Ruby S Restaurant

The Ruby's restaurant chain, no longer content to be known simply for its popular restaurants at the end of several Orange County piers, is undertaking an aggressive expansion campaign. The Newport Beach-based 1940s-style hamburger chain on Wednesday announced a five-year agreement with Host Marriott Services to open dozens of dinettes in airports and malls across the country.

Ruby's, the restaurant on the pier, recently accused the city of breach of contract because it discontinued the tram service it operated on the pier. The city has countered by saying the diner is in breach of its contract by refusing to pay a part of the rent, known as overage. City Manager Keith Till estimated that the city has lost $40,000 annually in rent revenue from the restaurant, but said the city hasn't seen any evidence that the lack of the tram has hurt the diner's business.

Her name adorns 25 restaurants in two states, and her face is splashed across thousands of menus. But Ruby Cavanaugh, namesake for Orange County-based Ruby's restaurant chain, will play her biggest role ever Thursday as she waves to millions of fans tuned in to the 109th annual Tournament of Roses Parade. Cavanaugh, who will only say she is older than 21 but younger than 100, is the mother of restaurant co-founder Doug Cavanaugh.

Johnny Rockets is known for its well-lit exterior. But there was a slight problem with the decor on the inside of the '50s style eateries: the artwork was identical to archrival Ruby's Diners, a Newport Beach-based chain. That is about to change. Johnny Rockets Group Inc., based in Irvine, will replace the Coca-Cola artwork with a new series of oil paintings that feature the Johnny Rockets logo.

Richard and Peggy Blatter were so eager for Thursday's opening of Ruby's Surf City Diner at the Huntington Beach Pier that they arrived at 7 a.m. "We watched it being built from the ground up," said Peggy Blatter, 59, who takes daily walks on the pier with her husband. They were among 40 people on hand for the grand opening of the diner, which resembles a 1940s malt shop with red vinyl booths, chrome-trimmed tables and an extra touch: surfing memorabilia.

Meanwhile, business is booming at Ruby's Surf City Diner at the end of the pier, which opened in 1996, about the time Maxwell's closed. And the eatery isn't worried about the coming competition, said spokeswoman Alethea Rowe, since Ruby's attracts a different clientele (such as folks who want to spend $6 or less on a meal). "We've had three record-breaking weeks so far this summer," Rowe said.

From its beginnings a decade ago on the Balboa Pier in Newport Beach, owner Doug Cavanaugh has already seen his nostalgic Ruby's grow into a chain of 10 restaurant diners--with more on the way. That was gratifying enough. But he was paid another compliment when the Walt Disney Co. sought his help in developing a Ruby's-type restaurant at Euro Disneyland outside of Paris. "When you have a chance to be associated with Disney, it's not one of those things you want to turn down," Cavanaugh said.

Ask for a float at Ruby's Diner on New Year's Day and the preferred flavor is likely to be rose. For the second year in a row, Newport Beach-based Ruby Restaurant Group is sponsoring a float in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena. The float is being decorated at the Brookside Tent in Pasadena at 1001 Rose Bowl Drive. Last year's float--titled "Malt Shop Memories"--won the National Trophy, for the best depiction of life in the United States.

Ruby's, the Newport Beach-based diner chain, will open its latest location--Ruby's Surf City Diner--at the end of the Huntington Beach Pier on Tuesday. The 150-seat, two-story building will feature--naturally--a surf motif inside. The building is modeled after the Avalon Casino on Catalina Island. Piers play a major role in Ruby's strategic plan. Ruby's president and founder, Doug Cavanaugh, opened his first diner on the Balboa Pier in 1982.

The Ruby's restaurant chain, no longer content to be known simply for its popular restaurants at the end of several Orange County piers, is undertaking an aggressive expansion campaign. The Newport Beach-based 1940s-style hamburger chain on Wednesday announced a five-year agreement with Host Marriott Services to open dozens of dinettes in airports and malls across the country.

Meanwhile, business is booming at Ruby's Surf City Diner at the end of the pier, which opened in 1996, about the time Maxwell's closed. And the eatery isn't worried about the coming competition, said spokeswoman Alethea Rowe, since Ruby's attracts a different clientele (such as folks who want to spend $6 or less on a meal). "We've had three record-breaking weeks so far this summer," Rowe said.

Her name adorns 25 restaurants in two states, and her face is splashed across thousands of menus. But Ruby Cavanaugh, namesake for Orange County-based Ruby's restaurant chain, will play her biggest role ever Thursday as she waves to millions of fans tuned in to the 109th annual Tournament of Roses Parade. Cavanaugh, who will only say she is older than 21 but younger than 100, is the mother of restaurant co-founder Doug Cavanaugh.

Ask for a float at Ruby's Diner on New Year's Day and the preferred flavor is likely to be rose. For the second year in a row, Newport Beach-based Ruby Restaurant Group is sponsoring a float in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena. The float is being decorated at the Brookside Tent in Pasadena at 1001 Rose Bowl Drive. Last year's float--titled "Malt Shop Memories"--won the National Trophy, for the best depiction of life in the United States.

Richard and Peggy Blatter were so eager for Thursday's opening of Ruby's Surf City Diner at the Huntington Beach Pier that they arrived at 7 a.m. "We watched it being built from the ground up," said Peggy Blatter, 59, who takes daily walks on the pier with her husband. They were among 40 people on hand for the grand opening of the diner, which resembles a 1940s malt shop with red vinyl booths, chrome-trimmed tables and an extra touch: surfing memorabilia.

When Ruby's Surf City Diner opens today at the end of the municipal pier, it will serve up not only hamburgers but also seaside ambience and a sensational ocean view. City officials hailed the new restaurant as an anchor for the downtown area that will attract visitors and bring in revenue that will eventually help pay for other improvements on the landmark pier. "Everyone I've talked to is thrilled that we will have a restaurant back on the end of the pier," Mayor Dave Sullivan said.

When Ruby's Surf City Diner opens today at the end of the municipal pier, it will serve up not only hamburgers but also seaside ambience and a sensational ocean view. City officials hailed the new restaurant as an anchor for the downtown area that will attract visitors and bring in revenue that will eventually help pay for other improvements on the landmark pier. "Everyone I've talked to is thrilled that we will have a restaurant back on the end of the pier," Mayor Dave Sullivan said.

Johnny Rockets is known for its well-lit exterior. But there was a slight problem with the decor on the inside of the '50s style eateries: the artwork was identical to archrival Ruby's Diners, a Newport Beach-based chain. That is about to change. Johnny Rockets Group Inc., based in Irvine, will replace the Coca-Cola artwork with a new series of oil paintings that feature the Johnny Rockets logo.

Ruby's, the Newport Beach-based diner chain, will open its latest location--Ruby's Surf City Diner--at the end of the Huntington Beach Pier on Tuesday. The 150-seat, two-story building will feature--naturally--a surf motif inside. The building is modeled after the Avalon Casino on Catalina Island. Piers play a major role in Ruby's strategic plan. Ruby's president and founder, Doug Cavanaugh, opened his first diner on the Balboa Pier in 1982.

The City Council has voted to spend $1 million to build a two-story Ruby's Diner on the new pier, as well as a coffee shop and a bait and tackle store. The city will use bonds that had been issued to build a parking structure at the north side of the pier. Officials scrapped plans to build the parking structure when the pier was closed in 1988, but the bonds remain available.