“Ruth’s Chris Steak House Inc.” purchased the Ruth’s Chris in Downtown Bellevue, along with the Seattle and Portland restaurants from the private franchise owners.
This would most likely be insignificant news, but the new corporate owners have taken away what is argued to be the best late night happy hour in all of Bellevue. The $3 burger, $2 salad, and the other wide array of inexpensive drinks and food made Ruth’s Chris a sure bet during Happy Hours.
When contacted, the Bellevue Ruth’s Chris informed us that the decision was made by the new owners to discontinue the 9pm – close happy hour.
With other steakhouses such as El Gaucho announcing future openings, Ruth’s Chris should be making attempt to help their image and create loyal and reoccurring customers. Surely eliminating something many customers enjoyed is not going to help with this task. (Why not just alter it, instead of eliminate it all together?)
Ruth’s Chris can guarantee losses from 9pm through close now going forward. Other restaurants close by with Happy Hours such as McCormick and Schmick’s, Manzana, and The Parlor shall surely expect a rise in business at night.
this is the most noteworthy event covered thus far on the site! I’m deeply saddened and at a loss for words.
Yes, that’s certainly a big loss! We’re a big fan of their regular happy hour as well. As stated, there are a handful of other great nearby restaurants that offer late night happy hour.
Check out the Best Bellevue/Eastside Happy Hours guide for a map and listings of the best happy hours in Bellevue and the Eastside.
Something else that should be noted is that they raised their prices $1 for all the drink and food specials for their 4-6 happy hour.
I think you are right Michael – with all the great new restaurants in town they should be thinking of ways to bring more people in, rather than push them away.
Happy Hours are the only way I am going someplace like Ruth’s, now I guess I’ll go elsewhere…
I am devastated at this breaking news. Surely if the new owners knew how much their late night happy hour meant to local Bellevuites it would most assuredly reconsidered its short-sighted decision. Perhaps this event will bring the masses McCormicks.
I was deeply saddened when I decided that a RC Cosmopolitan was the best way to finish off my Sunday night last night, and when I walked into Ruth’s Chris you could hear a pin drop…WHY? Because there is no more 9pm happy hour!! Sucks for them!!! I took my business to McCormick’s which made some mean drinks…Not with happy hour prices though! Only food.
NO!! I love HAPPY HOUR… I guess we will no longer be going to Ruth’s Chris for our late night drinks!
NO!! I love HAPPY HOUR… I guess we will no longer be going to Ruth’s Chris for our late night drinks!
Maybe they want to close earlier? If not they will probably lose so much business they will reopen it, but it will take awhile to recover…
Check out this section to leave a comment about it:
http://www.ruthschris.com/comment/
is RC trying to reduce alcohol consumption in the area? after all, last calls and happy hours tend to increase consumption right?
does anyone think surrounding bars/restaurants will follow RC’s lead or take advantage of it?
So what.
I too am saddened by this. But, let’s face it, a fine dinning resturant offering $3 Prime burgers. That is cheaper than fast food places like Fat Burger and I am sure they dont have the same overhead or rent. I was amazed they lasted this long. I mean give Ruth’s Burger House a break they still offer “Happy Hour” seven days a week. I am pretty sure that new places like El Gaucho are not offering $3 burgers and fries.
I am a long time reg at ruth’s early and late HH. Yes, it saddens me that the best burger in town is now $9.00 – But let’s stop and review 1.) no price increases in over 3 years. 2.) Still HH 4-6 seven days a week. I could go on but, WHY? One thing I’ve always hated was having dinner in the bar with a date or business associates and when the mall kids would come in and take over the bar with burgers and lemon-aid! I eat in the bar because it is fast, friendly and very casual! Since I’m a reg in the bar I’ve spoken to the bartenders about the thought of Ruth’s loosing money because of the lose of late night HH – Does everybody realize that Ruth’s dosen’t make one dime on the HH Food and Beverage? (they are paying you to eat at there restaurant) HH is ment for you to keep Ruth’s in mind when you think of someplace to eat and not an entitlement of which you are owed and by reading some comments it seems like most people feel like they are owed a $3 burger!!! Remember Fatburger serves Bud-Lite now!
I just spoke with a friend about this (she’s a commercial real estate broker focused primarily on retail in Bellevue) and according to her, RC got rid of it because it was attracting too many ruffians and they are not worried about losing clients because, as the last Anonymous commented, RC is not making any money on HH.