The Ames Fan Club

There were many Bonanza Steakhouses all around ME & NH a couple years ago.  They were mostly located near shopping malls in thriving commercial areas of that time.  Now many have closed and few are remaining.

I liked this chain back then, the ice cream machine and the metal plates they used ...!:roll:

Discuss !

When I was a kid, my family went to the Ponderosa in Plainville CT many years ago. We thought they closed all them, but one weekend when we went to the Southington Wal-Mart after our shopping trip to Price Chopper, we saw one on Queen St. We might go there one of these days. They have a salad bar and buffet for reasonable prices.

We had two Bonanza's and three Ponderosa's in Evansville.
Both Bonanza's went out of business in the early 1990's.  The Ponderosa's made it to about 2002.  All three closed when the local owner retired from the restaurant business.
We still have one Ponderosa across the river in Henderson KY.  I enjoy eating there from time to time.

The restaurant i visit the most is in Augusta ME. It's old but they recently did some improvements.  I would like to see their "New West" concept at old locations and the opening of new steakhouses.  

They have a long steakhouse history and it would be great to see them strong against LongHorn, Outback and Bugaboo Creek steakhouses.

The same parent company that has Bonanza/Ponderosa also owns the Bennigan's and Steak & Ale brands

We had quite a few Ponderosa's in the Albany area, the last one (and one of the two best, it seemed) closed a couple years ago - many had closed several years prior to that.

The only Bonanza I remember seeing was in Pittsfield, MA.

Ponderosa really did a great job changing their restaurant style and concept.  

They went from "old spaceship" to the "new west ranch" buildings !!

We're still stuck with the "old spaceship" buildings. Used to, we had a couple Bonanzas but they went out.

Here the site of the former Bonanza in Pittsfield MA (torn down and replaced by the Tractor Supply Co.) - This is kind of across the road and in back of the Bradlees/Papa Gino's (think this way - the back of Bradlees faces one side of the street, the left  side of this shot is the opposite side of the same street).

Bonanza in Augusta is now closed...  The owner wanted to re-open the restaurant under a new name but decided to close down for good.  Increasing competition appears to be the key factor of the closure.  This leaves only two restaurants in Maine.  There use to be about ten Bonanza in Maine in the past...

We had a Ponderosa here in Kingston. It closed in 1995 I think, and is now a library.

Here is a picture of the old Kingston location.

The former Bonanza in Salem NH, now a Ninety-Nine Restaurant.

A former Bonanza in Bangor Maine.  It's now a Laundramat.

the bonanza in laconia nh is still there. I wondre what restuarant bonanza is.

The Ponderosa in South Attleboro Mass and Swansea Mass are still in business. The one that was in North Providence RI was a 99 then became a Italian place called Mozzerella's. The one in Taunton Mass at last check was some sort of Chinese food place. I recall one across the street from the North Dartmouth Mall but don't know if it is still in business or not.

here is the ponderosa in baychester / bronx new york in the bay plaza

from http://www.siteride.com/srpl/p_snapshot.pl?lm=listing&resbox=1140389474&subNum=10206000075

It's been years since I've been back to my old stomping grounds (Elmira, NY) but I seem to recall a Ponderosa off of The Miracle Mile.. there also used to be one in Riverside.

Here in Colorado we have Bonanza.. I went to our location in Thornton (nothern Denver suburb) and I thought the place was nasty! I prefer Stuart Anderson's Black Angus when I go out for steak here

QuoteOriginally posted by Zayre88

I liked this chain, the ice cream machine and the metal plates they used ...!:roll:  

Here is one of their metal platter !

These are 2 former Ponderosa sites

1st is the one on Western Avenue, just below Crossgates - it sat closed for a bit, then was converted to a restaurant called Fresno's (I think they are local - there is another in Troy right on the water and they also own the Colorado Mine Co. on Central Ave above 155).  They closed this one rather suddenly last year or so and it is now empty again.

2nd is the Wolf Road location - after Ponderosa it was a Weathervane (seafoods) until they suddenly closed this and the East Greenbush ones a couple years back (leaving only the one in Saratoga Springs in NY) - then after a vacancy it was converted to (the first) 99 in the area (maybe in NY also).

I think Fresnos is a national chain. They had one in Poughkeepsie, that has closed in the past year or so.

QuoteOriginally posted by amesman
I think Fresnos is a national chain. They had one in Poughkeepsie, that has closed in the past year or so.

Just for info - Thought I'd check the site - they are more like a small region chain - the (current) locations are listed below:

SCRANTON AREA:
(Dickson City)
Fresno's Scranton
914 Scranton-Carbondale Highway
Scranton, PA 18508
570-383-9400  

TROY AREA:
Fresno's On The River
377 River Street
Troy, NY 12180
518-687-0737

 
SYRACUSE AREA:
Fresno's Camillus
4002 W. Genesee St
Syracuse, NY 13219
315-468-5000

Fresno's North Syracuse
3920 Brewerton Road
North Syracuse, NY 13212
315-458-5800  

BINGHAMTON AREA:
Coming Soon

They do, however, still have a dot for Poughkeepsie - apparently haven't edited the map.

I also checked Colorado Mine site (coloradomine.com) and they list just 2 of those - the Colonie one and one in Syracuse.

EDITED - Added a shot of the Colorado Mine Co. on Central Ave. in Colonie.

They need to update the map..the Poughkeepsie location is now a Houlihans restaurant(only other one I know of is in Crossgates).

The former Ponderosa on Lafayette road in Portsmouth, NH. Located near a recently opened Pizza Hut.

This is the Oneonta location on Route 7/23 in the West End section.  One of the few left in New York state.

Here is the Herkimer location

here is ponderosa in johnson city ny

I'm sure there are more, but I can recall a few Ponderosas in my area.

- Roosevelt Boulevard at Red Lion Road, Philadelphia, PA - across from the former Ground Round and Friendly's.  Now a mattress store, I believe.

- Oxford Avenue and Levick Street, Philadelphia, PA - unless I'm halucinating again.  I know there was a Wendy's over there as well, now they've been demolished for the shopping center with the Shop Rite, etc.

- Lenola Road and NJ 38, Maple Shade, NJ - this was the most recent Ponderosa to close in my area, as I recall.  It sits vacant next to a PJ Whelihan's bar and restaurant.  You can still see the booths inside.

My last actual Ponderosa experience was about five years ago at a location outside of Bethlehem, PA.  Let's just say that the food didn't agree with me.

There was a Ponderosa around the corner from me. We used to go there for dinner sometimes on Sundays.  We were going to go there two weeks ago, and they were closed and there was a sign in the window saying that they had to close that location.  Very Strange!

Former Bonanza in Portsmouth NH (now Margaritas), now closed Bonanza in Augusta ME and Bonanza in Laconia NH (still open)

The Augusta location closed because of slow business and increased competition from LongHorn steakhouse located at the other exit of the I-95.  

Christmas Tree Shops and Bed Bath & beyond will soon open across Bonanza and bring hundreds of shoppers in the area!!  There is a pad site available at that shopping center.  They should have moved the restaurant there with their new concept!!  It would have worked since they were able to remain in business in Augusta from the 70's to 2006.

here is the bonanza in presque isle maine on rt. 1

The former Bonanza in Brunswick ME... now Rentway!!  (note the flagpole still there today.  Many locations had one.)

The Ponderossa on Queen Street in Southington is the only one left in the entire state of Connecticut. The one in New Britian on West Main Stree closed many many years ago and sat vacant for many years. A night club was supposed to open there, but that never happened. Then a crappy pizza house moved in. I don't even think they lasted a year. Today the site is home to New Britain Pediatrics Associates.

Bonanza in Sanford ME.  It has recent logos all over.  It appears to be doing good business in Sanford.  One of only two remaining locations in the state.

