Max & Erma's

Max & Erma's
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryRestaurant
Founded1972
Headquarters
Columbus, Ohio
Key people
Todd Barnum and Barry Zacks (co-founders)
ParentGlacier Restaurant Group
Websitewww.maxandermas.com

Max & Erma's is an American casual dining restaurant chain based in Columbus, Ohio. As of April 2024, the company operates seven locations in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, down from a peak of 110 restaurants across more than 12 states in the mid-2000s. It was founded in 1972 by Todd Barnum and Barry Zacks. The two businessmen purchased a local tavern in Columbus's German Village which had been operated by Max and Erma Visocnik since 1958; Erma died in 1977, and Max died in 1995. Barnum and Zacks retained the Max & Erma's name and created the theme restaurant, which featured a converted bathtub serving as a sundae bar.

Max & Erma's was purchased by Pittsburgh-based equity investor G&R Acquisition Inc. in a $10.2 million deal in April 2008. The company declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy on October 26, 2009. It was acquired by American Blue Ribbon Holdings, owners of the Village Inn and Bakers Square restaurant chains, in 2010.[citation needed]

On January 25, 2016, it was announced that Glacier Restaurant Group had purchased Max & Erma's from American Blue Ribbon Holdings. The sale followed the closure of 19 of the restaurant's locations that were described as underperforming.

On July 28, 2017, Glacier announced that the original German Village Max & Erma's location would close on August 7, 2017, citing a lack of financial viability.

  • The original Max & Erma's, Columbus, Ohio
  • Old Max & Erma's logo from 1972 to 2005 and as alternate logo from 2005 to 2007
  • Max and Erma's location in Springboro, Ohio

References

  1. ^ Eaton, Dan (January 11, 2024). "The Max & Erma's story: How the restaurant chain went from a regional giant to just seven remaining locations". Columbus Business First. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  2. ^ a b Malone, JD (July 28, 2017). "Original Max & Erma's in German Village to close Aug 7". The Columbus Dispatch. Archived from the original on August 1, 2017. Retrieved 17 Sep 2024.
  3. ^ "Our Memories". Max and Erma's. Archived from the original on 2010-11-26. Retrieved Nov 13, 2010.
  4. ^ Eaton, Dan (April 28, 2008). "Max & Erma's to be acquired for $10.2M". Columbus Business First. Retrieved 2019-11-22.
  5. ^ "Max & Erma's files for bankruptcy". The Columbus Dispatch. October 26, 2009. Archived from the original on October 10, 2012.
  6. ^ Press Release: GLACIER RESTAURANT GROUP BUYS MAX & ERMA’S TO ADD TO ITS GROWING PORTFOLIO http://www.grgfood.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/GRG-Acquires-Max-and-Ermas-1.25.16-2.pdf



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