NASHVILLE Tenn. Raymond L. Danner Sr., who was known for helping build the Shoney's family-dining chain, died here on Saturday, according to local media reports. He was 83.
Once a family-dining icon, Shoney's is a nickname for the late foodservice entrepreneur Alex Schoenbaum, who launched the first Shoney's Big Boy in 1953. He eventually teamed with Danner, a franchisee who had been developing the brand aggressively in Tennessee.
The chain, which eventually dropped the Big Boy's name, grew rapidly and peaked at around 1,600 units.
In the 1980s, Shoney’s was hit with a costly and highly publicized lawsuit suit alleging that Danner had fostered a climate of racial discrimination. The company eventually settled for more than $100 million.
Danner retired as Shoney’s chairman in 1989 and established a diversified investment company, called The Danner Co., which is still in operation.
Over time, Shoney’s lost its appeal to many consumers and the number of units fell to fewer than 300. In early 2007, veteran Atlanta restaurant operator David Davoudpour purchased the remains of the 282-unit Shoney's brand.
Danner is survived by his wife and four children. His funeral will be held Wednesday.
Calls to The Danner Co. were not returned by press time.