Ruby Tuesday in Oak Ridge announced in signs posted on its front doors that it has closed.
Signs posted on the two front doors at Ruby Tuesday on Tuesday night announce that the Oak Ridge restaurant has closed.
Note: This story was updated at 8:25 a.m. Oct. 1.
Ruby Tuesday in Oak Ridge has closed. The restaurant announced the closure in two signs posted on its front doors.
The signs invite diners to eat at other local Ruby Tuesday restaurants in Knoxville and Lenoir City.
The front doors of the Oak Ridge restaurant were locked Tuesday night, and a worker leaving the restaurant declined to comment. A Ruby Tuesday media representative wasn’t immediately available for comment Tuesday night or Wednesday morning.
In early January, the company announced that it would close 30 restaurants during the next few months, although executives wouldn’t say which ones. The announcement came after a disappointing earnings report, Entrepreneur magazine reported.
It wasn’t immediately clear if the closure of the Oak Ridge store was related to that January announcement.
“It has been widely known that Ruby Tuesday has been struggling across the board,” said Parker Hardy, president and chief executive officer of the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce. “There has been new leadership at the corporate level, often-changing menus, and re-branding efforts, so this is not just an Oak Ridge situation. But we should first be concerned about the men and women who are losing their jobs. That’s a tough blow, and I hope some other restaurant will take advantage of already trained staff.
“Looking ahead, I know that the Main Street Oak Ridge project will bring in new restaurants, but I’m also convinced it will lessen the likelihood of closures like this one. At the Chamber, we’ll be reaching out to restaurant prospects we are already talking to, brokers, and others. ”
Main Street Oak Ridge is the $80 million redevelopment that would replace the Oak Ridge mall with a mix of anchor stores, smaller retailers, large and small shops, restaurants and retailers, and out parcels. It could include office space, a hotel, and residential units. The project cleared a critical hurdle on Monday when city officials agreed to extend a property tax agreement for the 59-acre project, authorize $2 million in roadway and other infrastructure work, and offer a $500,000 grant if some federal funding is not approved.
Headquartered in Maryville, Ruby Tuesday was founded in 1972 by Sandy Beall. The first restaurant was near the University of Tennessee campus. Since then, the company has grown to 775 locations.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
Carol Donath says
It seems for every restaurant that opens, another closes. Although, I do notice that some are extremely busy most of the time, so they must be doing something right.
johnhuotari says
My wife and I enjoyed Ruby Tuesday food and service whenever we ate there. It was the first place we ate in Oak Ridge after we got married.
I wish the best to all the employees who worked there and hope they find work quickly.
It’s my understanding that the restaurant business is a tough business. So, I congratulate all of those restaurants that have succeeded.
Carol Donath says
I had gone there recently with a large group of women and we had a delightful time and had good food and excellent service, so I was sad to see that they closed and with no notice for the employees.
Philip W Nipper says
Tough business indeed. Let me see if I can list a few Oak Ridge restaurants that are no longer around. The Oak Terrace, Back Door Pizza, 3 Dairy Queens, Da Wabbit Drive In, Elza Gate Drive In, Burger Chef, The Snow White, The Village, Blue Circle, The Brown Cow, Edward’s, Mike’s Down-Towner, Carry Hillard’s, Sambo’s, Danver’s, The Magnolia Tree, Lubee’s, The Cheese Crock, Western Sizzlin’ Steak House, Quincy’s Steak House, Mrs Winner’s Chicken, Wish Bones Chicken, Dunkin’ Doughnuts, Harlow’s Doughnuts, Snappy Tomato Pizza, Sagebrush Steak House, The China Doll Drive Thru and now Ruby Tuesday. I am sure there are others that I have missed and I am sure there will be more in the future. Its just the nature of the business.
Cindy McCullough says
We rather liked Ruby Tuesday’s in Oak Ridge too and went there a few times a year before we moved to California. There isn’t any Ruby Tuesday’s near us now, or we would be continuing to frequent them.
WK Hyatt says
Not surprised, Rubys is in a reorganization nationally and when that happens the weaker stores get whacked. I hope all the employees were offered jobs at other stores or were able to find something. I felt like their decline began here when they took down all the local flavor decor including those State Championship pictures (like to know what happened to them?) and went to that goofy Art Deco decor and changed their menu. No. I will not go to Knoxville to eat at Rubys as I no longer go to Sears since it left here.