As far as I know, there have been no Ponderosas in the Memphis area and the nearest one that I know of is in Jackson, TN which is where our only Dunkin Donuts is located.  It is an interesting little area that seems to have the claim to fame that the infamous "Casey Jones" restaurant and museum are located there.

It makes a nice day trip as it is about 2 hours each way, but you've really want to go there now with gas being so expensive.

:D:D:D:D:D:D:D  :insane::insane::insane::insane::insane:

here is the ponderosa in amsterdam ny

what looks like it was a ponderosa in manchester ct

southington ct

Bonanza in Laconia NH

bonanza in sanford me

ponderosa in erie pa around the millcreek mall.

ponderosa in ashtabula oh

Bonanza is now closed in Laconia NH.  It was a Lakes Region landmark since 1981 and the last one in NH.  It will become a T-Bone's Great American Eatery.

There is a Ponderosa on Dolson Avenue in Middletown, NY and I think there is still one attached to the hotel on the hill behind the Citgo in Montague, NJ (address might be Port Jervis, NY).

They built a new one in Watertown, and the old one is just standing there. The atmosphere is nice... but the food is awful.

Texas Road House is MUCH, MUCH, MUCH better.

Yet another Ponderosa seeing life as a Chineese eatery.

.

Former Ponderosa in Portsmouth NH.

Former Bonanza on U.S. Route 1 in Portsmouth NH.

A former Ponderosa in Merrimack NH (north of Nashua).

Does anybody have information about Bonanza & Ponderosa Steakhouses. They look a lot alike as far as their style of buildings. The menus and all are the same, are they owned by the same company. There is a Bonanza in Wise, Virginia has been here since about 1983, the other ones around have shut down like the one in Kingsport Tennessee & Bristol Tennesse.

Both chains are owned by Metromedia Steakhouse Inc. This is the same Metromedia that owned WNEW-AM/FM/TV in NYC and a handful of other stations in the US during the 70s and early 80s.

http://www.metromediarestaurants.com/

The last Ponderosa in Connecticut - 264 Queen Street Southington shut down for good last night. :(

More more more. I just received word that not only did the one in Southington close, but all the remaining locations in Massachusetts closed as well.

The one in Attleboro Mass is still open and doing a brisk business. I drove by there this afternoon. Maybe it is independently owned and wouldn't be affected by the closure. I'd have to take a ride up to Swansea and see if that one is still open.

Here's an article about the Southington closure. Note how the idiot president of the Chamber of Commerce blames the restaurant closing on them not being a member of the Chamber of Commerce.

http://www.zwire.com/site/index.cfm?newsid=20131060&BRD=1641&PAG=461&dept_id=594835&rfi=8

I Liked Ponderosa.

I just read the heralds article Marc linked, wonder what the other business mentioned at the end that was close to closing is??????Any guesses???

QuotePonderosa and Bonanza Steakhouse Chains File Chapter 11
Metromedia Puts Two More Restaurant Chains Into Bankruptcy

October 24, 2008

Metromedia Steakhouses Co., parent company of buffet restaurant chains Ponderosa Steakhouse and Bonanza Steakhouse, filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Plano, TX-based Metromedia said it would continue to operate as normal throughout the restructuring process, as it has already secured debtor-in-possession financing.

http://www.costar.com/News/Article.aspx?id=3979CDC8636C740BD50B9F8950565480

The original Ponderosa building design was Western Ranch-like (at left).

They later modified the front of these Ranches to make them more modern (at right).  They kept these old buildings but added sunroom extensions and/or new walls and roof/awnings with a side entrance.

There's a former Ponderosa next door to Wendy's on Prospect Avenue in Hartford that is now some other restaurant.  There's a former Bonanza on Albany Avenue in Bishops Corner in West Hartford.  It is now a McDonald's.

Swansea Mass Ponderosa has closed up for good, noticed it when I was driving by there yesterday. Unsure when it did. Only remaining one I know of is in South Attleboro Mass, I'll be driving by it there later this week and will see if it is still there.

the Ponderosa in Greensburg, PA by Westmoreland Mall closed about a year ago, I don't remember this. I didn't get to go there either. :( I'll get pics next time i go up that way.

Bonanza and ponderosa usd to be seperate
I always like Bonanza back in te days
Thay started the fix your own concept they had a Bonanza Burger  the sauce was great  I remember 2 locations  Anderson at Mounds Mall  which is now a chinese place last time i was there  it was empty for years  then Frischs Big Boy  then  empty again  Indianapolis In  at Washington St and Franklin Rd  My best guess is its gone  used to Be with Ayrway then Target  and Target closed up  unfortunatly that whole area has kinda run down

6 months later the Southington location remains vacant. Not even a for sale sign on the building. They took the signs off the building and off the marquee. The marquee just says Closed. Thanks for the Memories. If the weather hadn't been so crummy today I would've taken pix of it. (Today was horrible weather-wise in CT. We got everything except Thunderstorms, Tornadoes, and hurricanes).

And the former Ponderosa in New Britain which closed in the 90s is New Britain Pediatrics group. It was supposed to become Victoria's X-Rated Night Club, but they failed to get permits for that. Then it became Enzos Pizza. (Horrible). It sat vacant for a while again. And then it became New Britain Pediatrics Group.

This is another restaurant that I thought closed down entirely over a decade ago. I haven't been to one in 10 years easily, there used to be one in West Lebanon, New Hampshire near where the Walmart now is, but back then that was all just field and there wasn't anything around that building. That town has expanded that one tiny little street way too much

Attleboro Ponderosa still open and doing a brisk business so perhaps it is independently owned. Sadly, the Memphis Roadhouse restaurant up the street has closed.

Former Bonanza Steakhouse in Laconia NH, now T-Bones Great American Eatery. (July 2009)

QuoteOriginally posted by Zayre88
A former Ponderosa in Nashua NH.

This location is actually on a snippet of land in Merrimack, NH. On the border of Amherst and Nashua, NH down the street from Ames store #2162 in the Northwest Plaza.
I loved this place, being a teenager with a huge appetite it featured ALL YOU COULD EAT and the BEST ribeye steak. I eventually worked at this restaurant in 1992. I took the orders as customers came through the LONG line waiting to eat at the Famous Ponderosa Steakhouse. Eventually I waited tables, and sadly the owner turned the location into a Market Street, Buffet and Bakery. I left within 6 months as there where no funds to back paychecks issued to employees. Within a month or 2 my friend I had worked with called to tell me she went to work as did the rest of the crew for that day as normal, to find the restaurant locked in darkness with a sign on the door that said closed for business. And that was the abrupt end of that location!

QuoteOriginally posted by gu4ever

QuoteOriginally posted by Zayre88
A former Ponderosa in Nashua NH.

This location is actually on a snippet of land in Merrimack, NH. On the border of Amherst and Nashua, NH down the street from Ames store #2162 in the Northwest Plaza.
I loved this place, being a teenager with a huge appetite it featured ALL YOU COULD EAT and the BEST ribeye steak. I eventually worked at this restaurant in 1992. I took the orders as customers came through the LONG line waiting to eat at the Famous Ponderosa Steakhouse. Eventually I waited tables, and sadly the owner turned the location into a Market Street, Buffet and Bakery. I left within 6 months as there where no funds to back paychecks issued to employees. Within a month or 2 my friend I had worked with called to tell me she went to work as did the rest of the crew for that day as normal, to find the restaurant locked in darkness with a sign on the door that said closed for business. And that was the abrupt end of that location!

Interesting story!  Was there other Ponderosa in NH?  I only knew of the Portsmouth location.  Here's a picture of that former Merrimack Ponderoda today:

Hey Zayre88, we missed each other today, as I too went and snapped a few pictures of the Famous Ponderosa.
The other locations that are now closed include West Lebanon NH and Fitchburg MA. One location that I recently drove by and was still in operation was Rutland VT heading south on Route 7. Sadly it was early in the AM on one of my Grand Union trips so they weren't open.

