Ryans history

Jacob Ryan, who landed in Maryland in 1828

Eleanor Butler Ryan, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1830

Denis Ryan, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1833

Mary Ann Ryan, aged 33, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "London" in 1840

Elizabeth Ryan, who arrived in Charleston, South Carolina in 1846

Eliza Ryan, aged 25, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Inchinnan" in 1852

Miss Mary Ryan, factory worker in the Pemberton Mill on 10th January 1860 when the mill collapsed trapping 900 workers as rescue attempts continued into the night, an oil lantern was knocked over further engulfing the trapped workers in fire, she diedMr.

George L Ryan, who landed in Mississippi in 1903 Mr.

1912), aged 27, English 3rd Class Steward from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking and was recovered by CS Mackay-Bennett Mr.

Ryan later wrote a number of historical accounts of the key figures in the 1916 Easter Rising.

Ryan's founder, Alvin A. McCall, Jr., was born in 1927, ninth in a family of 11.

Jermoe J. Ryan, Newfoundland passenger from St John's, Newfoundland and Labrador was travelling aboard the railway ferry "SS Caribou" when it was struck by a German submarine torpedo on 14th October 1942, the most significant sinking in Canadian waters at that time, he survived the sinking

His initial success prompted him to quit his accounting job to form McCall Construction Co., which, according to McCall, showed a $43,000 profit its first year, 1958.

1970: Ryan's founder, Alvin McCall, Jr., enters the restaurant business by opening the Western Family Steak House.

In 1977, McCall sold his interest in Quincy's to what would become Trans World Corporation, but he retained the freedom to compete.

Since 1978, the Company has offered high quality food at affordable prices with exceptional friendly service in a family-oriented atmosphere to millions of hungry patrons who always leave well satisfied.

At the end of 1981 (when sales were $8.1 million) the partnerships were consolidated; Ryan's first public stock offering raised $4 million.

Beginning Life As a Public Company in 1982

In 1987, to clear the way for westward expansion, Ryan's paid Rian $150,000 for use of the name in the remaining United States.

In June 1988 Alvin McCall resumed his role as CEO as his son Mark left the post to start a restaurant chain in Texas.

Greenville accountant Charles Way took over as CEO in 1989 after serving as controller since the company was only two years old.

In 1990, a Restaurants & Institutions survey named Ryan's the best steak house in the United States.

Fred Grant, a finance officer, explained in 1991 that issuing a 25-cent dividend would cost $13 million, enough to start six restaurants.

Another subsidiary, Big R Procurement Co., had already been created in 1992 to purchase supplies.

Family Steak Houses, based in Neptune Beach, lost $2.1 million in 1993, in large part due to the closure of unprofitable stores.

The company did not run a significant advertising campaign until 1994, when it bought television and radio spots in Charleston.

Expanded installation of the scatter bars in 1995 helped Ryan's turn around sales declines.

By 1996 the company planned to support one-third of its stores with $1.7 million of advertising, a great deal for a chain that for years relied exclusively on word of mouth.

The company was successful, nonetheless, having adding roughly 50 new restaurants to the chain during the previous two years, giving it a total of 277 units by the beginning of 1998.

In 1999, Golden Corral began displaying the preparation of vegetables and bakery products to its patrons.

2003: The display cooking restaurants are given their own name, Fire Mountain.