Krystal (restaurant) facts for kids
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A Krystal restaurant in Calhoun, Georgia
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Trade name
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Krystal |
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| Subsidiary | |
| Industry | Fast Food |
| Founded | October 24, 1932 in Chattanooga, Tennessee |
| Founders | Rody Davenport, Jr. J. Glenn Sherrill |
| Headquarters | Dunwoody, Georgia |
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Number of locations
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360 |
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Areas served
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Southeastern United States Puerto Rico |
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Key people
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Josh Kern, (CEO) Casey Terrell (CMO) Jessica Hagler (CFO) |
| Products | Fast food, including hamburgers, French fries, hot dogs, chicken, milkshakes, and breakfast offerings |
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Number of employees
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6,500+ |
| Parent | SPB Hospitality |
Krystal is a popular American fast food restaurant chain. Its main office is in Dunwoody, Georgia. You can find Krystal restaurants across the Southeastern United States and in Puerto Rico. The chain is well-known for its small, square hamburgers. These are often called "sliders" in other parts of the country. Krystal's burgers are special because they are steamed with onions.
Contents
The Story of Krystal
Krystal first opened its doors on October 24, 1932. This was in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It was a tough time in America, during the Great Depression. Many people had little money.
The founders, Rody Davenport Jr. and J. Glenn Sherrill, had a smart idea. They believed people would still eat out if a restaurant was super clean. It also needed to offer good food and friendly service at a very low price. Their idea worked! The first customer ordered six "Krystals" and a cup of coffee. It cost only 35 cents.
Before starting Krystal, Mr. Davenport visited White Castle restaurants. He took notes on what made them successful. The first Krystal restaurant was set up at 7th and Cherry Streets in Chattanooga.
How Krystal Got Its Name
The story of the Krystal name is quite interesting. Company legend says that Mrs. Mary McGee Davenport, Rody Davenport Jr.'s wife, saw a lawn ornament. It looked like a crystal ball. She thought that since cleanliness was so important to their restaurant, they should name it "Crystal." But they added a "K" to make it unique. So, it became "Krystal." For many years, Krystal restaurants often had a crystal ball on top of their buildings.
Krystal's Service Through the Years
In the early days, from the 1930s to the 1960s, Krystal served food on porcelain dishes. These dishes had the "Krystal" name on them. Waiters and waitresses wore white uniforms. Customers ordered their food at the counter.
In the 1950s, Krystal added its first drive-through window. Most locations still have drive-throughs today. A study in 2013 found that Krystal's drive-through service was very accurate. This meant they usually got orders right.
For a while, Krystal also offered other foods. In the 1950s, they served cake doughnuts for breakfast and dessert. From about 1970 to 1986, they even sold fried chicken.
Krystal Today
Today, Krystal restaurants are in many states. These include Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas. They also have restaurants in Puerto Rico. Krystal is often compared to the northern chain White Castle. However, their restaurant areas usually do not overlap much.
Krystal's main office was in Chattanooga, Tennessee for a long time. In 2013, it moved to Dunwoody, Georgia. Over the years, Krystal has had different owners. Since April 28, 2023, SPB Hospitality has owned the company.
What's on the Menu?
Krystal's most famous item is its square hamburger patty slider. It comes on a steamed bun with diced onions, a pickle, and mustard. This is simply called a "Krystal." They also sell small hot dogs called "pups." Sometimes, Krystal adds larger burgers to its menu, like the "Big Angus Burger."
Krystal also has a popular breakfast menu. You can get a country breakfast made to order. They also offer meat and egg sandwiches and biscuits. A very popular breakfast item is the Scrambler. It's a layered stack of scrambled eggs, sausage, grits, and cheese. It's served in a cup. Other versions of the Scrambler might have pancakes or sausage gravy.
In 1998, Krystal introduced the Krystal Chik. This is a fried chicken breast filet slider. It's served on the same signature steamed square bun. Krystal Chiks are very popular. The chain also offers other chicken, chili, and dessert items. Krystal is always working to improve its stores. They want to make them appealing for people on the go.
In January 2020, Krystal faced some challenges. They filed for bankruptcy protection. This was due to changing customer tastes and higher costs. Many restaurants also stopped offering indoor dining a few months later. This was to help stop the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. On November 23, 2022, Krystal opened its first restaurants in Puerto Rico.
Competitive Eating Events
From 2004 to 2009, Krystal restaurants hosted a special event. It was called the Krystal Square Off. This was a competitive eating contest. The current world record for eating Krystal burgers was set in 2007. Joey Chestnut ate an amazing 103 Krystal burgers in just eight minutes!
See also
In Spanish: Krystal (restaurante) para niños
- List of hamburger restaurants
- List of hot dog restaurants