Looking at the front of the restaurant, there was a conference/function room on the left side. I don't recall how many it sat, however it was good size for 1 or 2 waitstaff to handle. Looking through the front windows straight to the back was the "Rocket" buffet island. Named for it's unique shape. Salads on the left hot food to the right and soups on the front. Ice cream bar was off to the side of the salad bar.
The picture shown shows the entrance on the right and the exit to the left, I recall MANY nights lines all the way into the parking lot waiting to order and get a seat inside.

This location in Bedford was originally a Bonanza, I ate there only once as a kid with my parents. It had a buffet where the bar is now.

Monday I visited the Bonanza Steakhouse in Sanford, ME and had a Ribeye dinner, It was good!  I guess they were the same at Ponderosa after the merger.  I also bought two Bonanza steak sauce to bring home.  This location is one of only two left in Maine but appears to be thriving.

I see there was a location in Bedford, taken over by T-Bones Eatery like the Bonanza in Laconia.  Not many hints to show what it used to be.  Was there another location in Manchester? Maybe Concord?

Here's a picture of a former Bonanza somewhere in Maine or NH taken from the web years ago:

I drove past the Rutland, VT one a few weeks ago when I went
to Diamond Run Mall. First Ponderosa I've seen in ages. It looked busy

I always used to go to the West Lebanon, NH one.
It was located on the other side of the road by the giant
Walmart/Borders/Price Chopper supercenter
Except back then it was nothing more than a field
They REALLLY developed that one stretch of road in West Lebanon
the past 15 years

There's a Ponderosa in Orlando, Florida and I believe the one my mom worked at in the 80's is still up-and-running in Seekonk, Massachusetts.

The websites are working again, so check here for locations still open:

http://www.ponderosasteakhouses.com/locations.html

You search by an address, with a radius of miles and can search for either Ponderosa, Bonanza or both.

For example, using my address and 100 mile radius, I come up with 4 locations, all Ponderosa:

Amsterdam, Oneonta, Herkimer NY and Rutland, VT.

I miss Ponderosa so much as we had them all over in MD and FL and I haven't seen one (open) since we moved here 15 years ago.  It was such a great treat with their dinner and salad bar and was perfect when we had small kids - plus it introduced them to all kinds of foods that they might not get to try and grow to like.

:bigsmile:

QuoteOriginally posted by Zayre88
Monday I visited the Bonanza Steakhouse in Sanford, ME and had a Ribeye dinner, It was good!  I guess they were the same at Ponderosa after the merger.  I also bought two Bonanza steak sauce to bring home.  This location is one of only two left in Maine but appears to be thriving.

Where's the other Maine location? If I've ever eaten at Bonanza or Ponderosa, it would have been when I was a child in the 1980s and I certainly don't remember it. I think I might just go check one out!! :)

Thanks for the info, BillyGr, and I'll try and find one on my way to Nashville next month!

:):):)

I found my Ponderosa Gear!!

QuoteOriginally posted by kendra
Where's the other Maine location? If I've ever eaten at Bonanza or Ponderosa, it would have been when I was a child in the 1980s and I certainly don't remember it. I think I might just go check one out!! :)

The other one is in Presque Isle.  So after having locations throughout the state, Bonanza is now far north and south in Maine.

And here's is my own Bonanza steakhouse "dining kit", I just don't have the tray and number to go wait for my dinner at the table!

Leaving Stamford, NY heading west on route 23. I eventually saw this sign standing along the roadside.

Mmmm Mmmm Yummy Ponderosa Steakhouse!! :bigsmile:

I did take a glimpse inside through the windows, they had an awesome colored picture board to order from, and in the dining room was the rocketship style buffet that I remember from the Merrimack location in New Hampshire.

All I can say is YUM YUM, I wish I had time to stop and eat, but it would be dark around 8PM and I wanted to stop at Hamilton, NY before heading home!!

This looked like one...maybe a Bonanza? to me...spotted in Virginia, I forget where but we had just gotten off the interstate to stop at Arby's. It was next door to a Food Lion.

QuoteOriginally posted by kendra
This looked like one...maybe a Bonanza? to me...spotted in Virginia.

The shape of the sign and building don't lie, this was a Bonanza.  And here are some of the Bonanza logos through the years:

During my trip out to Brandon and Rutland Vermont I stopped at the Ponderosa Steakhouse!! :bigsmile:

As you enter the restaurant you choose from the delicious Ponderosa menu board, then you place your order with the cashier  and pay. The hostess will seat you and the eating begins!!

The steaksauce and gift card ad on the table.

The buffet area at this location was set up into several stations. The main feature was the chilled salad bar. In the back on the left is the softserve ice cream and toppings. Behind the salad bar were 2 black simulated cast iron stoves that housed all the hot foods. The guy running the buffet did a fantastic job keeping it all filled and spotless of runaway  pieces of food.

Mmmmm Mmmmm Steaktip dinner!!

This is the last photo of Ponderosa before I left for home. It was of the street sign at dusk. I thought this sign was unique as I've only seen Ponderosa signs in burgandy or green, never in black.

QuoteOriginally posted by Zayre88
Ponderosa really did a great job changing their restaurant style and concept.  

They went from "old spaceship" to the "new west ranch" buildings !!

I haven't heard that expression in years. The Ponderosa in South Merrimack, NH had the rocketship buffet in the spaceship restaurant.

QuoteOriginally posted by gu4ever

QuoteOriginally posted by Zayre88
Ponderosa really did a great job changing their restaurant style and concept.  

They went from "old spaceship" to the "new west ranch" buildings !!

I haven't heard that expression in years. The Ponderosa in South Merrimack, NH had the rocketship buffet in the spaceship restaurant.

I don't know if it was an expression used to describe these buildings, but the one in that picture reminded me of some kind of futuristic space station.  

That concept was too modern and can't be modified easily years later.  But at least they have a distinctive look compared to the "brick & red awnings" other steakhouses and restaurant competitors.

QuoteOriginally posted by Zayre88

QuoteOriginally posted by kendra
Where's the other Maine location? If I've ever eaten at Bonanza or Ponderosa, it would have been when I was a child in the 1980s and I certainly don't remember it. I think I might just go check one out!! :)

The other one is in Presque Isle.  So after having locations throughout the state, Bonanza is now far north and south in Maine.

And here's is my own Bonanza steakhouse "dining kit", I just don't have the tray and number to go wait for my dinner at the table!

I finally made it to the Sanford Bonanza tonight, what a fantastic meal. I ordered the ribeye steak and had the deliscious salad bar all for $12.39!!
Zayre88 your lucky you got the black/stainless Bonanza plate,  the steaks are now served on regular plates.

Update: I've attached a picture of the Bonanza menu board.

QuoteOriginally posted by gu4ever
I finally made it to the Sanford Bonanza tonight, what a fantastic meal. I ordered the ribeye steak and had the deliscious salad bar all for $12.39!!
Zayre88 your lucky you got the black/stainless Bonanza plate,  the steaks are now served on regular plates.

Actually, I bought this plate on eBay and the sauce bottle at the Sanford Bonanza.  At one point, eBay even had Bonanza "cafeteria trays"!  Too bad they don't use the original plates anymore.  I don't know if it's company wide though.

The Ponderosa of Plattsburgh, NY.

The menu board in Ponderosa.... This location was great they had a delicious 10oz ribeye steak available.:bigsmile:

XISMZERO, you will appreciate this photo that I've attached. Not only do I take pictures of store buildings, signs and interiors, but also include picture taking of my yummy delicious Ponderosa ribeye steak dinner.

The unique shape of the Ponderosa street sign in Plattsburgh, NY.

Nice pictures!!  That Plattsburgh location is special.  It looks like it was an old "ranch style" location, that was remodeled like many others, but they used components from the "modern Ponderosa" in the renovated storefront.  They have the most recent logo on the pylon sign but still have an old one on the front wall.

