Beef-A-Roo

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Beef-A-Roo
IndustryFast food
Founded1967; 58 years ago (1967)
Founder
  • Dave Debruler
  • Jean Vitale
Number of locations
c. 20 restaurants (2024)
Websitebeefaroo.com

Beef-A-Roo is a franchised chain of fast casual restaurants which was founded in Rockford, Illinois by Dave Debruler and Jean Vitale.

Description

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The chain's mascot is the Beef-A-Roo Buckaroo.[1] Each store has a different theme. Many of its original locations had 1950s decor based on themes like log cabins, fire stations, train stations, and diners. Other stores have "comfort" themes featuring fireplaces and couches.[2]

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The menu features burgers, roast beef sandwiches, salads, soups,[3] wraps, desserts,[4] and milkshakes.[5] It is known for serving cheddar fries and loaded fries as a side.[6] The chain experimented with serving breakfast,[7] but stopped in January 2025.[8]

History

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The first Beef-A-Roo restaurant was opened in Rockford, Illinois[9] by Dave Debruler and Jean Vitaler in 1967.[10] It served roast beef and ham sandwiches and potato chips. By the 1980s, the restaurant's menu had expanded to include a salad bar, hamburgers and other items.[2] In 2007, Debruler and Vitale sold the restaurant to their children,[9] including daughter Melissa Pratt. It was owned by their family until 2019 when they sold the chain to a larger company;[10] it is now a franchise restaurant.[11] In 2021, its franchising rights were sold to NEXT Brands and Development.[12] In 2022, the chain planned to open 50 stores.[13]

The chain hastened its expansion by using shipping containers to fabricate restaurants in several states. These modular stores cost only $200,000 to construct and required only three or four employees to operate.[14][15] It has also opened restaurants in several closed Hardee's locations.[11]

As of April 2024 the chain had about twenty restaurants in six states outside Illinois, including Arkansas, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, and Texas.[16]

The company ran an advertising campaign with NASCAR driver Noah Gragson and Front Row Motorsports in 2025.[17]

References

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  1. ^ Hamblen, Amy (2022-06-05). "Could Beef-A-Roo Become The Next Hot Restaurant Chain?". Mashed. Static Media.
  2. ^ a b Conner, Lynne (2017-03-15). ""Famously Delicious" Beefaroo celebrates 50 years". Winnebago Chronicle. Retrieved 2025-04-18.
  3. ^ Hasdall, Joe (2023-07-27). "Beef-A-Roo prepares for a crowd on opening day". Springfield Daily Citizen. Retrieved 2025-04-18.
  4. ^ Sander, Leah; InkFreeNews (2025-06-27). "Beef-A-Roo's Warsaw Detroit Street Location Has Soft Opening". Times-Union. Retrieved 2025-09-20.
  5. ^ Wellen, Brianna (2022-04-29). "What Happens When A Beloved Regional Chain Goes National?". The Takeout. Retrieved 2025-09-20.
  6. ^ Hall, Matt (2021-10-08). "Rockford's Beefaroo named best fast food chain in Illinois". Retrieved 2025-04-18.
  7. ^ Brinkley, Rhett (2024-04-17). "Beef-a-Roo reopens, now serves breakfast". Arkansas Times. Retrieved 2025-04-18.
  8. ^ @beefaroousa; (2024-12-31). "Effective January 1, 2025, we will no longer be serving breakfast". Retrieved 2025-04-18 – via Instagram.
  9. ^ a b Haas, Kevin (2024-03-05). "Beef-a-Roo named one of America's 40 hottest fast casual restaurants". Rock River Current. Retrieved 2025-04-18.
  10. ^ a b "Beefaroo looks to expand nationally". WIFR. 2021-05-08. Retrieved 2025-04-18.
  11. ^ a b Becker, Shannon (2024-11-05). "The 55-year history of the Beef-A-Roo, see the menu!". KOAM-TV. Retrieved 2025-04-18.
  12. ^ "With Five Decades of Proven Restaurant Success, NEXT Brands & Development Prepares Legacy Roast Beef Brand, Beef-A-Roo, for Franchising". restaurantnews.com. 2022-04-28. Retrieved 2025-04-18.
  13. ^ "Beef-A-Roo Aims to Bring Cult Status to National Scene". QSR Magazine. 2022-06-02. Retrieved 2025-04-18.
  14. ^ "Beef-a-Roo ending 2023 with 5 openings". fastcasual.com. 2023-12-14. Retrieved 2025-04-18.
  15. ^ "Beef-a-Roo expanding via shipping containers". fastcasual.com. 2023-05-04. Retrieved 2025-04-18.
  16. ^ Becker, Shannon (2024-04-26). "Beef-A-Roo will open in former Joplin Hardee's, 1810 S Main in Joplin". KOAM-TV.
  17. ^ "Beef-a-Roo Enters into Partnership with Front Row Motorsports". 2025-03-11. Retrieved 2025-04-18.
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