Tony Roma's

Romacorp Inc.
	File:Tony Romas US logo.jpg U.S. logo
Trade name	Tony Roma's
Company type	Private
Industry	Restaurants
Founded	North Miami, Florida (1972; 54 years ago)
Founder	Tony Roma
Headquarters	Orlando, Florida, U.S.
Key people	Mohaimina Haque, Esq. (Interim CEO)Template:Clarification needed
Products	ribs, steak, chicken, and seafood
Number of employees	500
Website	Tony Roma's U.S.;

Romacorp Inc., known publicly as Tony Roma's, is a U.S.-based casual dining restaurant chain renowned for its specialty in baby back ribs. Established in 1972 by entrepreneur Tony Roma in North Miami, Florida, the brand began its international journey in 1979 with an opening in Tokyo. In 1976, Dallas Cowboys owner Clint Murchison Jr. acquired a controlling interest and collaborated with Roma to create Roma Corporation to manage expansion and franchising efforts. By the year 2020, Tony Roma's had grown to more than 115 outlets worldwide spanning six continents.

1972−1999

The inaugural Tony Roma's restaurant was launched on January 20, 1972, in North Miami. Prior to this venture, Tony Roma gained experience as a food and beverage expert at the Playboy Club. The original menu centered around steaks and burgers but shifted focus after chef David Smith introduced baby back ribs paired with a unique BBQ sauce that became the brand’s signature offering. Subsequently, the menu broadened to feature seafood, pasta dishes, chicken, and sandwiches.

In 1976, during Super Bowl X held in Miami, Clint Murchison Jr. acquired majority ownership and joined forces with Roma to establish Roma Corporation. This entity spearheaded the brand’s global growth through both company-operated locations and franchises. The first international restaurant opened in Tokyo in 1979, and by 1983, Tony Roma's had expanded to 30 locations worldwide. The mid-1980s marked a strategic pivot towards franchising to expedite expansion.

In 1984, Murchison transferred his shares to his heirs and appointed Kenneth Reimer as CEO. Around this period, Tony Roma divested his ownership stake to the Murchison family, finalizing the leadership and ownership transition within Roma Corporation.

2000–present

During Kenneth Reimer’s tenure, Tony Roma's broadened its menu offerings, launched new restaurants, and renovated existing venues to present a contemporary ambiance. In 2002, Frank Steed assumed the roles of CEO and president of Roma Corporation while David Grail took charge of menu innovation. Steed negotiated deals to establish 60 additional Tony Roma's locations across South America, Europe, and the Middle East.

Original chef David Smith retired in 2001; meanwhile, Bob Gallagher joined as the first executive chef in 2006. Founder Tony Roma passed away in 2003 at the age of 78.

By 2006, the workforce numbered approximately 1,725 employees. On March 3, 2015, the company debuted the TR Fire Grill concept in Orlando, Florida, with plans for further growth. In June 2023, Mohaimina “Mina” Haque was named CEO—marking the first time a woman has led the organization; Haque is an attorney specializing in franchise law.

Menu and retail offerings

Initially recognized for its burgers and steaks during the 1970s, Tony Roma's rose to prominence through its baby back ribs, a signature dish crafted by chef David Smith. Today, the menu encompasses a variety of items including ribs, steaks, burgers, chicken, seafood selections, appetizers, vegetarian options, desserts, and cocktails. International branches tailor their menus to suit regional tastes and cultural preferences. The menu is frequently refreshed with seasonal specialties and limited-time promotions.

In 2015, Roma Corp launched TR Fire Grill & Lounge in Orlando, showcasing contemporary American cuisine alongside a curated cocktail list.

Several Tony Roma's main dishes are distributed as frozen prepackaged meals available in grocery stores via Rupari Food Services. Additionally, the brand’s original barbecue sauce enjoys widespread retail availability.

Locations

By 2020, Tony Roma's maintained a presence of more than 100 restaurants spanning six continents. Established in 1976, the chain was among the pioneers in expanding from the United States into international markets, debuting its first overseas location in Japan. Following this, the company expanded into Europe, South America, Australia, Asia, and the Middle East—including outlets in the UAE. By 2015, Tony Roma's operated approximately 120 international venues alongside 20 locations within the United States.

A strategic redesign introduced a new store concept in 2016. At that time, the domestic footprint had reduced to 20 U.S. restaurants; closures included the Commack site near New York City, leaving only locations at Newark Liberty International Airport and Niagara Falls in close proximity. The opening of a new franchise in South Palm Beach, Florida in 2018 marked the first U.S. expansion in six years, indicating a resurgence in domestic growth.

As of 2020, Southern California featured two Tony Roma's establishments: one near SouthBay Pavilion in Carson and another close to Disneyland Resort in Anaheim. The brand continues to pursue growth in emerging markets; notably, it was among the earliest U.S.-based dining chains to enter Myanmar in 2015. By 2018, Tony Roma's had secured fresh licensing and development contracts throughout the United States, Europe, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Nicaragua, and Bolivia.

Countries and territories hosting restaurants

External links