I was driving south on route 30 from Northville, NY and look what I came across...... I had to stop and take a picture.

Here's the Amsterdam, NY Ponderosa on route 30. It's had a paint job done to it and some landscaping added along the road sign. d_fife posted a picture of this location back on page 2, here's the link to that page.

http://www.amesfanclub.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=182&page=2

The street sign in Amsterdam, NY.

The menu board at the inside entrance.

The rocket buffet in Amsterdam, NY. This buffet allows the service associate to be inside the buffet itself in a "service aisle". This is helpful on the busy days and weekend nights when the buffet would be swamped with lines waiting to get at the food on the buffet. The associate can go about their business filling and stocking the buffet full... full... full.. all the while not getting in the way of the hungry patrons.

The salad bar on the rocket buffet.

:( The now closed Ponderosa restaurant in Middletown, NY.

The canvas sign on the Ponderosa building.

The entrance to the former Middletown, NY Ponderosa restaurant.

The interior view of the former buffet.

The former Ponderosa restaurant in Middletown, NY. This restaurant definitely had a unique shape.

Ok. So, I drove past the ex-Ponderosa in Greensburg, PA this morning, located across the highway from Westmoreland Mall. It is now a China Star, Asian Buffet. My friend said they're better than Super Panda. The building looks the same except for the name being on it. Will get pics if I have a chance to get back up that way. I kinda moved and didn't change my location in my status thing. Sorry...lol

QuoteOriginally posted by gu4ever
The street sign in Amsterdam, NY.

Anyone else think it's funny there's a cow (albeit a fake one) standing outside a steak house?

QuoteOriginally posted by gu4ever
The former Ponderosa restaurant in Middletown, NY. This restaurant definitely had a unique shape.

were in middletown was this cause i think i remember seeing it when it was open when i went to that caldor they still have there

QuoteOriginally posted by Caldor1999

QuoteOriginally posted by gu4ever
The former Ponderosa restaurant in Middletown, NY. This restaurant definitely had a unique shape.

were in middletown was this cause i think i remember seeing it when it was open when i went to that caldor they still have there  

The Middletown location was right off from route 84 on 17M heading North. Here's a link to a bing map.

http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=qx46j98sy222&scene=21705758&lvl=2&sty=b&where1=Middletown%2C%20NY

Traveling through western Vermont on route 7, I stumbled upon this restaurant sign.

The former Ponderosa restaurant entrance.

Looking through the front windows of the restaurant, I discovered it's still fully stocked with all it's furniture. The tables in this photo are exactly the same style that I remember from the South Merrimack, NH Ponderosa Steakhouse.

Here's a picture of the former buffet and dinning room area.

Outside the restaurant on the ground were some of the Ponderosa letters from it's sign.
The letter D, K and H can be seen here with some of the broken fluorescent light bulbs.

The former Shelburne, VT Ponderosa Steakhouse restaurant.

QuoteOriginally posted by Marc82

QuoteOriginally posted by gu4ever
The street sign in Amsterdam, NY.

Anyone else think it's funny there's a cow (albeit a fake one) standing outside a steak house?

I actually thought about the blue ribbon steer from Grand Union when I had spotted the cow standing in the parking lot at Ponderosa.
So maybe if the cow looked like this?

QuoteOriginally posted by gu4ever
The former Shelburne, VT Ponderosa Steakhouse restaurant.

It had a shape similar to the Middletown location.  And years ago there was a Bonanza nearby:

I did a little research on the history of Bonanza, Ponderosa, how these chains were joined together under Metromedia through old articles and I was able to gather these statistics on the chains.  It's really sad to see how many locations they used to have and how few remain.

No wonder so many former Bonanza and former Ponderosa steakhouses are everywhere in the U.S.  It's especially hard for Bonanza which was left behind after the merger with Ponderosa.  Dozen of them closed shortly after 1990 and many more changed to Ponderosa or another concept.  Today only 44 of them remain with 10 being outside the U.S.

QuoteOriginally posted by Zayre88
I did a little research on the history of Bonanza, Ponderosa, how these chains were joined together under Metromedia through old articles and I was able to gather these statistics on the chains.  It's really sad to see how many locations they used to have and how few remain.

No wonder so many former Bonanza and former Ponderosa steakhouses are everywhere in the U.S.  It's especially hard for Bonanza which was left behind after the merger with Ponderosa.  Dozen of them closed shortly after 1990 and many more changed to Ponderosa or another concept.  Today only 44 of them remain with 10 being outside the U.S.

why are there fewer left?

QuoteOriginally posted by Zayre88
I did a little research on the history of Bonanza, Ponderosa, how these chains were joined together under Metromedia through old articles and I was able to gather these statistics on the chains.  It's really sad to see how many locations they used to have and how few remain.

No wonder so many former Bonanza and former Ponderosa steakhouses are everywhere in the U.S.  It's especially hard for Bonanza which was left behind after the merger with Ponderosa.  Dozen of them closed shortly after 1990 and many more changed to Ponderosa or another concept.  Today only 44 of them remain with 10 being outside the U.S.

I worked for them during the period that Ponderosa fell from 790 down to 700 in 1992 and 1993. Several of the restaurants including my location turned into Market Street Buffet and Bakery.

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife

QuoteOriginally posted by Zayre88
I did a little research on the history of Bonanza, Ponderosa, how these chains were joined together under Metromedia through old articles and I was able to gather these statistics on the chains.  It's really sad to see how many locations they used to have and how few remain.

No wonder so many former Bonanza and former Ponderosa steakhouses are everywhere in the U.S.  It's especially hard for Bonanza which was left behind after the merger with Ponderosa.  Dozen of them closed shortly after 1990 and many more changed to Ponderosa or another concept.  Today only 44 of them remain with 10 being outside the U.S.

why are there fewer left?

It's sad that Bonanza is failing in restaurant count. I'm sure with all the steakhouses recently opening out there + buffet restaurants that now offer a cut of steak from the carving station has made Bonanza less appealing.
I have recently eaten at Bonanza in Sanford, ME. The price of the steak was great and it was deliscious, The buffet had a nice selection of salad makings and chicken and pasta on it.
The only negative to this restaurant was it's old and the dining room feels dirty because of that.

From what i've read, in 1989, Bonanza joined the Metromedia Restaurant Group, which acquired Ponderosa in 1988.  The Bonanza store count started to go down after the merger.

Bonanza operators had fears of forced conversions to Ponderosa before the sale.  It seemed that the company's goal was to convert as many stores to Ponderosa as possible according to a Bonanza licensee back then.  It looked like the company wanted to focus on Ponderosa.

Bonanza has dwindled from a pre-acquisition high of 620 units to a census of 325 in 1992. That declining total was attributable to a combination of conversions and shuttered units.

Today, Bonanza is low but Ponderosa is not flying very high.  You have more chances of having a "former Ponderosa" in your town than having an open location.  Most of them opened in the 70's and have been remodeled in the 80's.  The buildings are old, outdated and not appealing compared to chains like LongHorn Steakhouse or Texas Roadhouse for example.

Ponderosa/Bonanza is the Kmart of steakhouses.  They used to be on top, they closed hundreds of locations, their concept needs a big upgrade and competition is easily eating their market share.  They're alive but we don't know why.

That being said, I like Bonanza, but like for Kmart, I would like to see them roll out their new concept to all existing location because they have a good brand.

QuoteOriginally posted by Zayre88
From what i've read, in 1989, Bonanza joined the Metromedia Restaurant Group, which acquired Ponderosa in 1988.  The Bonanza store count started to go down after the merger.

Bonanza operators had fears of forced conversions to Ponderosa before the sale.  It seemed that the company's goal was to convert as many stores to Ponderosa as possible according to a Bonanza licensee back then.  It looked like the company wanted to focus on Ponderosa.

Bonanza has dwindled from a pre-acquisition high of 620 units to a census of 325 in 1992. That declining total was attributable to a combination of conversions and shuttered units.

