its business in new ways. In 1996, they launched a coffee shop chain called Arrosto Coffee Co. They also bought a ceramics painting chain called Color Me Mine.
The next year, Koo Koo Roo bought the Hamburger Hamlet chain. This chain had 14 restaurants but was having money problems. Koo Koo Roo paid $11.5 million for it.
Changes in Ownership
Koo Koo Roo had money troubles for three years. In 1998, another company called Family Restaurants Inc. bought it. This company owned other well-known restaurants like Chi-Chi's and El Torito. At that time, Koo Koo Roo had 38 locations in California, Florida, and Nevada. Before the sale was complete, Koo Koo Roo sold off its coffee and ceramics businesses.
After buying Koo Koo Roo and Hamburger Hamlet, Family Restaurants Inc. changed its name. First, it became Koo Koo Roo Enterprises, then Prandium Inc. Prandium Inc. became the main company for Koo Koo Roo, El Torito, Chi-Chi's, and Hamburger Hamlet. By January 1999, Koo Koo Roo had 40 locations.
In 2003, Koo Koo Roo and some other Prandium companies faced serious financial difficulties. They filed for a type of bankruptcy protection. At this time, Koo Koo Roo had 28 locations. A new company called Magic Brands then bought Koo Koo Roo. By 2006, the number of Koo Koo Roo locations had dropped to 13. Magic Brands then closed 10 more.
In 2010, Luby's bought Koo Koo Roo and its last 3 locations. This happened after Magic Brands also faced bankruptcy. Luby's sold Koo Koo Roo in 2021, and it is now owned independently.
In Popular Culture
Koo Koo Roo was mentioned in the 2010 movie, Get Him to the Greek. In the film, a character named Sergio Roma, played by Sean Combs, brags about owning many Koo Koo Roo restaurants. He says he owns twenty, and his assistant corrects him, saying he owns twenty-one. This is interesting because the restaurant chain later went out of business. The restaurant itself is never shown in the movie.
