STEAK CHAIN OPENS FIRST CANADIAN RESTAURANT
By Adnews Staff
A U.S. steak house chain makes its Canadian debut with the opening of a restaurant in downtown Toronto Aug. 21. The Ruth's Chris Steak House company is backing the launch with radio and print advertising. It will also hold a three-day pre-opening feed for local media types and celebrities. The company will wait to see how well the first eatery does before opening others in Canada. The restaurant chain is headquartered in New Orleans and has a mix of corporate and franchise locations in the U.S. The Canadian restaurant is owned by Lana Duke, president of Duke Unlimited Advertising of Metairie, Louisiana, and owner of a Ruth's Chris outlet in San Antonio, Texas. The Duke agency has been handling advertising for the chain for 20 years and will be doing it in Canada as well. The Communications Group of Toronto is doing public relations. The company is owned by Ruth Fertel who started it when she bought the Chris Steak house in New Orleans in 1965 and added her name to it.