Is Sizzler Coming Back? Explore its History and Its Current Status
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Updated Jul 22, 2024
Is Sizzler Coming Back?
Sizzler made a short return as a pop-up restaurant in Brisbane for one night only on July 16th. Brisbane radio hosts Kip and Robin from KIIS 97.3FM helped set up the pop-up at the Coffee Club on Charlotte St. Sizzler's famous cheese toasties, salad, and dessert bar were available. KIIS 97.3FM gave away tickets for the event. Sizzler, owned by Collins Foods, had closed in 2020 after 35 years, citing COVID-19 as the reason.
Sizzler
Sizzler USA Restaurants, Inc. is a restaurant chain based in Mission Viejo, California. They are known for serving steak, seafood, and salad bar items. Most of their locations are in California, with a few in nearby states like Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Idaho, Utah, Oregon, and Puerto Rico.
Since 2023, Sizzler restaurants outside the United States are owned by Minor International, a company based in Thailand, and are not connected to the American Sizzler.
In September 2020, Sizzler USA filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy because the COVID-19 pandemic hurt their sales. This bankruptcy only affected the American Sizzler restaurants, not the ones owned by Minor International outside the U.S.
Sizzler History
Here is a timeline and history of events for Sizzler:-
Early History
Sizzler was founded in 1958 as Sizzler Family Steak House by Del and Helen Johnson in Culver City, California. At its peak, the chain had over 270 locations throughout the U.S., mostly in the West.
Growth and Menu Changes
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Sizzler promoted steak dinners with an optional salad bar, aiming to offer a full-service restaurant experience at a price slightly higher than fast food. To control costs, many locations had in-house meat cutters. During the 1980s, Sizzler faced competition from Ponderosa Steakhouse and Bonanza Steakhouse. They expanded their salad bar into a full buffet called the "Buffet Court," which led to a decline in other menu areas' quality, affecting Sizzler's reputation.
Bankruptcy and Recovery
Sizzler filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1996 to escape costly leases on unprofitable locations, closing over 130 restaurants. The company emerged from bankruptcy in 1997 and upgraded its food quality and prices in the late 1990s. They also introduced a new restaurant concept around 2002, with a lighter dining room and a new menu focusing on steaks, seafood, and the salad bar.
Ownership Changes
In 2005, Sizzler was sold to Pacific Equity Partners, an Australian investment firm. In 2011, Sizzler USA's management group, led by the CEO, bought the American portion of the chain, while the international locations remained with Pacific Equity Partners. The headquarters moved to Mission Viejo, California, in 2012.
Recent Developments
Sizzler launched its "ZZ" food truck to expand sales and test new dishes. In September 2020, Sizzler USA filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced the temporary closure of dining rooms and created rent payment issues. At the time, Sizzler had 107 locations in 10 states and Puerto Rico, down from 134 in 2018. Post-COVID, Sizzler is attempting to rebuild with renovations, a new menu, and an advertising campaign.
Where is Sizzler Located?
While Sizzlers are closed, in some locations it remains active, the current locations are:
United States
- Sizzler USA has locations mainly in California, with some in Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Idaho, Utah, Oregon, and Puerto Rico.
Japan
- The franchise holder in Japan is Royal Holdings Co., Ltd. They opened the first Sizzler in 1991 and had 10 locations by August 2021.
Thailand
- The franchise holder in Thailand is Minor Food Group via SLRT Limited. They opened the first Sizzler in 1996 and had 54 out of 60 restaurants reopened by September 2021 after COVID-19 restrictions eased.
Former Locations
Australia
- The first Sizzler opened in Brisbane in 1985. Collins Foods closed all remaining Sizzler restaurants in Australia in November 2020.
Taiwan
- Sizzler operated in Taipei from 1990 to 2010, with locations in Tianmu and Da'an.
China
- Minor Food Group had seven Sizzler restaurants in China between 2009 and 2012.
Indonesia
- Sizzler opened in Indonesia in the mid-1990s, with locations in Jalan M.H. Thamrin, Jalan Sabang, Mal Kelapa Gading, and Mall Taman Anggrek. These were later renamed American Grill.
Singapore
- Collins Foods had three Sizzler restaurants in Singapore in December 2001 and two by March 2013.
