Ponderosa and Bonanza Steakhouses facts for kids
- Ponderosa Steakhouse
- Bonanza Steakhouse
Quick facts for kids  |
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| Wholly owned subsidiary | |
| Industry | Casual dining, buffet |
| Founded | 1965 |
| Headquarters | Plano, Texas |
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Number of locations
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16 in U.S.; 48 worldwide (2025) |
| Products | Steak, salad, seafood |
| Parent | FAT Brands |
Ponderosa Steakhouse and Bonanza Steakhouse are popular restaurants. They serve delicious steaks, seafood, and chicken. All main dishes come with a buffet, where you can pick your favorite sides. They also have a special lunch menu.
These restaurants are part of a company called Homestyle Dining LLC. They are based in Plano, Texas. You might see a restaurant named Ponderosa or Bonanza. This is because they used to be two separate companies. Later, they joined together under a group called Metromedia.
The names of these restaurants come from a famous old TV series called Bonanza. The show was set on a place called the Ponderosa Ranch.
Contents
History of the Steakhouses
How Bonanza Started
In 1963, a famous actor named Dan Blocker started the Bonanza Steakhouse chain. He played a character named Eric "Hoss" Cartwright on the Bonanza TV show. The very first Bonanza restaurant opened in Westport, Connecticut.
A few years later, in 1966, two brothers named Sam Wyly and Charles Wyly bought the small Bonanza chain. They helped the company grow a lot! By 1989, there were about 600 Bonanza restaurants. The Wyly brothers then sold the company to Metromedia.
The Beginning of Ponderosa
Ponderosa was founded in 1965 by Dan Lasater, Norm Wiese, and Charles Kleptz. They started the first Ponderosa in Kokomo, Indiana. Later, in 1971, the main office moved to Dayton, Ohio.
Ponderosa also opened restaurants in Canada starting in 1971. By 1986, they had almost 150 locations there. However, they later decided to focus more on restaurants in the United States. Many Canadian Ponderosa restaurants closed. Some even became Red Lobster restaurants! Bonanza, however, kept some restaurants in Canada for a while. The last Canadian location closed in 2010.
Joining Forces: Ponderosa and Bonanza
In 1988, Ponderosa was sold to the Metromedia Restaurant Group. This was the same group that bought Bonanza in 1989. This meant that the two restaurant chains, Ponderosa and Bonanza, were now owned by the same company!
By 1997, Ponderosa and Bonanza officially joined forces. They were marketed together under the name Metromedia Family Steakhouses. This company was one of many started by John Kluge using the Metromedia name.
Changes and New Owners
In 2008, the company that owned Ponderosa and Bonanza faced some financial challenges. They had to reorganize their business. They came out of this situation in 2009 and became known as "Homestyle Dining LLC."
Later, in 2017, the company was sold again. A new company called FAT Brands bought Ponderosa and Bonanza. FAT Brands also owns other popular restaurant chains like Fatburger.
How Many Restaurants Today?
Back in 1989, there were almost 700 Ponderosa locations. By 2003, that number had dropped to fewer than 400. As of April 2024, there are only a few Ponderosa and Bonanza locations left in the United States. There are 13 Ponderosa restaurants and 3 Bonanza restaurants still open.
See also
- List of buffet restaurants
