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Max & Erma's facts for kids
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| Subsidiary | |
| Industry | Restaurant |
| Founded | 1972 |
| Headquarters | |
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Key people
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Todd Barnum and Barry Zacks (co-founders) |
| Parent | Glacier Restaurant Group |
Max & Erma's is a popular American restaurant chain. It's known for its casual dining experience. The company started in Columbus, Ohio. As of April 2024, you can find 7 Max & Erma's locations. These are in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.
How Max & Erma's Began
Max & Erma's was started in 1972. Two businessmen, Todd Barnum and Barry Zacks, founded it. They bought an old tavern in Columbus's German Village. This tavern had been run by Max and Erma Visocnik since 1958. Todd and Barry decided to keep the name "Max & Erma's." They turned the tavern into a fun theme restaurant. One of its most famous features was a converted bathtub. This bathtub was used as a cool sundae bar!
Changes Over the Years
Max & Erma's has gone through several changes in ownership. In April 2008, a company called G&R Acquisition Inc. bought it. This deal was worth $10.2 million.
Later, in October 2009, the company faced some financial difficulties. It filed for something called Chapter 11 bankruptcy. This means the company asked for legal help to reorganize its finances.
In 2010, another company bought Max & Erma's. This was American Blue Ribbon Holdings. They also own other restaurant chains like Village Inn and Bakers Square.
New Ownership and Closures
On January 25, 2016, a new owner took over. Glacier Restaurant Group bought Max & Erma's. This happened after 19 of the restaurant's locations had closed. These locations were not performing well financially.
On July 28, 2017, Glacier Restaurant Group made another announcement. They said that the very first Max & Erma's location in German Village would close. This original restaurant shut its doors on August 7, 2017. The reason given was that it was no longer making enough money to stay open.
Images for kids
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The original Max & Erma's, Columbus, Ohio
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Old Max & Erma's logo from 1972 to 2005 and as alternate logo from 2005 to 2007
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Max and Erma's location in Springboro, Ohio