Most Americans likely think that Chili’s pioneered the sale of ribs in the United States. That chain, however, was actually more famous for bringing another popular menu staple nationwide.
The chain is certainly proud of its ribs, but it literally takes credit for teaching Americans to pronounce one of its signature menu items.
“Chili’s opened its first restaurant on the corner of Greenville Avenue in Dallas in 1975. Back then, the restaurant was known as a burger shack with 25 menu items, beer, and margaritas included. In 1986, Chili’s popularized an emerging dish called fajitas (the menus at that time spelled out how to pronounce the dish: “fa-heet-ah”). From there, Chili’s taught Americans how to sing about baby back ribs,” the chain shared in a press release.
And while Chili’s was growing the market for ribs in the 1980s, so was another chain that has not seen the same level of sustained success.
There was a period where, alongside Chili’s, Damon’s was a fast-growing brand.
“The Columbus-based sports bar and rib purveyor once ruled its little casual niche. But then things changed. New, similar concepts, both chains and independents, entered the scene, economies in its core markets tanked, and Damon’s suffered not only from growing guest indifference, but from its own identity crisis as well,” Food Service Director shared.
The chain has survived a bankruptcy and saw its store count climb to over 150 at its peak. Now, only a handful of independent operators keep the name alive.
Damon’s had a slow, steady collapse.
“There were liquidity issues. We were $40 million in debt, and we were losing money. Not a good way to run a business,” former CEO Carl Howard told Food Service Director.
Howard resigned in 2007 after 17 months on job, according to Nation’s Restaurant News. The company’s fortunes arguably only got worse from there.
The overall market in 2009 and 2010 was not great for most restaurants.
“Expect continued slower traffic,” Tim Powell of Technomic said at an industry event in 2009, Nation’s Restaurant News reported. “A lot of people are not going to feel good about going out to eat. There is a ways to go before we see a rebound.”
Technomic also shared some data for 2010:
Foodservice sales this year will drop 3.8% on a nominal basis, which includes the assumption of 2.5% in menu-price inflation, as the industry was hard hit by slashed consumer spending during the “great recession.”
Projections for 2010 include a 0.8% nominal decline in total foodservice sales, which reflects an inflation rate of 1.5%, as forecast by Technomic.
The three years of 2008 through 2010 mark the weakest time frame in foodservice history, Technomic executives said.
During that period, not only have same-store sales slowed for nearly all restaurants.
Data from another research firm backed those numbers up.
“Restaurant visits declined across all segments and in all four quarters of 2009, resulting in a total-year decline of 3% versus year-end 2008, according to The NPD Group,” Media Post reported.
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The year 2009 was generally a bad one for restaurants.
“NPD estimates that consumer spending in restaurants declined 1.2% [in 2009] — the first decline recorded in such spending since the market research firm began tracking the foodservice industry in 1976. The sales decline reflected both the weak traffic and only modest growth in check size,” Media Post added.
Damon’s Grill was arguably one of the creators of the modern sports bar concept.
The chain, however, in some ways created its own problems.
“Damon’s was founded in Columbus in 1979. It grew through the 1980s and 1990s. They were on the cutting edge of the TV sports-bar concept with ribs in the area,” according to Columbus Restaurant History.
The success of the concept led to copycat rivals.
“As time went on there were sports bars popping up on almost every corner, and many restaurants serving ribs proliferated,” the site shared.
“There were over 150 units, but that number declined to 88 by 2006, when a North Carolina real-estate developer bought it. Two years later, the concept was bought by a Pittsburgh developer. And in 2009, Damon’s… filed for bankruptcy protection.”
The chain suffered from being a bit too broad in a market that was becoming more niche.
“While franchising allowed Damon’s to quickly establish a national presence, it also created challenges in maintaining consistency in quality and service across all locations. As the brand grew, it struggled to clearly define its target demographic. Was it a family restaurant? A sports bar? A late-night hangout? This lack of focus blurred its identity and made it difficult to compete effectively with more specialized chains,” Chef’s Resource shared.
Damon’s Grill built its reputation on ribs.Shutterstock
Damon’s Grill emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2010, but it came out of the process with many fewer locations. That has dwindled further in recent years, but it does still exist.
“Despite the widespread closures, a handful of Damon’s Grill locations still operate, primarily under franchise agreements. These surviving locations represent a testament to the brand’s initial appeal and the loyalty of its remaining customers. However, they are a far cry from the extensive chain that once dominated the casual dining scene,” according to Chef’s Resource.
The chain now has five locations, but no corporate structure.
The Broken Chains Blog, which seeks out and visits surviving locations of formerly large chains, visted one of the last Damon’s Grill locations.
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“The fact that this Damon’s and four others are still in business ten years after their corporate parent gave up on them tells a different story. The towns that still have a Damon’s location obviously hold them in high enough regard that they’ve been able to keep their doors open despite all odds, and I’m glad they have,” the author shared.
At its peak, Damon’s Grill operated over 130 restaurants across 29 states and several international locations.
1980s-1990s – growth period: The chain expanded significantly during these decades, building up what would become a large network of casual‑dining/sports‑bar restaurants, Columbus Restaurant History reported.
By early 2000s – peak size: The chain reportedly had “nearly 150 units” at one point, shared Restaurant Hospitality.
2002 onward – decline begins: Industry reporting indicates that sales and store counts began to drop, according to Restaurant Hospitality.
2006: The company reportedly was carrying around $40 million in debt and experiencing liquidity issues, wrote Restaurant Hospitality.
By 2006 – shrinking footprint: The number of U.S. locations reportedly dropped to around 88, Columbus Restaurant History reported.
October 2009 – bankruptcy filing: Damon’s International filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, according to the official court docket.
2011-2012 – major contraction: By 2011, sales had fallen to about $70 million (down sharply from earlier years), 24/7 Wall St. shared.
2012 – further closures: Some franchise‑ or lease‑based restaurants closed; for example, a former Damon’s Grill building in Ann Arbor was put up for sale after the restaurant closed because a lease agreement could not be renewed, according to Ann Arbor News.
2017 – example of a local closure: A Damon’s Grill & Sports Bar site in Steubenville (on University Boulevard) announced its closure after “more than 20 years” at that location, reported the Herald Star Online.
Later years – mostly defunct: What remains of Damon’s appears to be a handful of former franchise locations; public records and restaurant‑history analyses describe Damon’s as largely shut down, Broken Chains Blog reported.
Related: Pioneering national pizza chain files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
