Zehnder's of Frankenmuth - A 2009 Top Grossing Restaurant

FRANKENMUTH, Mich., April 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Zehnder's of Frankenmuth, the 1,500 seat family restaurant located in Frankenmuth, Mich., was named one of the top grossing  independent restaurants in the country in 2009 by Restaurant & Institutions, a restaurant trade publication.  Zehnder's is ranked 39th in the nation with gross sales of $13,824,875.  The restaurant also served nearly one million guests, and had the lowest average dinner check amount of $14.06 among all the top grossing 100 independent restaurants.  In addition Zehnder's served 983,120 guests which placed them second among the top 100.

"Considering the weak economy nationwide and especially in Michigan, we are most pleased with our 2009 performance. We have worked to strengthen the Zehnder's brand in every way and continue to provide great food and service to keep our guests coming back for more," said Zehnder's Chairman and CEO Al Zehnder. "Our family of employees truly makes a difference when it comes to understanding good hospitality. Some staff members have been with us for more than 30 years."

Known for its popular all-you-can-eat family-style chicken dinners since 1929, Zehnder's recently was named an American icon by Nations Restaurant News (NRN), another major restaurant trade publication.  According to NRN they focused on the 50 restaurants nationwide that "stole our hearts and stood the test of time."  Not only did Zehnder's make the nationwide list as one of the top 50 restaurant icons, it was the only Michigan restaurant chosen by NRN editors.

Zehnder's is gearing up for one of its biggest days of the year -- Mother's Day, when the restaurant typically serves more than 5,000 meals. All-you-can-eat family-style chicken dinners are the most popular menu item and guests consume more than 840,000 pounds of chicken every year. The restaurant's menu also offers seafood, steaks, fresh baked goods and European desserts.

The Bavarian town of Frankenmuth, 90 miles north of Detroit, is one of the state's top tourist destinations with more than 3 million visitors each year.  In addition to its 1,500 seat restaurant that offers a marketplace, bakery and gift store, Zehnder's of Frankenmuth owns and operates Zehnder's Splash Village Hotel and Waterpark, and the 18-hole championship golf course, The Fortress.  In 1998, Golf Digest recognized The Fortress as one of the top 450 public golf courses in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.  Frankenmuth was voted the best day trip in Michigan by Detroit News readers, and Zehnder's was honored as one of the top vacation-stop restaurants in the state.  Learn more about Zehnder's at www.zehnders.com or call 800-863-7999, central reservations for dining, golf, meetings and lodging.  

SOURCE Zehnder's of Frankenmuth