Runza Restaurant in Papillion, Nebraska
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Private | |
Predecessor |
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Founded | Lincoln, Nebraska (1949 ) |
Founder |
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Headquarters | Lincoln, Nebraska, United States |
Number of locations
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80 (2014) |
Area served
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Key people
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Sally Everett, Alex Brening & Donald Everett |
Products | Runza (Sandwich), Frings™, Sandwiches, Burgers, Soups |
Website | runza |
Runza (/ˈrʌnzə/; previously also Runza Hut) is a regional fast food restaurant chain specializing in ethnic cuisine once served by the Volga German immigrants to the United States.
In 1949, Sarah "Sally" Everett and her brother, Alex Brening, opened the first Runza Drive-Inn in Lincoln, Nebraska, and began serving Runza sandwiches, a type of pastry filled with ground beef, onion, and cabbage from a small building near Pioneers Park. They eventually opened more locations in the late 1950s and added hamburgers to the menu. Her son, Donald Everett, and friend, Rod Beckman, who took over operations in 1966, began franchising and established a company.
As of August 2014, the company operates and franchises 80 locations. There are 75 locations throughout Nebraska with one location in Colorado (Loveland), two in Iowa (Council Bluffs and Clarinda) and two in Kansas (Lawrence and Mission).
The menu offers several types of Runza sandwiches, 100% beef hamburgers, grilled chicken sandwiches, homemade onion rings, soups, and milkshakes and their famous "Frings"™. The regional chain began a children's menu featuring "Runza Rex & Friends" and participates in helping kids with reading and literacy programs.