COLUMBUS Ohio Family-dining chain and food company namesake Bob Evans died here Thursday of complications of a stroke he suffered in February, according to Columbus-based Bob Evans Farms Inc. He was 89, and was at the Cleveland Clinic recovering from pneumonia.
Evans’ career began in 1946 with the opening of a 24-hour, 12-stool truck-stop restaurant in Gallipolis, Ohio, where he served sausages made from hogs he raised on his farm. Bob Evans Farms was formed in 1953, and grew to become a maker of packaged foods sold in 40 states and parent of the Bob Evans restaurant brand, which has 579 restaurants in 18 states. Evans retired as president in 1986. The company bought the now-115-unit Mimi’s Cafe casual-dining chain in 2004.
For the year ended this April Bob Evans Farms had net earnings of $60.5 million from revenues of $1.65 billion.
Evans is survived by his wife, Jewell, and five of his six children.