Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Another New Orleans company forgets its roots when it is needed the most.
via NOLA.com
The newest publicly traded company in the New Orleans area plans to leave the city as a result of Hurricane Katrina. Ruth’s Chris Steak House, which began trading on Nasdaq last month, has decided to make its temporary relocation to the Orlando area permanent.The company said its Metairie headquarters was damaged, communications were down, and that the New Orleans area “would not be able to support our corporate office and our support center for an extended period of time.’’The move affects 58 executives and corporate staffers who worked out of the Metairie office. Ruth’s two company-owned restaurants in New Orleans suffered flood and wind damage. Craig Miller, Ruth’s president and chief executive, said he is optimistic the company will be able to reopen its Metairie restaurant on Veterans Highway. But company officials are far less optimistic about the Broad Street restaurant because they have been unable to assess the damage at that location.
