Jimmy Buffett Cheeseburger in Paradise Restaurants Sold

Posted Nov 29th 2012 2:25PM by Erin Duvall
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Jimmy Buffett Cheeseburger in Paradise Restaurants Paul Zimmerman, WireImage

Restaurants all over the world claim to have inspired Jimmy Buffett's 1978 tune, "Cheeseburger in Paradise," but there's only one chain of eateries that can prove they were named for the song. A decade ago, the legendary singer-songwriter co-founded the chain, following the footsteps of his successful Margaritaville restaurants. Now, according to Yahoo, Luby's Inc. has paid $11 million for the Paradise Restaurants Group LLC, which operates 23 Cheeseburger in Paradise locations nationwide.

Don't fret, though, whether you like yours with lettuce and tomato, Heinz 57 and french fried potatoes, or a big kosher pickle and a cold draft beer, the chain will live on. In a statement, the new owners promised to "expand the brand," which -- with its island decor -- is a departure from the cafeteria-style restaurants for which Luby's is known.

"Cheeseburger in Paradise will nicely complement our core family-friendly brands, Luby's Cafeterias and Fuddruckers, with a casual-dining restaurant and bar offering," said Luby's chief executive Chris Pappas. "A number of their 23 locations are located in high-traffic areas, many near successful malls and tourist attractions. With the addition of Cheeseburger in Paradise, we will further enhance our competitiveness and increase the company's opportunities for revenue growth in the future."

Additionally, COO Peter Tropoli doesn't believe the change will be noticed, adding, "From a guest and employee perspective, the transition should be seamless."

And, of course, Parrotheads can always search for that "lost shaker of salt" at Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville.

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