Dead Page: Bob Evans, Restaurant Chain Founder

BOB EVANS 1918-2007

Founder of restaurant chain: Ohio entrepreneur began food empire with a single truck stop and a search for the best sausage possible; decades later, 579 Bob Evans eateries are spread across 18 states


Bob Evans died June 21, 2007, in Columbus, Ohio. His search for the perfect sausage to serve the truckers at his twelve stool, 24-hour a day steakhouse in southeast Ohio led to the national restaurant chain that bears his name.

After WWI, he opened a restaurant in Gallipolis, Ohio, but complained that he couldn't get good sausage. Starting with $1,000, a couple hogs, 40 pounds of black pepper, 50 pounds of sage, and other secret ingredients, he made his own. He used just the best parts of the hog as opposed to scraps as was used in most sausage.

This marked the beginning of a restaurant chain with $1.6 billion in revenue last year, 579 Bob Evans restaurants in 18 states, and 115 Mimi's restaurants primarily in the west. The corporation employs 35,000 and it's products are also sold in grocery stores.

He used to appear on early commercials wearing a Stetson hat and a string tie.

This is one great success story.