Ruth Fertel
First Lady of American Restaurants

There was no accolade or award for the "First Lady of American Restaurants," but if there were, Ruth Fertel, founder of Ruth's Chris Steak House, would have qualified for it.

Ruth's Chris Steak House is the nation's largest upscale restaurant company with 89 operations (United States, Puerto Rico, and internationally) selling over 17,000 steaks a day and grossing more than $250 million annually. The Ruth's Chris success story was born on a hunch and a gamble.

Born in 1927, Ruth earned a degree in chemistry with a minor in physics at Louisiana State University, graduating at age 19. She taught briefly at McNeese Junior College in Lake Charles, Louisiana, but left to marry and raise a family. Fourteen years later Ruth, by then divorced, reentered the work force as a lab technician at Tulane Medical School. Four years there convinced her that she couldn't earn enough to send her two sons to college, so she decided to go into business for herself. That was in 1965.

One day while scanning the classified section of the local newspaper,Ruth found an ad for a steak house for sale. "I can do that!" she thought to herself, although she had no prior experience and limited funds.

In short order, against the advice of her lawyer, her banker and her best friend, Ruth mortgaged her home to buy the small restaurant, then called Chris Steak House. "To show you how naive I was at the time," recalls Ruth, "I was ready to borrow only the $18,000 required to buy the restaurant, but the bank suggested I take an additional $4,000 to buy food and supplies!"

Ruth compensated for her lack of experience with plain hard work. It paid off, and the people came. In the first six months, she more than doubled her previous annual salary. Her restaurant soon became popular with the city's media personalities, political leaders, sports figures and business people. The name "Ruth's Chris" has become identified with quality and fine steaks.

In 1977, at the urging of a loyal customer, Ruth granted the first franchise for a locally owned Ruth's Chris Steak House. Today, 40 are company-owned and 49 restaurants are franchised.

To what did Ruth attribute her success? Ruth always followed the golden rule. She treated her customers as she wanted to be treated. Also, Ruth claimed that her basic "gut feeling" was responsible for successful decisions through the years.

Today, Ruth's Chris Steak Houses appear on "best restaurants" lists nationwide.