Today, Bonanza is low but Ponderosa is not flying very high.  You have more chances of having a "former Ponderosa" in your town than having an open location.  Most of them opened in the 70's and have been remodeled in the 80's.  The buildings are old, outdated and not appealing compared to chains like LongHorn for example.

Ponderosa/Bonanza is the Kmart of steakhouses.  They used to be on top, they closed hundreds of locations, their concept needs a big upgrade and competition is easily eating their market share.  They're alive but we don't know why.

Than being said, I like Bonanza, but like for Kmart, I would like to see them roll out their new concept to all existing location because they have a good brand.

I am partial to old Sizzler steakhouses. They are similar to classic Pizza Huts. Those buildings may be run down and old, but not outdated. They have a certain 60's charm to them. The better ones have a bar and jukebox!

I got to eat at the brand new PONDEROSA STEAKHOUSE in Williston, VT.

A view of the new Ponderosa Steakhouse sign from the parking lot.

A view of the Ponderosa from the corner of route 2A and the entrance. The large section of windows in this photo are home to the cold salad bar, 2 hot buffets and the dessert bar inside.

Nice to see a modern location in New England.  I guess this one fills the void left by the closed Ponderosa on Shelburne Road for the Burlington area.

QuoteOriginally posted by Zayre88
It's especially hard for Bonanza which was left behind after the merger with Ponderosa.  Dozen of them closed shortly after 1990 and many more changed to Ponderosa or another concept.

3 examples of Bonanza-shaped Ponderosa buildings.  Locations that probably switched brands during the merger.

On my visit last week to the Emerald Square mall I made it a point to drive 10 mintues south and photograph the Ponderosa Steakhouse location. It was a pretty nice restaurant reminding me a lot of the Oneonta, NY except a little more modern inside.

With some online research, I've found that there once was over 100 Ponderosa Steakhouses in Canada (around 1979).  The number slowly went down to 57, and in 1985, before locations could be remodeled to the "modern design", Red Lobster acquired 36 Ponderosa to convert them at a cost of $700 000 each.  Most were in Ontario, near Toronto, Ottawa and in Montreal Quebec.

Ponderosa then vanished from Canada with maybe 10 locations remaining in the Atlantic Provinces.  Even there, restaurants closed one by one and only one remains today.

Google Street View helped me locate many of these former Ponderosa Steakhouses.  The shape of the buildings is easy to notice with the large chimney on the side, roof shape, square windows and squared-off ranch facade.  Red Lobster locations added side gables, a new exterior finish and a front steeple over the entrances which were moved from left or righ to the center of the buildings:

Something might be moving into the old Pondersoa on Queen Street in Southington. It looked like there was a construction permit in the window when I drove by yesterday. I would've gone over to check, but their parking lot hadn't been plowed and I wasn't gonna get my car stuck in the snow just to satisfy the needs of everyone on this forum. Stay tuned.

Quote from: gu4ever on November 20, 2009, 01:35:01 PM
A view of the Ponderosa from the corner of route 2A and the entrance. The large section of windows in this photo are home to the cold salad bar, 2 hot buffets and the dessert bar inside.

Wow i think i should head there is that in Vermont? and are the buffets like really a buffet with every thing or just with salad?

Quote from: jmcnamara96 on February 18, 2010, 03:15:23 PM

Quote from: gu4ever on November 20, 2009, 01:35:01 PM
A view of the Ponderosa from the corner of route 2A and the entrance. The large section of windows in this photo are home to the cold salad bar, 2 hot buffets and the dessert bar inside.

Wow i think i should head there is that in Vermont? and are the buffets like really a buffet with every thing or just with salad?

Yeah that Ponderosa is sweet being so new, it's right off 89 on 2A. They have a large cold salad buffet and also 2 5' hot buffets that look like old cast-iron stoves + a dessert bar.

Mmmmmm thats sounds good :)

Supposedly a seafood restaurant is gonna open in the old Southington, CT Pondrosa.

Only 4 out of 27 Ponderosa/Bonanza steakhouses are still open in ME/NH/VT....

(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4058/4568580671_54b0c2fbc5.jpg)
27 Ponderosa                                                                  West Lebanon        NH

Quote from: Zayre88 on May 01, 2010, 03:58:07 PM
Only 4 out of 26 Ponderosa/Bonanza steakhouses are still open in ME/NH/VT....

(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4058/4568580671_54b0c2fbc5.jpg)

why that many???

i also hang out at whats in Bonanza's place in Laconia A LOT!

Quote from: d_fife on May 01, 2010, 07:16:47 PM

Quote from: Zayre88 on May 01, 2010, 03:58:07 PM
Only 4 out of 26 Ponderosa/Bonanza steakhouses are still open in ME/NH/VT....

(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4058/4568580671_54b0c2fbc5.jpg)

why that many???

i also hang out at whats in Bonanza's place in Laconia A LOT!

Is that place Magaritas? :)

Quote from: jmcnamara96 on May 01, 2010, 07:38:42 PM

Quote from: d_fife on May 01, 2010, 07:16:47 PM

Quote from: Zayre88 on May 01, 2010, 03:58:07 PM
Only 4 out of 26 Ponderosa/Bonanza steakhouses are still open in ME/NH/VT....

(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4058/4568580671_54b0c2fbc5.jpg)

why that many???

i also hang out at whats in Bonanza's place in Laconia A LOT!

Is that place Magaritas? :)

T-bones opened in the old Laconia Bonanza.

Quote from: Marc82 on March 27, 2010, 01:40:53 AM
Supposedly a seafood restaurant is gonna open in the old Southington, CT Pondrosa.

Seafood and Chops will be opening during this summer. They're putting vinyl siding on the building.

Quote from: ynkeesfn82 on May 02, 2010, 09:31:40 PM

Quote from: Marc82 on March 27, 2010, 01:40:53 AM
Supposedly a seafood restaurant is gonna open in the old Southington, CT Pondrosa.

Seafood and Chops will be opening during this summer. They're putting vinyl siding on the building.

If I can find my camera in my "pig-sty" of an apartment I will snag some pictures next time I'm in Southington. They also finally took down the "Closed. Thanks for the memories" sign off the marquee and replaced it with "Coming Soon Seafood and Chops".

Sanford Bonanza ad:

http://www.youtube.com/user/joegenender#p/u/0/BiqIH5PkRjA

The evolution of Ponderosa concept restaurants:

1) The first "Ranch Style" steak houses
2) Same building modified with modern design
3) The 100% modern buildings (that are quite hard to update today)

(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4003/4693134009_f05e967b64.jpg)

Former Ponderosa in Portsmouth NH (Route 1) :

(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4134/4798649079_b0fa58398b.jpg)

I always hangout at whats taken over Bonanza in Laconia

Quote from: Marc B on May 02, 2010, 09:31:40 PM

Quote from: Marc82 on March 27, 2010, 01:40:53 AM
Supposedly a seafood restaurant is gonna open in the old Southington, CT Pondrosa.

Seafood and Chops will be opening during this summer. They're putting vinyl siding on the building.

Fish and Chops (as it ended up being called) didn't even last a year. Now it's a restaurant called Route 10 Family Tavern.

Quote from: Marc B on June 30, 2011, 11:00:30 PM

Quote from: Marc B on May 02, 2010, 09:31:40 PM

Quote from: Marc82 on March 27, 2010, 01:40:53 AM
Supposedly a seafood restaurant is gonna open in the old Southington, CT Pondrosa.

Seafood and Chops will be opening during this summer. They're putting vinyl siding on the building.

Fish and Chops (as it ended up being called) didn't even last a year. Now it's a restaurant called Route 10 Family Tavern.

Route 10 Family Tavern was owned by the same people who owned Fish & Chops. They already closed down. Big shocker there - not! That didn't even last 2 months!

By my count, there are only 33 Bonanza left and around 140 Ponderosa steakhouses.

