Sizzler facts for kids
A Sizzler restaurant in Los Angeles
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Trade name
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Sizzler |
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| Private | |
| Industry | Restaurants |
| Founded | 1958 in Culver City, California, as Del's Sizzler Family Steak House |
| Founders | Del and Helen Johnson |
| Headquarters | Mission Viejo, California, U.S. |
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Number of locations
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84 |
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Area served
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United States Japan Thailand |
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Key people
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James A. Collins (CEO; 1967–1999) Christopher Perkins (CEO; 2019–present) |
| Products | Steak, seafood, salads |
| Owner | Management (United States) Royal Holdings Co., Ltd. (Japan) Minor International (Thailand) |
Sizzler is an American restaurant chain famous for its steak, seafood, and big salad bars. Its main office is in Mission Viejo, California.
Most Sizzler restaurants are in California and other western states like Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. You can also find them in Puerto Rico.
Sizzler restaurants in other countries, like Japan and Thailand, are owned by a different company and are run separately from the American Sizzlers.
In 2020, the company faced money troubles because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which is a way for a company to get protection while it reorganizes its finances. Sizzler successfully came out of bankruptcy in January 2023 and is working on rebuilding its business.
Contents
The Story of Sizzler
Sizzler was started in 1958 by Del and Helen Johnson in Culver City, California. They originally called it "Sizzler Family Steak House." At its most popular, there were over 270 Sizzlers across the United States.
Becoming Famous for Salad Bars
In the 1970s and 1980s, Sizzler became known for offering steak dinners that came with an optional salad bar. The idea was to give customers a nice restaurant experience for a price that wasn't much higher than a fast food meal.
Later, Sizzler expanded its salad bar into a huge buffet called the "Buffet Court." It was so popular that many people started eating only from the buffet instead of ordering a main meal like steak. This caused some problems for the company, and its reputation was affected.
Big Changes and a New Look
In 1996, Sizzler had to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy for the first time. This allowed the company to close restaurants that weren't making money. After reorganizing, Sizzler started making big changes.
In the early 2000s, the company began to update its image. New restaurants were designed to be brighter and more open. The menu was also changed to focus again on high-quality steak, seafood, and the famous salad bar.
In 2011, the American part of Sizzler was bought by its U.S. managers. The international restaurants were managed by a separate company. To reach more customers, Sizzler even launched a food truck called "ZZ" to test new menu ideas.
Sizzler Around the World
Since 2011, Sizzler restaurants outside the U.S. have been operated by different companies. In 2023, a company from Thailand called Minor International took over all Sizzler locations outside of America.
Where to Find Sizzler Today
Japan
The first Sizzler in Japan opened in 1991. A company called Royal Holdings Co., Ltd. runs the restaurants there. As of 2021, there were 10 Sizzler locations in Japan.
Thailand
Sizzler is very popular in Thailand, with the first one opening in 1996. The restaurants are run by a company called Minor Food Group. During the COVID-19 pandemic, some Sizzler restaurants in Thailand even started using robot waiters to serve food and keep customers and staff safe.
Where Sizzler Used to Be
Australia
The first Sizzler in Australia opened in 1985 and was very popular for many years. However, over time, fewer people went to Sizzler. In 2020, the company that owned them, Collins Foods, decided to close all the remaining Sizzler restaurants in Australia.
Other Former Locations
Sizzler also used to have restaurants in other places, including:
- China: There were several Sizzler restaurants in China until around 2012.
- Indonesia: Sizzler was in Indonesia in the 1990s but later changed its name.
- Singapore: Sizzler had restaurants in Singapore until the 2010s.
- Taiwan: Sizzler operated in Taiwan for 20 years before closing in 2010.
Food Safety Events
Like many large restaurant chains, Sizzler has faced challenges with food safety.
In 2000, an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 bacteria made over 60 people sick in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and one person died. Health officials traced the problem to contaminated meat that had then spread to items on the salad bar. This led Sizzler to close all of its restaurants in the Midwest.
In 2006, Sizzler restaurants in Australia had to temporarily shut down their salad bars after rat poison was found in two locations. The company called this an act of sabotage. It was later discovered that a woman was responsible for the incidents.
See also
In Spanish: Sizzler para niños
- List of buffet restaurants
- List of casual dining restaurant chains
