Sizzler facts for kids
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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 |
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Key people
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James A. Collins, CEO (1967–1999) |
| Products | Steak, seafood, salads |
Sizzler is a well-known restaurant chain in the United States. It started in California and is famous for its steak, seafood, and salad bar. You can find Sizzler restaurants mostly in the western U.S. states like California, Washington, Arizona, and Nevada. There are also some locations in Puerto Rico.
Since 2023, Sizzler restaurants outside the U.S. are owned by a company called Minor International from Thailand. These international Sizzler restaurants are not connected to the American company.
In September 2020, Sizzler USA had to file for something called Chapter 11 bankruptcy. This happened because the COVID-19 pandemic made it hard for them to sell food. This bankruptcy only affected the U.S. Sizzler restaurants.
Contents
Sizzler's Story: A Look Back
Sizzler began in 1958. It was started by a couple named Del and Helen Johnson in Culver City, California. They called it Sizzler Family Steak House.
At its busiest time, Sizzler had more than 270 restaurants across the U.S. Most of these were in the western part of the country.
Growing and Changing Menus
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Sizzler focused on steak dinners. They also offered a salad bar as an extra. The goal was to feel like a fancy restaurant but with prices closer to fast food. To save money, many restaurants even cut their own meat.
Other steakhouse chains, like Ponderosa and Bonanza, became popular in the 1980s. Sizzler started offering special deals, like all-you-can-eat fried shrimp. They also made their salad bar much bigger, calling it the "Buffet Court."
People started using the buffet as their main meal instead of just an extra. Because of this, Sizzler lowered the quality of other food items. They also gave out free grilled cheese bread to fill people up. Customers noticed the changes, and Sizzler's reputation suffered.
Tough Times and New Beginnings
In 1996, Sizzler filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy again. This means they needed help to sort out their money problems and close restaurants that weren't making money. They closed over 130 locations. Sizzler came out of bankruptcy in 1997.
In the late 1990s, new leaders took over. They made the food better and raised prices. In 2001, 21 more locations closed. Around 2002, Sizzler started to update its look. They created new restaurants that felt brighter and more open. They also introduced a new menu. Sizzler wanted to go back to its original idea: focusing on steaks, seafood, and the salad bar. While some places stopped the all-you-can-eat buffet, many still kept it.
In 2005, an Australian company bought Sizzler. Later, in 2011, a U.S. team bought back the American part of the chain. The headquarters moved to Mission Viejo, California in 2012.
Sizzler also launched a "ZZ" food truck. This truck helps them sell food in new places and try out new dishes.
Recent Challenges and Rebuilding
In September 2020, Sizzler USA filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy once more. This was mainly because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many restaurants had to close their dining rooms, which hurt sales. It was also hard for them to pay rent. At that time, Sizzler had 107 locations in the U.S.
After the pandemic, Sizzler is still open and working to improve its business. They are renovating restaurants, creating new menus, and advertising to bring customers back.
Sizzler Around the World
After 2011, Sizzler restaurants outside the U.S. were managed by an Australian company called Collins Foods. In 2023, Collins Foods sold its Sizzler business to Minor International from Thailand.
Current International Locations
Japan
In Japan, a company called Royal Holdings runs the Sizzler restaurants. They opened the first Sizzler in Japan in 1991. By 2021, there were 10 Sizzler restaurants in Japan.
Thailand
In Thailand, Minor Food Group runs Sizzler. They opened their first Sizzler in Thailand in 1996. By 2001, there were 19 Sizzler restaurants across Thailand.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sizzler Thailand tried using robot waiters in December 2020. This helped reduce contact between customers and staff. After rules eased in September 2021, 54 out of 60 restaurants reopened for dining in. The company plans to open 3-5 new restaurants each year for the next three years. They also want to add more robot food delivery systems to keep people safe and healthy.
Former International Locations
Australia
The first Sizzler in Australia opened in Brisbane in 1985. They were quite popular in the 1990s. However, by 2013, sales started to slow down.
By 2015, the company running Sizzler in Australia decided not to invest more money in them. They started closing many Sizzler restaurants. Meanwhile, Sizzler in Asia was doing well.
Collins Foods closed all remaining Sizzler restaurants in Australia in November 2020. They said Sizzler was hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic.
China
From 2009 to 2012, the Thailand-based Minor Food Group had seven Sizzler restaurants in China.
Indonesia
Sizzler opened restaurants in Indonesia in the mid-1990s. But in the mid-2000s, they were renamed "American Grill" because their license ran out.
Singapore
In December 2001, there were three Sizzler restaurants in Singapore. By March 2013, there were two.
See also
- List of buffet restaurants
- List of casual dining restaurant chains
Images for kids
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Sizzler logo used from 1981 to 1996
