Texas Roadhouse

The new job is going good. It's been lots of fun (other than the line dancing). The people are all really nice and fun to work with.

Here's an article from channel 4 news about the restaurant.

New Logan restaurant dedicates all profits to charity

LOGAN, Utah (ABC 4 News) - A new Texas Roadhouse restaurant opens on Monday in Logan, but this Utah location won't make a dime for the Louisville-based company. All the profits go to charity.

It's the first restaurant of its kind in the country, with all profits dedicated to help those less fortunate.

The charity is called Andy's Outreach, a program that helps Texas Roadhouse employees and their families in need ("Andy" is the company's cartoon armadillo mascot).

The roots of Andy's Outreach are born of tragedy.

A few years ago, Texas Roadhouse CEO G.J. Hart was attending a training seminar at the company headquarters in Louisville. While there, he met a 5-year veteran dishwasher named James Bryan, a deaf man and father to five children. He was impressed with Bryan and found out what an inspiration he was to all his co-workers. A few weeks after meeting Bryan, Hart learned the beloved employee had died from a heart attack, and organized an effort to pay for his funeral and help his surviving family members. Hart and others did more than help with family finances; the group eventually put all 5 children through college.

Since Bryan's death, the company charity has grown through employee contributions and other fund raisers, while helping hundreds of family members through some tough times. Eligible employees can get financial assistance when a child is born or when there is a death in the family.

Why Logan?

According to company representatives, Logan was one of several possibilities to become the principal provider for Andy's Outreach. Several economic and market factors went into choosing Logan over other potential new locations, but it wasn't until Texas Roadhouse brass flew into the Cache Valley that Logan got the final nod.

According to Texas Roadhouse managers, the company takes pride in taking care of its own, even during times of recession or economic downturn.

The store opens on Monday September 21, 2009, but several hundred invitees showed for an open house on Friday the 18th.

Those who attended were treated to the Texas Roadhouse tradition of several line-dancing performances by servers and other employees surrounded by big screen TVs and Texas-style decorations.

One decoration unique to the Logan restaurant is a mural hanging over the bar depicting the late James Bryan, flanked by Hart and others - a constant reminder of the special mission of a special restaurant where Cache Valley residents can go to forget their own troubles for a while, and ease the troubles of people they will most likely never meet.

There are more that 300 Texas Roadhouse locations across the country, but only one does a little more than provide steaks, drinks and a little atmosphere.

It's a special restaurant, and it's in a special place: Logan, Utah.