you picked a fine time to leave, luann

Texas' beloved Luby's Cafeteria chain reveals timeline for shuttering all remaining locations

Luby's expects to cease most restaurant operations by August.

The days of LuAnn platters are drawing to a close. Luby's expects to cease most restaurant operations by the end of its fiscal year in August, the company reports in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The beleaguered, Texas-based cafeteria chain adopted a plan of "liquidation and dissolution" in November that will see the company sell off its assets — including the restaurants Luby's and Fuddruckers as well as its real estate holdings — and distribute the proceeds to shareholders. Luby's estimates each share will generate $3.82 in proceeds. Shares of the company's stock (NYSE: LUB) closed at $3.12 on Wednesday, February 3.

The company has been steadily closing locations statewide, including its restaurant at the corner of Post Oak and San Felipe that will become the new home of Kenny & Ziggy's. Currently, Luby's operates a dozen stores in Houston plus additional outposts in Pearland, Katy, and Stafford, according to its website.

Perkins Management Services, a Washington, D.C.-based company, acquired 13 locations of Fuddruckers in December. It will operate them as a franchisee.

In addition to winding down its restaurant operations, the company announced that Christopher Pappas has resigned as the company's CEO. John Garilli, of Winthrop Capital Advisors, will serve as interim president and chief executive officer. Pappas and his brother Harris Pappas own approximately 36-percent of the company's stock.

Among the company's various liabilities, the Small Business Administration has placed the company's $10 million Paycheck Protection Program loan under review. Luby's states that it has complied with all necessary procedures to have the loan forgiveness, but it cannot complete that process until the SBA makes it ruling. The agency tells the Houston Chronicle that all loans over $2 million are under review.

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Stay trill, owls

Bun B serves up smash hit smash burgers at Houston's Rice University

Photo by Quit Nguyen

Bun B is bringing Trill Burgers to Rice University.

Faculty, students, and staff at Rice University will have a fresh new dining option when classes resume for the fall semester. Trill Burgers will open its fourth Houston-area location on campus beginning Monday, August 17.

Located at the Rice Memorial Center, the new Trill Burgers will serve the restaurant’s signature smash burgers, which are available in either beef or vegan versions. That starts with the OG Trill Burger, made with two smashed beef patties, pickles, caramelized onions, Trill Sauce, and American cheese on a Martin’s potato roll. A vegan version uses plant-based smashed patties, vegan sauce, and vegan cheese. Burgers will be sold individually or as a combo with fries and a drink. Students will be able to use their campus dining dollars (Tetra) to purchase their meals.

Bun B, a Houston hip-hop legend and co-founder of Trill Burgers, has long had ties to Rice University. In 2011, 2013, and 2015, he served as a distinguished lecturer, co-teaching Religion and Hip-Hop Culture with Anthony Pinn, the Agnes Cullen Arnold Distinguished Professor of the Humanities.

“This is truly full circle for me,” Bun B said in a statement. “To bring this brand to Rice University where I once taught is a major moment for Trill Burgers and for myself.”

In addition to Trill Burgers, Rice is also home to locations of breakfast favorite Dandelion Cafe and salad and sandwich concept Local Foods Market.

“We are excited to build upon this long-standing relationship while giving the Rice community an authentic taste of Houston,” Beth Leaver, Rice’s assistant vice president of housing, dining, and hospitality, added. “Trill Burgers brings a distinctive and celebrated part of Houston’s culinary culture to the Rice campus. I am often asked about adding a great burger option, and this partnership fills an important gap in our dining portfolio.”

While the restaurant is open to the general public, its proximity to the original Trill Burgers location (3607 S. Shepherd Dr.) means it will likely appeal primarily to people who are already on campus. Initially, the restaurant will be open from 11 am-5 pm.

Opening at Rice comes at a time of continued growth for Trill Burgers. In December, the restaurant opened in Missouri City. It is expected to open a new location at Westheimer and Hillcroft (7616 Westheimer Rd.) as soon as this month.

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