Luby’s sold to a Chicago investor, but only one Fort Worth-area location is saved
At least one Tarrant County location of Texas’ 75-year-old Luby’s Cafeteria chain will remain open after a Chicago investor bought 32 of the restaurants in a deal announced Tuesday.
The Luby’s at 3312 SE Loop 820 in Forest Hill is among those sold to a new Luby’s company under investor Calvin Gin, a former executive with catering and food-service companies with clients including airlines and Starbucks Coffee.
The new company bought only two other North Texas locations, at 5600 S. Hampton Road in Dallas and at 801 N. Beckley Road, DeSoto.
No plans have been announced for the three Fort Worth locations at 1200 Bridgewood Drive, 3801 NE Loop 820 and 5901 S. Hulen St.
All four Luby’s currently remain open.
The home of fried “square fish” fillets, roast turkey and chicken-fried steak with lots of vegetables has been for sale since last year. Luby’s was already floundering but was hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, with sales down 75% last March, April and May.
For many Texans, Luby’s Cafeterias are the epitome of comfort food. The animated Fox television series “King of the Hill” even named one of its characters Luanne Platter, after the renowned Luby’s smaller “LuAnn Platter” including a half-serving of an entree, a side item and a roll.
Last year, the company announced that Luby’s and once-popular corporate cousin Fuddruckers would be closed and dissolved if buyers are not found.
A former Fuddrucker’s in Fort Worth, 5601 SW Loop 820, is becoming a Pluckers Wing Bar.
San Antonio-based Furr’s AYCE Marketplace closed its last Tarrant County location earlier this year. The 95-year-old Highland Park Cafeteria in Dallas closed in May 2020.
This story was originally published June 22, 2021 at 3:30 PM.
