Most Americans probably believe that Chili’s pioneered the sale of ribs in the United States. That chain, however, was actually more famous for bringing another popular staple to menus nationwide.
The chain is certainly proud of its ribs, but it literally deserves credit for teaching Americans how to pronounce one of its menu items.
“Chili’s opened its first restaurant on the corner of Greenville Avenue in Dallas in 1975. Back then, the restaurant was known as a burger shack with 25 menu items, beer and margaritas included. In 1986, Chili’s popularized an up-and-coming dish called fajitas (the menus at the time said how to pronounce the dish there: ‘the fajitas of the day’): Americans how to sing about ribs for children,” the chain shared in a press release.
And while Chili’s was growing the rib market in the 1980s, so was another chain that didn’t experience the same level of sustained success.
There was a time when, along with Chili’s, Damon’s was a fast-growing brand.
“The Columbus sports bar and rib purveyor once ruled its small casual niche. But then things changed. New, similar concepts, both chains and independents, entered the scene, savings in its core markets diminished, and Damon’s suffered not only from growing guest indifference, but also from its own identity crisis,” said the Food Service director.
The chain survived bankruptcy and saw its store count climb to more than 150 at its peak. Now, only a handful of independent operators keep the name alive.
Damon had a slow, steady collapse.
“There were liquidity problems. We were $40 million in debt and losing money. It’s not a good way to run a business,” former CEO Carl Howard told Food Service.
Howard resigned in 2007 after 17 months on the job, according to Nation’s Restaurant News. The company’s fortunes arguably took a turn for the worse from there.
The general market in 2009 and 2010 was not great for most restaurants.
“Expect slower traffic,” Technomic’s Tim Powell said at an industry event in 2009, Nation’s Restaurant News reported. “A lot of people are not going to feel good when they go out to eat. There’s a way to go before we see a rebound.”
Technomic also shared some data for 2010:
Food service sales this year will fall 3.8 percent on a nominal basis, which includes an assumption of 2.5 percent menu price inflation, as the industry was hit hard by subdued consumer spending during the “Great Recession.”
Projections for 2010 include a nominal 0.8% decline in total foodservice sales, reflecting a 1.5% inflation rate, according to Technomic’s forecast.
The three years from 2008 to 2010 mark the weakest time span in food service history, Technomic executives said.
During that time, not only did same-store sales slow for nearly all restaurants.
Data from another research firm backed up those numbers.
“Restaurant visits declined across all segments and in all four quarters of 2009, resulting in an overall year-over-year decline of 3 percent from the end of 2008, according to The NPD Group,” Media Post reported.
Related: 65-year-old fast-food chain sues major operator after closings
2009 was generally a bad year for restaurants.
“NPD estimates consumer spending at restaurants down 1.2% [in 2009] — the first decline in such spending since the market research firm began tracking the food service industry in 1976. The sales decline reflected both weak traffic and a modest increase in check size,” Media Post added.
Damon’s Grill was undoubtedly one of the creators of the modern sports bar concept.
The chain, however, has, in a way, created its own problems.
“Damon’s was founded in Columbus in 1979. It grew through the 1980s and 1990s. They were at the forefront of the TV sports bar concept with ribs in the area,” according to Columbus Restaurant History.
The success of the concept led to copycat rivals.
“As time went on, sports bars appeared on almost every corner and many restaurants serving ribs proliferated,” the site reported.
“There were more than 150 units, but that number dropped to 88 by 2006, when a real estate developer in North Carolina bought it. Two years later, the concept was bought by a developer in Pittsburgh. And in 2009, Damon … filed for bankruptcy protection.”
The chain suffered from being a bit too broad in a market that was becoming increasingly niche.
“While the franchise allowed Damon’s to quickly establish a national presence, it also created challenges in maintaining consistency of quality and service across all locations. As the brand grew, it struggled to clearly define its target demographic. Was it a family restaurant? A sports bar? A late-night hangout?
Damon’s Grill built its reputation on ribs.Shutterstock” loading=”lazy” height=”540″ width=”960″ class=”yf-1gfnohs loader”/>
Damon’s Grill built its reputation on ribs.Shutterstock
Damon’s Grill emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2010, but emerged from the process with far fewer locations. This has diminished even more in recent years, but it still exists.
“Despite the widespread closures, a handful of Damon’s Grill locations continue to operate, primarily through franchise agreements. These surviving locations are a testament to the brand’s original appeal and the loyalty of its remaining customers. However, they are a far cry from the sprawling chain that once dominated the casual dining scene,” according to Resource Chef’s.
The chain now has five locations but no corporate structure.
The blog Broken Chains, which seeks out and visits surviving locations of former major chains, visited one of the last Damon’s Grill locations.
More restaurants
“The fact that this Damon’s and four others are still in business ten years after their corporate parent folded tells a different story. The cities that still have a Damon’s location obviously hold them in high enough regard that they’ve managed to keep their doors open against all odds, and I’m glad they did,” the author said.
At its peak, Damon’s Grill operated more than 130 restaurants in 29 states and several international locations.
1979: Damon’s was founded in Columbus, Ohio, according to Columbus Restaurant History.
1980-1990 – period of growth: The chain expanded significantly during these decades, building what would become a large chain of casual dining/sports bars, Columbus Restaurant History reported.
In the early 2000s – peak size: The chain had “nearly 150 units” at one point, Restaurant Hospitality shared.
2002 onwards – decline begins: Industry reports indicate that sales and store numbers have begun to decline, according to Restaurant Hospitality.
2006: The company reportedly had about $40 million in debt and was facing liquidity problems, Restaurant Hospitality wrote.
By 2006 – shrinking footprint: The number of U.S. locations has dropped to about 88, Columbus Restaurant History reported.
October 2009 – bankruptcy filing: Damon’s International has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, according to official court filings.
2011-2012 – major contraction: By 2011, sales had fallen to about $70 million (down sharply from previous years), 24/7 Wall St. said.
2012 – other closures: Some franchised or leased restaurants were closed; for example, a former Damon’s Grill building in Ann Arbor was put up for sale after the restaurant closed because a lease could not be renewed, according to the Ann Arbor News.
2017 – example of local closure: A Damon’s Grill & Sports Bar site in Steubenville (on University Boulevard) has announced its closing after “more than 20 years” at that location, the Herald Star Online reported.
Years later – mostly gone: What’s left of Damon’s appears to be a handful of former franchise locations; public records and reviews of restaurant history describe Damon’s as mostly closed, Broken Chains Blog reported.
Related: Pioneering national pizza chain files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
This story was originally published by TheStreet on December 14, 2025, where it first appeared in the Restaurants section. Add TheStreet as a favorite source by clicking here.
