The Bizarre True Story Behind The Ruth's Chris Steak House Name: Fire, Trademark Wars, And A $715M Acquisition

The name "Ruth's Chris Steak House" is one of the most famously redundant and confusing in the restaurant industry, but its origin is a fascinating, true story of entrepreneurial grit, a devastating fire, and a legal loophole. As of late 2025, the brand continues to thrive under new ownership, yet the unusual, tongue-twisting name remains a permanent fixture, serving as a testament to its founder's quick thinking when faced with a catastrophic setback.

The short answer to the mystery is that the current name is a combination of the founder's name and the name of the original restaurant she purchased. The long answer involves a crucial, decades-old trademark restriction that forced a single mother with no prior restaurant experience to literally weld two names together to save her business, cementing a unique legacy that has since been valued at $715 million.

The Fearless Founder: Ruth Fertel's Biography

The entire identity of the global steakhouse chain rests on the shoulders of one remarkable woman, Ruth Ann Udstad Fertel, whose life story is as unique as the name she created.

• The Facts Of Life Cast Where Are Eastlands Girls Now 2024 Updates 2tx8p

• Full Name: Ruth Ann Udstad Fertel
• Born: February 5, 1927
• Birthplace: New Orleans, Louisiana
• Education: Graduated with a degree in Chemistry from Louisiana State University (LSU)
• Early Career: Worked as a lab technician and a college chemistry teacher.
• Personal Life: Divorced single mother of two sons.
• Entrepreneurial Start: In 1965, looking for a way to better support her sons, she mortgaged her home for $22,000 to purchase a small, existing restaurant.
• Original Purchase: Chris Steak House, which was first opened by Chris Matulich in 1927.
• Death: April 16, 2002, at the age of 75.

In 1965, Ruth Fertel purchased a small, well-known steakhouse in New Orleans called "Chris Steak House." Despite having no formal restaurant experience, Fertel quickly learned the ropes, even working 12-hour days, seven days a week, to master every aspect of the operation, from butchering meat to waiting tables. She maintained the restaurant’s signature method of serving steaks: sizzling hot on a 500-degree plate, a tradition that continues to this day.

The Fire, the Trademark, and the Accidental Name

The bizarre, repetitive name exists solely because of a disastrous kitchen fire and a legal technicality that forced a sudden, desperate rebranding.

The Catastrophic Fire of 1976

For over a decade, Ruth Fertel successfully ran the original location under its existing name, "Chris Steak House." In 1976, however, a devastating kitchen fire completely destroyed the original building. This forced Fertel to quickly relocate her business to a new location down the street.

• Shania Twains Bold Statement Why The Star Chose Nude Photoshoots At 57 Qf9cg

The Trademark Trap

The problem was the original purchase agreement. When Ruth bought the restaurant from Chris Matulich in 1965, the contract stipulated that if the restaurant ever moved from its original location, she could not take the "Chris Steak House" name with her. The fire triggered this restriction, essentially leaving her with a thriving business but no legal name for her new location.

Facing a massive loss of business and needing to open immediately, Fertel took the most straightforward, yet unconventional, route possible: she simply added her own name to the front of the restricted name.

The new sign read: "Ruth's Chris Steak House." She later joked that she simply ran out of money to buy a new sign, but the truth was a brilliant, pragmatic move to retain the brand recognition of "Chris Steak House" while legally differentiating the new establishment by adding her own name to it. This "accidental" name stuck, becoming one of the most recognizable, if confusing, brands in the fine dining world.

• The Untouchable Privacy 7 Secrets Of Rachel Mcadams And Jamie Lindens Life Beyond The Red Carpet E820e

The Modern Era: Darden's Acquisition and Future of the Brand

While the origin story is a tale of 1960s and 70s entrepreneurship, the brand’s most recent and significant update is its acquisition by one of the largest restaurant conglomerates in the world, ensuring the "Ruth's Chris" name remains current and relevant in the global market.

The $715 Million Deal

In May 2023, Darden Restaurants, Inc., the parent company of major casual dining chains like Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse, announced the acquisition of Ruth's Hospitality Group, the owner of the Ruth's Chris Steak House brand. The deal was valued at approximately $715 million. This acquisition immediately placed Ruth's Chris into Darden's Fine Dining portfolio, alongside The Capital Grille and Eddie V’s.

The Impact on the Brand Name and Experience

The acquisition has had no public impact on the iconic name or the restaurant's core principles. Darden's strategy is to leverage the strong brand equity and operational success of Ruth's Chris. The restaurant continues to be known for its high-quality USDA Prime beef, broiled in an 1800-degree infrared broiler, and served on the famous 500-degree sizzling plate. The name, "Ruth's Chris Steak House," is now a globally recognized trademark, a symbol of the brand's commitment to the dining experience Ruth Fertel established.

The corporate move solidified the brand's standing as a major player in the fine dining segment, demonstrating that the unique, hyphenated name is not a liability but a valuable asset that distinguishes it from competitors. The name is a constant conversation starter, a piece of marketing genius born out of necessity.

More Than Just a Name: A Legacy of Sizzle

The story of the "Ruth's Chris Steak House" name is more than a quirky anecdote; it is an enduring lesson in business resilience. A single mother in New Orleans, with a degree in chemistry and no restaurant background, turned a $22,000 investment into a global, multi-million dollar empire. The fire that should have ended her business instead forced a creative branding move that made the name unforgettable.

The name is a tribute to both the original "Chris Steak House," honoring the history and tradition of the location, and to Ruth Fertel herself, the determined founder who added her personal touch—and her name—to save the legacy. Today, the name continues to drive curiosity, proving that sometimes, the most confusing names are the ones you remember most.