Black-Eyed Pea Restaurant
Encyclopedia
Black-eyed Pea is a United States
restaurant chain. The restaurants are located primarily in Texas
and Colorado
.
, and is still in operation there. The chain eventually expanded across the Southern United States.
In early 1997, DenAmerica purchased the Black-eyed Pea restaurant chain from Unigate plc, a British food manufacturer and distributor, for $65 million. At that time the Black-eyed Pea chain consisted of 130 restaurants, about a quarter of which were franchises.
On November 12, 2001, DenAmerica, now operating as Phoenix Restaurant Group, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. This resulted in the closing of 48 Black-eyed Pea locations, reducing the chain to 44 locations (not including the Colorado locations, whose owners were in much better financial shape). In 2002, under new management, Black-eyed Pea was reformatted as a "country casual" chain by adding more appetizers and seafood offerings, along with more grilled items as well as an increased emphasis on its bar.
As of July 12, 2007, Black-eyed Pea has a total of 50 locations, including 35 in Texas and 15 in Colorado. The Texas locations are largely located in the Dallas-Fort Worth
and Houston
metropolitan areas, while the vast majority of the Colorado restaurants are situated in the Denver
area.
In December 2008, former corporate employees Stephen Shaw and Alan Laughlin along with Steve's brother Jim Shaw purchased all the rights to the Colorado locations of Black-eyed Pea. The three have begun changing menu items and pushing more advertising.
The restaurants also have full liquor service.
Every Tuesday night after 5:00 pm, a child under 12 who is accompanied by a paying adult may choose a free meal from the children's menu.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
restaurant chain. The restaurants are located primarily in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
and Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
.
History
Black-eyed Pea was founded in 1975 by Dallas restaurateur Gene Street. Its first location opened on Cedar Springs road in Oak Lawn, DallasOak Lawn, Dallas
Oak Lawn is a neighborhood in Dallas, Texas , defined in Dallas City Ordinance 21859 as . The unofficial boundaries are Turtle Creek Boulevard, Central Expressway, the City of Highland Park, Inwood Road, and Harry Hines Boulevard. It is over in area...
, and is still in operation there. The chain eventually expanded across the Southern United States.
In early 1997, DenAmerica purchased the Black-eyed Pea restaurant chain from Unigate plc, a British food manufacturer and distributor, for $65 million. At that time the Black-eyed Pea chain consisted of 130 restaurants, about a quarter of which were franchises.
On November 12, 2001, DenAmerica, now operating as Phoenix Restaurant Group, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. This resulted in the closing of 48 Black-eyed Pea locations, reducing the chain to 44 locations (not including the Colorado locations, whose owners were in much better financial shape). In 2002, under new management, Black-eyed Pea was reformatted as a "country casual" chain by adding more appetizers and seafood offerings, along with more grilled items as well as an increased emphasis on its bar.
As of July 12, 2007, Black-eyed Pea has a total of 50 locations, including 35 in Texas and 15 in Colorado. The Texas locations are largely located in the Dallas-Fort Worth
Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex
The Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington Metropolitan Statistical Area, a title designated by the U.S. Census as of 2003, encompasses 12 counties within the U.S. state of Texas. The area is divided into two metropolitan divisions: Dallas–Plano–Irving and Fort Worth–Arlington. Residents of the area...
and Houston
Greater Houston
Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown is a 10-county metropolitan area defined by the Office of Management and Budget. It is located along the Gulf Coast region in the U.S. state of Texas...
metropolitan areas, while the vast majority of the Colorado restaurants are situated in the Denver
Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Area
The Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area is a United States Census Bureau defined Metropolitan Statistical Area in the State of Colorado that includes the City and County of Denver and nine suburban counties. The Census Bureau estimates that the population was 2,357,404 on...
area.
In December 2008, former corporate employees Stephen Shaw and Alan Laughlin along with Steve's brother Jim Shaw purchased all the rights to the Colorado locations of Black-eyed Pea. The three have begun changing menu items and pushing more advertising.
Menu
Black-eyed Pea's menu features home-style Southern U.S. cuisine such as fried catfish, chicken fried steak (including a "Texas Sized" version that takes up an entire plate), pot roast, mashed potatoes, fried okra, broccoli and rice casserole, corn bread, and rolls. Main entrees are usually order with a choice of two vegetables. The signature dish is the namesake of the chain, "black-eyed peas."The restaurants also have full liquor service.
Every Tuesday night after 5:00 pm, a child under 12 who is accompanied by a paying adult may choose a free meal from the children's menu.