At some point, both chains had more than 600 locations!!

My last visit to a Bonanza was the former Millsboro, DE location, now a Mexican restaurant. All the local ones closed at the same time, I forget what year but it seems like maybe 5 years ago? They are finally doing something with the Delmar, DE location, having recently rebuilt it from the ground-up. I'm real curious what is going in...the Bonanza sign is still there. Our last experience wasn't a good one: huge buffet, but one of the most mediocre meals I've ever had. I went back 2 or 3 times trying my darndest to find something on the steam tables that was really good...no such luck! The surly help didn't do them any favors, either. I was in the Ponderosa in Ashland, KY a few years ago and thought it was a step above as far as food quality.

I agree with that Kmart comparison. With both companies, the stores that are doing well are the ones in locations with nothing else around. Typical is a somewhat rural or blue collar urban/suburban area that is sort of on the skids. All the retail dates from the 60s-70s-80s with nary a WalMart/Target...or Applebees/Olive Garden, etc, in sight. Look at all the choices out there for dining-if you could pick Texas Roadhouse, Cracker Barrel, Ruby Tuesday, Famous Daves, etc, etc, etc, why hit the Bonanza/Ponderosa?

Maybe they can come back, though. I thought Golden Corral was dead but new locations are popping up locally.

There is a section on Ponderosa's website for applying to be a franchise owner, so maybe they will come back.

QuoteI agree with that Kmart comparison. With both companies, the stores that are doing well are the ones in locations with nothing else around.

Good comparison!  And also because like Kmart, Ponderosa/Bonanza were a dominant national chain but did not renovate their locations, did not improve the experience and let every other chain take their place in the market.  They closed store after store and they're struggling to survive with little to no investment in marketing and into improving the stores.

Ponderosa/Bonanza do have a modernized concept called "New West".  It looks quite nice, however only a handful of locations have that design.  Most of the current locations are very old and dated....

The buffet business is tough to make money with (see: Buffets, Inc.'s two bankruptcies.) Golden Corral seems to be doing well overall, but somehow I doubt many of the remaining Bonanza/Ponderosa franchisees have enough cash flow to plow into extensive renovations. The "New West" concept dates back from the late 90s; that Metromedia Steakhouses was unable to get more than a handful of franchisees on board illustrates my point.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_49_33/ai_58185686/

Ponderosa opens a new location!   After closing hundreds in the past 20 years!!

http://nrn.com/article/ponderosa-franchising-co-opens-first-unit-2009

South Attleboro Mass Ponderosa has closed down. Not exactly sure when, couldn't have been more than a week ago since I had seen a sign that they were getting ready for the Easter holiday. According to their website, there are no more Ponderosas in Southern New England. Closest ones are up in Vermont and Maine

Quote from: Crawford on March 29, 2012, 08:09:17 PM
South Attleboro Mass Ponderosa has closed down. Not exactly sure when, couldn't have been more than a week ago since I had seen a sign that they were getting ready for the Easter holiday. According to their website, there are no more Ponderosas in Southern New England. Closest ones are up in Vermont and Maine

Maine has 2 Bonanzas and Vermont has 2 Ponderosas.  Now Mass and NH have nothing.

There used to be 14 Bonanzas in Maine alone!  NH once had 6 Bonanzas and 3 Ponderosas...

It's been so long since I was at a Ponderosa last (probably Lebanon NH, and it seems to me that location was closed by 1999) that I can't even remember what type of food was served there. They remind me of Howard Johnson's in that 95% of people probably don't even think they exist anymore.

Ponderosa and Bonanza launched a new website.  

The locator also has a Scroll List now.  By my count there are only 150 locations left including only 23 Bonanza restaurants! (Mostly the ones in upper case).  

In Canada, only 2 Bonanza left.

Quote from: HoJofan206 on April 28, 2007, 11:55:04 AM
Yet another Ponderosa seeing life as a Chineese eatery.

It seems to me that those Chinese buffet eateries were a Ponderosa/Bonanza at one point and I could think of three former Ponderosas.

. Amherst, NY (Maple Rd.) now a Friendly's completely remodeled facade, like if Ponderosa was never there, but there was a Hooters next door to it, that is now an Irish pub  

. Cheektowaga, NY (Dick Rd.) Now Duff's

. Transit Rd. in Williamsville has been at least two Chinese buffet eateries, but it probably started out as a Ponderosa

Ponderosa in Williston Vt no longer showing on retsuarant locator...

Quote from: Zayre88 on June 16, 2013, 09:24:19 AM
Ponderosa in Williston Vt no longer showing on retsuarant locator...

Here are some photos of the Williston, VT Ponderosa. These were taking back in April/May of 2010.

there aren't very many left in NY seems the national chain buffet is going the way of the dodo around here

Quote from: buzz86us on November 01, 2013, 09:12:05 PM
there aren't very many left in NY seems the national chain buffet is going the way of the dodo around here

My guess is that those vacant Bonanza / Ponderosa restaurns would become more of those Chinese buffets!

It's sad that a long stretch of 663 (an important state road even though it mostly crosses rural areas) in Pottstown PA has become a ghost town. Ponderosa was one of the first businesses along it to close, followed by a Pizza Hut and Dairy Queen both next door, leaving the area with no chain restaurants. Acme, CVS, Woolworth, Pathmark, Genuardi's, and Rickel have all closed stores less than a block away in each direction, and a CITGO gas station has become an eyesore covered in weeds, even though it sits right in front of a big bright Redner's supermarket where the Acme was. I'm not up that way too often, but it seems all three of the restaurants that closed (Ponderosa being the most important in my opinion) have become small businesses, but all three have also closed. It doesn't help that Coventry Mall at the other end of Pottstown has been dying. Sears closed a store there last year, and it's not a good sign that the Bradlees at the mall (which already was not a good tenant for an enclosed mall this size) was redeveloped into a Dick's Sporting Goods instead of a Macy's or similar store.

They're renovating the old Pondersosa on Queen Street in Southington, Connecticut. Closed in 2008, one person tried 2 different restaurants there first a place called "Fish and Chops" and then it become "Route 10 Family Tavern." "Route 10 Family Tavern" didn't even last 2 months. Part of the building is supposed to become a Dentist Office and the rest will be used for other offices.

An old Ponderosa at Poplar and Noblestown Roads in the Pittsburgh suburb of Green Tree is now
a Chinese Buffet.

As was the Dynasty Buffet on PA Route 88 in front of Walmart (in what was the old Ames District Office store).
For years the neon D and the Y in "Dynasty" was burnt out, giving us all a chuckle.  It was recently demolished.

After sitting vacant since closing in December 2011, the old Ponderosa on Fort Street (M-85) in Wyandotte, MI (which first opened sometime before 1970), will soon be reopening as a Mexican restaurant. No name yet.

Here's what it looked like in July 2013 while it was still vacant.

Scroll down to Page 3 and see an ad from 1994 advertising a Weekend Breakfast Buffet for $4.99

http://southingtonlibrary.org/PDFFiles/newspapers/1994/04_28_1994.pdf

From The Record-Journal - An article about the new Children's Dentist Office opening in September at the old Ponderosa at 264 Queen Street Southington, Connecticut.

Building that housed restaurants for decades will become dentist’s office

Published: August 29, 2014 | Last Modified: August 29, 2014 07:52PM
By Farrah Duffany Record-Journal staff

SOUTHINGTON â€" A Queen Street building that has been home to several restaurants over the past 40 years is set to become a dentist’s office.

The building at 264 Queen St. housed a Ponderosa restaurant for nearly 30 years until it closed in November 2008 after the franchise filed for bankruptcy. In 2010, Joshua Wilcox of North Haven opened “Fish & Chops.” The restaurant eventually closed and Wilcox reopened under the name Route 10 Tavern. The menu included wings and ribs.

