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Arby's was founded in Boardman Township, Ohio, on July 23, 1964, by brothers Forrest (1922–2008) [15] and Leroy Raffel (1927–2023), [16] owners of a restaurant equipment business who thought there was a market opportunity for a fast food franchise based on a dish other than hamburgers.
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- From Restaurant Equipment to Roast Beef Sandwiches
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- The Comeback and Successful Exit
- Today’S Arby’s
- The Legacy of The Raffel Brothers
- FAQs
Forrest “Fuzzy” Raffel was born on May 14, 1922, to Jacob and Ann Raffel. His younger brother, Leroy, was born on March 13, 1927. Both brothers served in the military during World War II (Forrest in the Air Force and Leroy in the Naval Reserve). Forrest graduated from Cornell University’s School of Hotel and Restaurant Administration. Leroy graduat...
In the 1950s, the brothers bought their uncle’s restaurant equipment business and created Raffel Brothers, Inc., which became one of the country’s leading food service consulting firms, specializing in restaurant equipment for operators. But from afar, the brothers were watching the massive growth of Ray Kroc’s McDonald’s and how companies (such as...
“We were totally confident, while everyone else thought we were out of our minds.” – Leroy Raffel The brothers took a chance and on Thursday, July 23, 1964, when they opened their first quick service roast beef sandwich shop in Boardman, Ohio. They were going to call it “Big Tex,” but that name was already in market use, so they called the shop “Ar...
But the fast expansion required high amounts of working capital. The brothers utilized bank loans and equity capitalto help finance the late 1960s growth, but those sources weren’t going to sustain the current operational levels along with prospective growth plans. So as a result, the brothers sought to take their organization public with an IPO in...
While the company was within the Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization process, the Raffel Brothers would begin to regain control of the organization and spend the next couple of years restoring profitability. They successfully came out of the bankruptcy reorganization and by the end of 1975, the brothers grew Arby’s to 500 locations nationwide. Thi...
While Arby’s has gone through a variety of new management structures (even at one time being partially owned by Wendy’s) the organization still maintains its dominance in the quick service industry, including in 1991 being the first to introduce a healthy menu with items under 300 calories. Today, Arby’s is franchised throughThe Arby’s Restaurant G...
Forrest died in September 2008 at the age of 86, with his obituary stating that he was to “roast beef sandwiches” what Colonel Sanders was to “chicken.” Raffel, co-founder of Arby’s, died in 2023 at the age of 96. They leave behind a franchise that’s widely recognized, and now part of one of the largest restaurant companies in the US, and with a st...
What brothers founded Arby’s?
Brothers Forrest (“Fuzzy”) and Leroy Raffel founded Arby’s.
Are the Raffel brothers still alive?
No. Forrest Raffel died in 1986 and Leroy died in 2023.
Where were the Raffel brothers born?
The Raffel brothers were born in Zanesville OH and the first Arby’s opened in Boardman OH.
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Mar 25, 2023 · Leroy and his brother Forrest, also known as “Fuzzy,” later built a successful restaurant equipment company, Raffel Brothers, supplying restaurants, schools, turnpike restaurants and hospitals.
Mar 24, 2023 · Arby's co-founder Leroy Raffel has died at the age of 96, the company announced on its Facebook page Thursday, calling him "a truly visionary leader."
Mar 24, 2023 · Leroy Raffel, a co-founder of Arby’s who grew up in New Castle, has died. He was 96. Arby’s announced his death Thursday on its Facebook page. Raffell and his brother, Forrest — who died in...
Mar 25, 2023 · Leroy Raffel, who co-founded the Arby’s restaurant chain with his older brother in 1964, died on Tuesday. He was 96. >> Read more trending news. Raffel and his brother, Forrest Raffel, opened...
People also ask
Who are Leroy and Forrest Raffel?
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What happened to Arby's co-founder Leroy Raffel?
How did the Raffel brothers reorganize Arby's?
Nov 14, 2022 · Leroy and Forrest Raffel are the two siblings who founded the restaurant in 1964 in Ohio. They chose roast beef as the restaurant's flagship product specifically because it was different from hamburgers , and because they thought people would be happy paying a premium for it.
