Quaker Steak & Lube hires CEO
February 10, 2008 by Sean Kelly
Filed under Business
(FranchisePick.Com) The Pittsburgh Business Times reports that Quaker Steak & Lube has hired the former CEO of Sizzler USA, Ken Cole, as Chief Executive Officer. Quaker Steak & Lube is an amazing restaurant franchise concept and one of the top 5 restaurant chains in the country by average unit volume. (AUV)
Source: Pittsburgh Business Times
Quaker Steak & Lube hires CEO
Pittsburgh Business Times – by Tim Schooley Friday, February 8, 2008 – 1:56 PM EST
In a move to boost its ambitions to become a national franchise, Quaker Steak & Lube has hired its first CEO from outside the company.
Ken Cole, who resigned this week as president and CEO of Sizzler USA, the 223-unit casual dining chain based in Los Angeles, will serve in the same role for Sharon, Pa.-based Quaker Steak & Lube.
Cole will replace Quaker Steak & Lube’s founders, George Warren and Gary Meszaros.
Warren had been president and CEO, and Meszaros was vice president and COO. They will become executive vice presidents and vice chairmen of the chain’s board of directors.
Quaker Steak Chairman Michael Stack said naming Cole as president and CEO will ensure the company’s franchise growth.
“The Quaker Steak & Lube concept has evolved from a single restaurant into a very successful chain with tremendous potential,” Stack said. “Quaker Steak & Lube is now at the point where Ken’s vast experience and knowledge will be extremely helpful in growing both our company and franchised restaurant base.”
While the chain is based in Mercer County, its largest presence is in the Pittsburgh MSA, with seven locations. Overall, Quaker Steak & Lube has 29 franchised and company-owned motor sports-themed restaurants in 10 states. The first location opened in a converted Sharon gas station in 1974. Franchising began in 1997. Continue…
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At first I thought Quaker Steak & Lube was a mis-print, then I thought it was a joke. I can see how they can get some “mileage” out of that name.
Jim Coen
LOL
We have one close by in the Elyria area but the first one I went to was in the Pittsburgh area, it’s a casual dining restaurant. Very car buff oriented, stylistic in nature, the food was average-good, nothing exceptional.
I haven’t been to the one in Elyria for several years.