“I think they were wildly successful,” said town Economic Development Coordinator Lou Perillo, referring to the restaurants that called 264 Queen St. home. “Ponderosa was there for 30 years. The restaurant business is very difficult ... and has a high failure rate.”

Despite some of the closures, Perillo believes the traffic on Queen Street continues to make it attractive. He said about 25,000 cars go by 264 Queen St. each day.

The Little Tooth Company, which caters to children, is scheduled to open in the building on Sept. 9, said company owner Jay Leung. Little Tooth is leasing a little more than half the building.

“We’re happy to see the space filled,” Perillo said.

Since 2008, Leung has been a practicing at West Hartford Family Dentistry and lives in West Hartford. When the office opens, he expects to have about three employees. This will be Leung’s first practice of his own.

Leung said one of his goals is to eliminate the fear or hesitation that children often have when coming to a dentist.

“I think dentists have a stigma of being a place where people don’t want to go … we want to change that mentality.” Leung said. “And hopefully foster an environment to make kids excited about it.”

By providing a fun environment and engaging with the children, Leung hopes to overcome the stigma. Most importantly, Leung said he plans to treat the children that come into his practice as if they were his own.

fduffany@record-journal.com (203) 317-2212 Twitter: @FollowingFarrah

Slightly off-topic but not too much....

The Golden Corral location near me was just cited by county officials for a fistful of
health code violations.

Most involved issues with holding food at unsafe temperatures.
A constant problem for these buffet restaurants I would think.

I found out the name of the Mexican restaurant that's opening in the old Ponderosa in Wyandotte, Michigan: Camino Real Mexican Grill.

Taken today:
(http://i.imgur.com/Ix45Jkb.jpg)

We had some Bonanza and Ponderosa locations in Northeast Wisconsin:

*Appleton
**Ponderosa

*Fond du Lac
**Ponderosa

*Green Bay
**Bonanza
***Ashwaubenon - Oneida Street (across from Bay Park Square Shopping Mall, demolished)
**Ponderosa
***West - Military Avenue (torn down for expansion of Broadway Hyundai dealership)
***East - University Avenue (torn down, empty lot)

*Manitowoc
**Ponderosa
***(Now Pizza Ranch)

*Oshkosh

*Shawano
**Ponderosa
***(previously Golden Corral, now vacant)

The former Ponderosa in Wyandotte has now been repainted on the exterior into gold with red striping to match the colors of Camino Real Mexican Grill.

Quote from: Hudsons81 on September 25, 2014, 09:02:59 PM
The former Ponderosa in Wyandotte has now been repainted on the exterior into gold with red striping to match the colors of Camino Real Mexican Grill.

As of November 6, 2014.
(http://i.imgur.com/qJsJNt9.jpg)

wish Ponderosa would come back to NY Albany area miss their chicken wings and onion straws, but when there is a buffet that has steak on the regular menu (golden corral) i can see why they are done-for around here... I still get email notifications for the Herkimer NY ponderosa that is miles from where I am...

Quote from: Marc B on August 30, 2014, 07:58:42 AM
From The Record-Journal - An article about the new Children's Dentist Office opening in September at the old Ponderosa at 264 Queen Street Southington, Connecticut.

Building that housed restaurants for decades will become dentist’s office

Published: August 29, 2014 | Last Modified: August 29, 2014 07:52PM
By Farrah Duffany Record-Journal staff

SOUTHINGTON â€" A Queen Street building that has been home to several restaurants over the past 40 years is set to become a dentist’s office.

The building at 264 Queen St. housed a Ponderosa restaurant for nearly 30 years until it closed in November 2008 after the franchise filed for bankruptcy. In 2010, Joshua Wilcox of North Haven opened “Fish & Chops.” The restaurant eventually closed and Wilcox reopened under the name Route 10 Tavern. The menu included wings and ribs.

“I think they were wildly successful,” said town Economic Development Coordinator Lou Perillo, referring to the restaurants that called 264 Queen St. home. “Ponderosa was there for 30 years. The restaurant business is very difficult ... and has a high failure rate.”

Despite some of the closures, Perillo believes the traffic on Queen Street continues to make it attractive. He said about 25,000 cars go by 264 Queen St. each day.

The Little Tooth Company, which caters to children, is scheduled to open in the building on Sept. 9, said company owner Jay Leung. Little Tooth is leasing a little more than half the building.

“We’re happy to see the space filled,” Perillo said.

Since 2008, Leung has been a practicing at West Hartford Family Dentistry and lives in West Hartford. When the office opens, he expects to have about three employees. This will be Leung’s first practice of his own.

Leung said one of his goals is to eliminate the fear or hesitation that children often have when coming to a dentist.

“I think dentists have a stigma of being a place where people don’t want to go … we want to change that mentality.” Leung said. “And hopefully foster an environment to make kids excited about it.”

By providing a fun environment and engaging with the children, Leung hopes to overcome the stigma. Most importantly, Leung said he plans to treat the children that come into his practice as if they were his own.

fduffany@record-journal.com (203) 317-2212 Twitter: @FollowingFarrah

A new hair salon (like Southington needed another one) opened in the remaining portion of the former Ponderosa next to the dentist office that just opened in September.

Wayne Patrick's Salon has been open for a couple of months in a portion of the old Ponderosa in Southington, CT.

http://www.waynepatricks.com/ is their website and you can see pictures of the salon.

Camino Real Mexican Grill has been open for quite a while now in the old Wyandotte, MI Ponderosa. Actually, this is Camino Real's second location, as they already have a location on Central Street in southwest Detroit.

Their website: http://www.restaurantcaminoreal.com/ (http://www.restaurantcaminoreal.com/)

The Ponderosa in Herkimer, NY, the last one remaining in the area, has also recently closed up for good.

The former East Greenbush, NY location is currently a Chinese buffet called "Super Buffet".

There are still a few operating Ponderosas in Kissimmee, FL, on Route 192.

Quote from: HannafordHearts on May 14, 2015, 11:29:07 AM
The Ponderosa in Herkimer, NY, the last one remaining in the area, has also recently closed up for good.

The former East Greenbush, NY location is currently a Chinese buffet called "Super Buffet".

The Latham location is now a Sushi place (and was a Chinese Buffet also before).
The Western Avenue one is Hana (Japanese Steak House).
The one in Hudson was demolished and is now the site of Tractor Supply.

This is the former Ponderosa on West Main Street in New Britain, Connecticut. Today it is home to New Britain Pediatric Group. It's near the corner of West Main and North Mountain Road near the Plainville Town Line. After the Ponderosa is was supposed to become a night club, but the city never let it open. Then it was a pizza place with the worst tasting pizza ever. I don't remember when Ponderosa closed, but it was sometime in the 1990s.

(http://images.vgsi.com/photos/NewBritainCTPhotos//%5C00%5C03%5C44/35.JPG)

Photo Credit: Vision Government Solutions.

This is the old Bonanza in Bristol, Connecticut. I'm not sure what years the restaurant was in existence. It's been the Applewood Diner for many years. And actually this is an older picture. The building looks somewhat different today.

(http://images.vgsi.com/photos/BristolCTPhotos//%5C00%5C00%5C04/46.JPG)

Photo Credit: Vision Government Solutions.

Bonanza is rebranding as Bonanza Steak and BBQ....

http://www.restaurantnews.com/a-new-era-begins-for-bonanza-steakhouse-homestyle-dining-unveils-the-new-bonanza-steak-bbq/

Not sure I like the new logo.  And the concept building is a former Ponderosa..!

The article is from last October. Probably a last-ditch effort to bring new franchisees on board, but why bother with this when there is Golden Corral?

Quote from: retailisking on August 21, 2015, 02:03:36 AM
The article is from last October. Probably a last-ditch effort to bring new franchisees on board, but why bother with this when there is Golden Corral?

Sounds like they are trying a different route, featuring the meals with the salad bar as a side rather than featuring the buffet with meals as a side (as the old Ponderosa and GC do).

