Romano's Macaroni Grill

Romano's first restaurant was founded by restaurateur Philip J. Romano (who had also founded the hamburger chain Fuddruckers in 1979; he had sold his shares in that company when he founded Romano's{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/11/09/business/business-people-founder-of-fuddruckers-goes-on-to-next-course.html |title=BUSINESS PEOPLE; Founder of Fuddruckers Goes On to Next Course |last=Cuff |first=Daniel F. |publisher=New York Times |date=November 9, 1988 |website=nytimes.com |access-date=December 9, 2024 |quote=Mr. Romano relocated to Texas in 1976 and opened his Fuddruckers a few years later. Now he has sold his stock in Fuddruckers as well and is devoting all his time to his investments and ventures under Romano Enterprises in San Antonio.}}) in Leon Springs, Texas (now a district of San Antonio), on April 19, 1988.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/news/2019/04/30/romanos-macaroni-grill-founder-talks-sa-past-and.html|title=Romano's Macaroni Grill founder talks SA past and millennial future|last1=Salchert|first1=Ryan|date=April 30, 2019|access-date=2022-01-05|website=Bizjournals}}{{Paywall}}{{Cite web|title=Leon Springs Texas|url=https://texashillcountry.com/leon-springs-texas/|access-date=2022-01-05|website=Texas Hill Country|language=en-US}} The location would later be occupied by Burkle's The Grill at Leon Springs, which closed in May of 2021 after a fire.{{Cite web|last=Bermea|first=Steven Cavazos , Azian|date=2021-05-13|title='If life allows it, we will be back': Owner of long-standing Leon Springs restaurant hopes to serve community again following devastating fire|url=https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2021/05/13/if-life-allows-it-we-will-be-back-owner-of-long-standing-leon-springs-restaurant-hopes-to-serve-community-again-following-devastating-fire/|access-date=2022-01-05|website=KSAT|language=en}}

Brinker International, Inc. bought the franchise rights to the company on November 22, 1989.{{citation needed|date=April 2012}}

Brinker announced on August 8, 2007, that it would begin exploring a buyer for the 230 company-owned stores. On December 18, 2008, Brinker announced that a majority stake in the chain was sold to Mac Acquisition LLC, an affiliate of Golden Gate Capital. As of June 29, 2011, Brinker still holds a 15.6% minority interest in the concept.{{cite web|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/703351/000119312511235557/d10k.htm|title=FY 2011 10-K|author=Brinker International, Inc.|date=June 29, 2011|publisher=U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission|accessdate=April 26, 2012}}

On February 6, 2013, Ignite Restaurant Group announced the acquisition of Romano's Macaroni Grill from Golden Gate Capital through a $55.0 million all-cash transaction.{{cite web|url=http://ir.igniterestaurants.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=738533|title=Ignite Restaurant Group Acquires Romano's Macaroni Grill|author=Ignite Restaurant Group|date=March 12, 2013|access-date=March 12, 2013|archive-date=February 14, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130214220557/http://ir.igniterestaurants.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=738533|url-status=dead}} Redrock Partners LLC purchased the concept from Ignite in April 2015 for $8 million.{{cite web|last=Maze|first=Jonathan|title=Why Ignite sold Macaroni Grill for so little|work=Nation's Restaurant News|date=March 11, 2015|accessdate=November 1, 2016|url=http://nrn.com/blog/why-ignite-sold-macaroni-grill-so-little}}{{cite web|last=Kezar|first=Korri|title=Ignite Restaurant Group sells Romano's Macaroni Grill for $8M|work=Dallas Business Journal|date=April 20, 2015|accessdate=November 1, 2016|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/news/2015/04/20/ignite-restaurant-group-sells-romanos-macaroni.html}}

On October 18, 2017, Romano's Macaroni Grill filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.{{cite web|url=https://www.thestreet.com/story/14348399/1/macaroni-grill-files-for-bankruptcy.html|title=Romano's Macaroni Grill Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection|work=TheStreet.com|author=Stephanie Gleason|date=October 18, 2017|accessdate=September 9, 2020}}

