History
Shari’s began in Hermiston, Oregon in 1978 with Ron and Sharon Bergquist as proprietors. The two ran the company for seven years. By 1999 Shari’s was the ninth largest family restaurant chain in the United States based on total sales, and sixth in growth.
In March 1999, the chain was acquired by Fairmont Capital Inc. for $60 million. At that time Shari’s operated 96 locations in seven states with 4,000 employees and $128 million in annual revenue. They were still the ninth largest family chain in 2003.
Shari’s lost a gender discrimination lawsuit in April 2005 and was ordered to pay $122,225 in damages. Then in December 2005 the company was purchased by New York private investment firm Circle Peak Capital.
President Larry Curtis retired in July 2008 after 24 years with Shari's. Bruce MacDiarmid joined Shari’s with extensive experience in the restaurant industry. In addition to Black Angus Steakhouse, he has held positions at Chevys Fresh Mex Restaurants as well as with the Paragon Restaurant Group, whose concepts included Carlos Murphy’s, Rusty Pelican and Hungry Hunter.
In 2009, Shari's Restaurants took ownership of and converted a number of Northern California Baker's Square restaurants to operate under the Shari's name.
Read more about this topic: Shari's Restaurants
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