We were driving through VT this weekend to get to Middlebury. After what felt like hundreds of miles of country roads, we come across a populated area with an operational Ponderosa. I had to laugh, as my girlfriend looks out at it and goes "what the hell is Ponderosa?"  Haha.

OK, so, I know that the TV program Bonanza ran on NBC for 15 seasons and that
they had retitled the syndicated shows as Ponderosa to avoid confusion in the listings.

But why would a restaurant chain feel compelled to do the same?   ???

Quote from: TheFugitive on September 14, 2015, 08:09:10 AM
OK, so, I know that the TV program Bonanza ran on NBC for 15 seasons and that
they had retitled the syndicated shows as Ponderosa to avoid confusion in the listings.

But why would a restaurant chain feel compelled to do the same?   ???

They started as two separately owned chains offering similar restaurants.  They actually didn't rename that many (maybe a few?) even though at some point it would have made sense as the overall number decreased not to have two separate names when locations were within the same area.

Bonanza Steak & BBQ Opens Another Location, This Time in Seymour, Indiana â€" The “Crossroads of America”

http://www.restaurantnews.com/bonanza-steak-bbq-opens-another-location-this-time-in-seymour-indiana-the-crossroads-of-america/


(http://www.restaurantnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Bonanza-Steak-BBQ-Opens-in-Seymour-Indiana.jpg)


I like the overall look of the restaurant, finally a modern Bonanza but I still dislike the new logo....

Quote from: Zayre88 on September 03, 2016, 09:34:40 AM
Bonanza Steak & BBQ Opens Another Location, This Time in Seymour, Indiana â€" The “Crossroads of America”

http://www.restaurantnews.com/bonanza-steak-bbq-opens-another-location-this-time-in-seymour-indiana-the-crossroads-of-america/


(http://www.restaurantnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Bonanza-Steak-BBQ-Opens-in-Seymour-Indiana.jpg)


I like the overall look of the restaurant, finally a modern Bonanza but I still dislike the new logo....

I agree. The new logo looks way too generic, but I love that restaurant design.

One more pic:

(http://www.restaurantnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Bonanza-Steak-BBQ-exterior.jpg)

From Restaurant News.com

Looks like they're trying to compete with the likes of Longhorn Steakhouse.

(https://s3-media1.fl.yelpcdn.com/bphoto/RfMqbDcpdQ_RDTapLThB_Q/180s.jpg)

Ponderosa closed its doors in Rutland VT

The owner replaced Ponderosa by a Ground Round.

http://www.vermontbiz.com/news/march/ground-round-grill-bar-plans-new-restaurant-rutland

Quote from: Zayre88 on May 25, 2017, 07:03:48 PM
(https://s3-media1.fl.yelpcdn.com/bphoto/RfMqbDcpdQ_RDTapLThB_Q/180s.jpg)

Ponderosa closed its doors in Rutland VT

The owner replaced Ponderosa by a Ground Round.

http://www.vermontbiz.com/news/march/ground-round-grill-bar-plans-new-restaurant-rutland

That's a different one - replacing one older, almost going non existant restaurant with another chain with a very similar story.

Also, in the article where they give nearby locations - Plattsburgh isn't too bad, but then Johnson City (which is near Binghamton) and 3 stores in Maine... that's stretching nearby just a bit :)

The owner of the Fatburger chain has purchased Homestyle Dining LLC, parent company of Bonanza/Ponderosa. Item one on the new owner's agenda: come up with a fast-casual steakhouse concept.
http://www.meatpoultry.com/articles/news_home/Business/2017/09/FAT_Brands_to_acquire_Ponderos.aspx?ID=%7B46657589-D68F-47E2-AD8C-18B7E9D729E7%7D&cck=1

Quote from: retailisking on September 11, 2017, 08:29:15 PM
The owner of the Fatburger chain has purchased Homestyle Dining LLC, parent company of Bonanza/Ponderosa. Item one on the new owner's agenda: come up with a fast-casual steakhouse concept.
http://www.meatpoultry.com/articles/news_home/Business/2017/09/FAT_Brands_to_acquire_Ponderos.aspx?ID=%7B46657589-D68F-47E2-AD8C-18B7E9D729E7%7D&cck=1

Could Ponderosa/Bonanza Steakhouse make a comeback as a fast casual restaurants since more people are eating out at fast casual restaurants as opposed sit down restaurants.

Ours (Ponderosa) Closed this past year because the people wanted to retire.. it was sure sad but the people deserved their retirement. They was nice people and their kids didnt want to take over.. The couple sold all the restaurants contents on facebook marketplace and that was that. (Portland Indiana)   

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https://www.pantagraph.com/business/local/last-bonanza-steakhouse-in-illinois-closing-in-lincoln/article_53555481-a428-5027-a3c8-1714ae678197.html

This Illinois closing is the 3rd one so far in 2018. Tupelo, MS and Yankton SD have also closed.

This leaves Bonanza with these 8 surviving locations:

Chambersburg, PA
New Columbia, PA
Hazle Township, PA
Lebanon, VA
Des Moines, IA
Presque Isle, ME
Sanford, ME
St. Cloud, MN

and 1 Bonanza Steak & BBQ in Seymour, IN.

Quote from: Zayre88 on October 12, 2018, 08:23:33 PM
This Illinois closing is the 3rd one so far in 2018. Tupelo, MS and Yankton SD have also closed.

This leaves Bonanza with these 8 surviving locations:

Chambersburg, PA
New Columbia, PA
Hazle Township, PA
Lebanon, VA
Des Moines, IA
Presque Isle, ME
Sanford, ME
St. Cloud, MN

and 1 Bonanza Steak & BBQ in Seymour, IN.

I drove past the Sanford, ME location last Sunday and it was packed.

The former Ponderosa in Groton is now a sushi and hibachi restaurant. Outside still looks the way it did when it was a Ponderosa.

The website for Me TV has a story up about Bonanza Steakhouse.

Apparently Dan Blocker, who played Hoss on the show, was involved in their founding.
And the first one was in a former bus station in Connecticut!

https://www.metv.com/stories/dan-hoss-blocker-opened-the-first-bonanza-steakhouse-in-an-old-bus-station

Quote from: Bdubs on October 19, 2018, 03:08:37 PM
The former Ponderosa in Groton is now a sushi and hibachi restaurant. Outside still looks the way it did when it was a Ponderosa.

We have a restaurant by that name in Albany (NY) also, and when searching there seem to be quite a few around but nothing on the websites indicates any connection between them.  It wasn't a Ponderosa, though (although there were a few not too far away, and at least one has been a Chinese and Sushi place).

Quote from: TheFugitive on September 11, 2019, 03:18:28 PM
The website for Me TV has a story up about Bonanza Steakhouse.

Apparently Dan Blocker, who played Hoss on the show, was involved in their founding.
And the first one was in a former bus station in Connecticut!

https://www.metv.com/stories/dan-hoss-blocker-opened-the-first-bonanza-steakhouse-in-an-old-bus-station

Interesting that there is also a small chain called Hoss's Steak and Seafood in PA (with one in WV), but since that was founded in 1983 I don't suspect there is any connection, unless the founder was just a fan of the show.

There used to be a Hoss' Steak and Seafood near Century III Mall.
It bugged out some time ago.  I think most of them are in the central
part of the state around Johnstown/Altoona/State College.  No connection
to Dan Blocker that I know of.

Bonanza and Ponderosa, as well as other buffet chains have suffered a lot during the pandemic.

Several locations have closed (including the last two in Maine). According to their locator, there are only 5 remaining Bonanza steakhouses open in the United States.  Approximalely 16 Ponderosa restaurants...

I have an extended family member who lives in Missouri and who worked at Ponderosa as a young man.  He is still in touch with several of his former co-workers, and last I heard they were all planning a trip to visit one of the last remaining stores a few hours away in Indiana.