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Texas Roadhouse ponders design changes to accommodate to-go salesTexas Roadhouse ponders design changes to accommodate to-go sales

Casual-dining brand expects coronavirus uncertainty and volatility will remain over coming months and quarters

Ron Ruggless, Senior Editor

August 4, 2020

4 Min Read
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Texas Roadhouse Inc., which saw coronavirus consumer patterns shifting sales to 25% to-go in June, is pondering design changes at existing and future units to accommodate that growing off-premise segment, executives said Monday.

The Louisville, Ky.-based casual-dining chain, which released second-quarter earnings, said operators transitioned nearly 600 full-service restaurants to a to-go-only model in March, when the COVID-19 pandemic was declared, and then move the majority of those same restaurants back to a hybrid operating model of limited-capacity dining rooms together with enhanced to-go service in May and June. 

“We have also been working on potential changes to our building prototype that could further enhance our ability to handle...

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About the Author

Ron Ruggless

Senior Editor, Nation’s Restaurant News / Restaurant Hospitality

Ron Ruggless serves as a senior editor for Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News (NRN.com) and Restaurant Hospitality (Restaurant-Hospitality.com) online and print platforms. He joined NRN in 1992 after working 10 years in various roles at the Dallas Times Herald newspaper, including restaurant critic, assistant business editor, food editor and lifestyle editor. He also edited several printings of the Zagat Dining Guide for Dallas-Fort Worth, and his articles and photographs have appeared in Food & Wine, Food Network and Self magazines. 

Ron Ruggless’ areas of expertise include foodservice mergers, acquisitions, operations, supply chain, research and development and marketing. 

Ron Ruggless is a frequent moderator and panelist at industry events ranging from the Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators (MUFSO) conference to RestaurantSpaces, the Council of Hospitality and Restaurant Trainers, the National Restaurant Association’s Marketing Executives Group, local restaurant associations and the Horeca Professional Expo in Madrid, Spain.

Ron Ruggless’ experience:

Regional and Senior Editor, Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality (1992 to present)

Features Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1989-1991)

Restaurant Critic and Food Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1987-1988)

Editing Roles – Dallas Times Herald (1982-1987)

Editing Roles – Charlotte (N.C.) Observer (1980-1982)

Editing Roles – Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald (1978-1980)

Email: [email protected]

Social media:

Twitter@RonRuggless

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ronruggless

Instagram: @RonRuggless

TikTok: @RonRuggless

 

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