Ruby Tuesday

Ruby Tuesday is a well-established casual dining chain recognized for its American menu and signature salad bar. The company began in 1972 when Sandy Beall, then a student at the University of Tennessee, opened the first location in Knoxville. Over the next several decades, Ruby Tuesday expanded steadily, reaching a peak of about 950 restaurants worldwide in 2009. This growth made the brand a familiar presence in suburban shopping centers and along major travel corridors, appealing to families and travelers alike.

The past five years have brought significant changes for Ruby Tuesday. After facing industry headwinds and a sharp decline during the COVID-19 pandemic, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2020 and closed a substantial number of locations. Since then, Ruby Tuesday has focused on stabilizing its business, prioritizing the performance of its existing restaurants over new development. As of November 2025, the company operates approximately 200 locations, with its footprint primarily in the eastern United States. While new openings are rare, the brand continues to make selective moves, such as relocating or replacing underperforming sites when strategically justified.

Ruby Tuesday is owned by NRD Capital, a private equity firm that acquired the chain in 2017. The company remains headquartered in Maryville, Tennessee. Today, Ruby Tuesday offers dine-in, takeout, and catering services, maintaining its emphasis on classic American fare and the salad bar experience that helped define the brand. For landlords, brokers, and developers, Ruby Tuesday stands out for its national name recognition, consistent traffic generation, and ability to adapt its format to a range of retail and travel-oriented environments. The brand’s approach in recent years has centered on consolidation and operational stability, with a measured posture toward new site growth. This history of resilience and adaptability continues to shape Ruby Tuesday’s role in the current restaurant landscape.