Glacier Restaurant Group announced that it is buying the Max & Erma’s restaurant chain from American Blue Ribbon Holdings with the objective of revitalizing the concept for exceptional growth.
Max & Erma’s is a casual dining concept with 51 locations in 10 states, primarily in the Midwest. American Blue Ribbon Holdings is the eighth largest full-service restaurant holding company in the U.S. and owns Baker’s Square and Village Inn, along with other brands.
“We are excited to welcome Max & Erma’s to our portfolio of restaurants,” says Brad Ridgeway, president of GRG. “It is a great brand that has a tradition of being an important part of the communities each location serves.”
“Our plan is to renew the concept and update it to today’s tastes by investing working and creative capital so it delivers the best guest experience possible. Our team is eager to revive the brand, introduce it to first-time guests and invite communities to rediscover the experience,” he says. “We’re very optimistic about Max & Erma’s potential.”
He adds that Max & Erma’s is an excellent complement to GRG’s existing collection of brands expanding the company’s breadth and geographic distribution. Based in Whitefish, Montana, GRG will now operate restaurants in 14 states.
“One thing that is so appealing about Max & Erma’s is its heritage,” Ridgeway says. “It is a family friendly restaurant where guests remember going as kids and now are bringing their kids in for the made-from-scratch hamburgers and other delicious food. Our goal is to build on the groundwork established by ABRH and take menu innovation, quality control, community involvement and brand culture to the next level.”
Earlier in January, ABRH announced the closing of 13 under-performing Max & Erma locations.
