FATZ is a casual dining

Casual dining

This is a list of casual dining restaurant chains around the world, arranged in alphabetical order. A casual dining restaurant is a restaurant that serves moderately-priced food in a casual atmosphere...

 restaurant

Restaurant

A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...

 chain operated by Cafe Enterprises, Inc. which is headquartered in Taylors, South Carolina

Taylors, South Carolina

Taylors is a census-designated place in Greenville County, United States. The population was 20,125 at the 2000 census. Taylors is the Greenville/Spartanburg area's largest suburb although it is not incorporated as a city. It is part of the Greenville–Mauldin–Easley Metropolitan...

. It is a regional restaurant chain with locations in South Carolina

South Carolina

South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...

, North Carolina

North Carolina

North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...

, Georgia

Georgia (U.S. state)

Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...

, Tennessee

Tennessee

Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...

, and Virginia

Virginia

The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...

. Unlike most chain restaurants, FATZ does not franchise any of its units. Rather, the company owns each location and relies on operating partners to manage and oversee the success of his or her respective restaurant. Formerly known as Fatz Cafe, FATZ changed their name to be more in line with the casual atmosphere it promotes, as well as emphasizing a “first name basis” customer approach.

History

The first FATZ opened November 1988 in a converted peach shed in Spartanburg, South Carolina

Spartanburg, South Carolina

thgSpartanburg is the largest city in and the county seat of Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States. It is the second-largest city of the three primary cities in the Upstate region of South Carolina, and is located northwest of Columbia, west of Charlotte, and about northeast of...

 with the idea to serve ample portions of food in a comfortable and friendly atmosphere.

The Menu

The main FATZ menu features chicken, pasta, steaks, ribs, and seafood. The menu also includes salads, soups, sandwiches and burgers. Specialty entrees are both traditional and new American food prepared with a twist.

The centerpiece of FATZ's menu is its "World Famous Calabash chicken," named after Calabash, North Carolina

Calabash, North Carolina

Calabash is a small fishing town in Brunswick County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 711 at the 2000 census. It prides itself as the Seafood Capital of the World because of the town's offering of "Calabash-Style" seafood restaurants....

, a coastal town renowned for its distinctive style of breading and frying seafood. FATZ's chicken tenders are dipped in buttermilk and hand-bread in their very own specially seasoned breading. Their signature Poppy seed rolls are served with cinnamon butter. The siganutre Poppy Seed Rolls are produced exclusively by Southern Baking Corp. in Greer SC.

FATZ also offers an upgraded kids menu with salads as well as smaller portions of adult offerings.

The FATZ menu has been expanded to include a section of items under 550 calories called FATZ Lite Side.

Dietary restrictions

FATZ uses 100%,0 trans fat, canola oil for frying. Canola Oil is among the healthiest of cooking oils. FATZ also accommodates the dietary needs of its guests by handling special preparation requests easily.

Service & Style

Welcome to a place that feels like home, is the FATZ mantra. It refers to FATZ's non-franchised, local operating partner structure, which they believe promotes a hometown restaurant setting for its guests.

The restaurants have a lodge-like feel that features a heavy emphasis on earth tones and solid-wood furniture, low lighting, and large booths. Memorabilia and items of nostalgia that reflect the community in which the restaurant operates are usually found on the interior walls.

Locations

FATZ does not tend to place units in large metropolitan areas. There are 49 locations around the southeastern United States right now.

Awards and recognition

In 2009, FATZ was ranked on the Restaurants & Institutions

Restaurants & Institutions

Restaurants & Institutions was a trade publication and web site owned by Reed Business Information serving the information needs of foodservice professionals at chains, independent restaurants, hotels and institutions....

 magazine's 2009 "Top 400" list as one of the leading restaurant chains in the country. The annual "Top 400" list recognizes FATZ for increasing total year-over-year revenues (2007–2008), which resulted in the company jumping from #266 on the "Top 400" list to its newest position at #245.

In 2010, Bruce Dressler, Operating Partner of FATZ Irmo, was recognized by the SC Hospitality Association as one of the Stars of South Carolina's Hospitality Industry earning the Restaurant Manager of the Year award.

Community involvement

FATZ sponsors the Clemson Tigers

Clemson Tigers

The Clemson Tigers are any team that represents Clemson University as a member of the NCAA's Division I or in the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference....

, the South Carolina Gamecocks

South Carolina Gamecocks

The University of South Carolina's 19 varsity sports teams are known as the "Gamecocks". The unique moniker is held in honor of Thomas Sumter, a South Carolina war hero who was given the name "The Carolina Gamecock" during the American Revolution for his fierce fighting tactics, regardless of his...

, and the Georgia Bulldogs

Georgia Bulldogs

The Georgia Bulldogs are the athletic teams of the University of Georgia. The Bulldogs compete in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and are members of the Southeastern Conference...

. FATZ Shelby, North Carolina

Shelby, North Carolina

Shelby is a city in Cleveland County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 19,477 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Cleveland County.-Geography:Shelby is located at ....

 sponsors Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs' Club Hospitality Area during all Home Football and Men’s Basketball games.

FATZ operators also support and donate their time and resources to their communities. For example, for the past decade, the Hendersonville, North Carolina

Hendersonville, North Carolina

Hendersonville is a city in Henderson County, North Carolina, USA, southeast of Asheville. In 1900, 1,917 persons lived in Hendersonville; in 1910, 2,818; and in 1940, 5,381 people lived here. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 12,223, up fivefold in one century. It is the county...

 FATZ has provided kindergarten classes in town a tour of the restaurant and free meal. It’s also sponsored the annual Relay For Life dinner and assisted numerous charitable golf tournaments. In South Carolina, the FATZ Cheraw

Cheraw, South Carolina

Cheraw is a town on the Pee Dee River in Chesterfield County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 5,524 at the 2000 census and center of an urban cluster with a total population of 9,069. It has been nicknamed "The Prettiest Town in Dixie." The harbor tub USS Cheraw was named in the...

 actively supports the Pee Dee Coalition’s efforts to stem domestic violence by catering dinner for the organization’s annual meeting; FATZ North Charleston

North Charleston, South Carolina

North Charleston is the 3rd largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina with incorporated areas in Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties. On June 12, 1972 the city of North Charleston incorporated and was the 9th largest city in South Carolina. According to the 2010 Census, North...

 provides gift certificates for the yearly military 5K run in the county; and FATZ Greenwood

Greenwood, South Carolina

Greenwood is a city in and the county seat of Greenwood County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 22,071 at the 2000 census and had slightly increased to 22,710 according to a 2009 estimate.-Geography:...

supplies prizes for July’s classic car cruise and participates in the annual Taste of Greenwood, furnishing Calabash
chicken at cost.

In 2010, the FATZ Short Stacks for Big Change Fundraising Program helped raise over $475k in charitable contributions for individuals and charities in the communities in which the company operates.