By the time the contract had expired in the 1970s and Fertel was free to change the name of the establishment, the
BY BOBBY COMMAND
WEST HAWAII TODAY
bcommand@westhawaiitoday.com
The steak house with the name no one can figure out makes its debut on the Big Island in October.
Ruth’s Chris Steak House has targeted Oct. 9 as its opening day at the Shops at Mauna Lani. It is the fourth Ruth’s Chris Steak House to open its doors in Hawaii, joining two on Maui and a third at Restaurant Row in Honolulu.
“The Big Island of Hawaii is one of the most beautiful and popular destinations in the world,” said Randy Schoch, chairman of the Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Desert Island Restaurants, franchisee for Ruth’s Chris.
“The Mauna Lani is blessed with award-winning resorts and unequaled residential developments that have attracted discriminating individuals.”
Ruth’s Chris Steak House was founded in 1965 by Ruth Fertel, a single mother of two, after she purchased a New Orleans restaurant known as Chris Steak House.
Fertel, who died in 2002, agreed when she purchased the restaurant to keep the “Chris” name for a specified period of time. When the restaurant was moved, its name was changed to “Ruth’s Chris Steak House.”
By the time the contract had expired in the 1970s and Fertel was free to change the name of the establishment, the