On September 21, 2018, Romano's bought Sullivan's Steakhouse for $32 million.{{cite web|url=https://hospitalitytech.com/romanos-macaroni-grill-buys-sullivans-steakhouse-32m-deal|title=Romano's Macaroni Grill Buys Sullivan's Steakhouse in $32M Deal|year=2018|accessdate=September 9, 2020}}

In July, 2023, Jason Kemp became President and Chief Executive Officer of Romano's Macaroni Grill. Jason Kemp was the former President & CEO & owner of multiple restaurant chains including Furr's Fresh Buffet, Ryan's Steakhouse, Old Country Buffet, Hometown Buffet, Sushi Zushi, Zio's Italian Kitchen, Tahoe Joe's and more.

The company is currently managed by the Board of Directors.

Romano's Macaroni Grill menu features items found in traditional cuisine from Italy and the Mediterranean area. The menu includes a custom-assembled pasta dish, with a choice of pastas, sauces, and toppings. Meals are served with complimentary bread and olive oil.{{cite web|url=http://www.macaronigrill.com/menus|title=Romano's Macaroni Grill Menu|publisher=Romano's Macaroni Grill|year=2011|accessdate=April 26, 2012}}

In addition to their restaurants, the brand also features a line of packaged food products based on dishes offered by the restaurant. The packages are manufactured by General Mills Restaurant Favorites line.{{cite web|url=http://www.generalmills.com/en/Brands/Meals/Macaroni%20Grill.aspx|title=General Mills: Macaroni Grill|publisher=General Mills Inc.|year=2012|accessdate=April 26, 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100619004245/http://www.generalmills.com/en/Brands/Meals/Macaroni%20Grill.aspx|archivedate=June 19, 2010}}

In 2007, Men's Health rated Romano's Macaroni Grill one of the unhealthiest restaurant chains, giving it an 'F' on its "Restaurant Report Card." According to the report, an average meal from the chain contains over 1,000 calories.{{cite web |url=https://www.menshealth.com/nutrition/a19528209/restaurant-report-card/ |title=Restaurant Report Card |last=Goulding |first=Matt |date=November 9, 2007 |website= Men's Health |publisher=Hearst Digital Media |access-date=June 13, 2018 |quote= "Macaroni Grill earns its F with a menu full of 1,500 calorie pastas...Even lunch portions and salads have more than 1,000 calories."}} Three years later, however, the magazine rated Macaroni Grill as the healthiest Italian chain, noting that a number of entrees had significantly decreased in calorie count. This was attributed to the hiring of a new CEO with a "multiphase plan to improve the nutritional quality."{{cite web |url=https://www.menshealth.com/nutrition/a19542010/best-and-worst-restaurants/ |title=Restaurant Report Card |last=Carter |first=Clint |date=December 18, 2010 |website= Men's Health |publisher=Hearst Digital Media |access-date=March 31, 2019 |quote= "Macaroni Grill used to be one of the most fattening sit-down chains in America. But things took a sharp turn for the better when the company recruited a new CEO in 2008. What followed was a multiphase plan to improve the nutritional quality of the entrees, and the chain has since become the caloric conscience of the red-sauce restaurants."}}

File:Macaroni Grill, Burlington MA (2864284742).jpg|A Romano's in Burlington, MA in September, 2008 (closed in February 2017, now Eddie V's)

File:Macaroni Grill spaghetti with meatballs.jpg|One of many Italian-themed dishes at Romano's

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• [http://www.macaronigrill.com Official website]

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Category:Companies based in Denver

Category:Restaurants established in 1988

Category:Restaurant chains in the United States

Category:Restaurant franchises

Category:Italian-American culture in Texas

Category:Italian restaurants in the United States

Category:1988 establishments in Texas

Category:2013 mergers and acquisitions

Category:2015 mergers and acquisitions

Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2017

Category:Italian-American cuisine