>> WE ARE HERE AT YORK STEAKHOUSE.

HERE IS THE OWNER.

>> OLD-SCHOOL THROWBACK, AMERICAN MADE.

>> NO EXCEPTION BESIDE THE SALAD BAR.

ONE TIME WE HAD A SALAD BAR OUT HERE.

IT WAS IN THE DINING ROOM.

THINGS KIND OF CHANGED.

WE STILL HAVE IT.

WE HAVE IT ON THE SMALLER SIDE.

IT IS A SALAD STATION NOW.

>> THIS IS GOOD FOR US,.

>> ONE DAY I FINALLY DID.

I'M THE HEAD BUSBOY, THE OWNER, EVERYTHING.

>> THAT WAS 1989.

HE MUST'VE HAD A VISION.

ABOUT THIS TIME, THEY WERE JUST HERE IN COLUMBUS.

THE FOOD COURT WAS IN THE MALL.

>>> PEOPLE TAKE AMENDS PRIDE FROM THE PART OF TOWN THAT THEY LIVE IN.

COLUMBUS IS NO EXCEPTION.

TODAY WE ARE EXPLORING A COUPLE OF GREAT PLACES ON THE WEST SIDE OF COLUMBUS.

STARTING WITH A RESTAURANT THAT HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE THE 1960S.

STARTING OUT AS A CHAIN RESTAURANT CONCEPT STARTING IN CITIES AND SHOPPING MALLS.

OUR VERY OWN PRODUCER HEADS OVER THERE TO FIND OUT THE SECRETS.

>> WE ARE HERE AT YORK STEAKHOUSE.

THE LAST YORK STEAKHOUSE.

HERE IS THE OWNER, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR COMING HERE TO TAKE THE TIME TO TALK TO US THIS MORNING.

AND OLD-SCHOOL THROWBACK WITH A SALAD BAR.

AND A SOUTHERN SODA.

>> THE ONLY EXCEPTION IS THE SALAD BAR.

AS YOU CAN SEE, ONE TIME WE HAD A SALAD BAR RIGHT OUT HERE IN THE MIDDLE.

WE STILL HAVE IT, IT IS ON THE SERVICE LINE.

WE CALL IT THE SALAD STATION.

>> THIS YORK STEAKHOUSE HAS BEEN HERE AND IT STILL IS.

>> I STARTED IN 1980.

AT THAT TIME, THE RESTAURANT AND COMPANY WAS DOING GOOD IT HAD ABOUT 180 RESTAURANTS.

I RAN IT FOR ABOUT NINE YEARS WORKING FOR THE COMPANY.

I USED TO WORK JUST AS A MANAGER, TRAINING, I DO NOT THINK I WOULD BECOME PRESIDENT.

ONE DAY, I FINALLY DID.

THE OWNER, EVERYTHING.

>> YOU MUST'VE HAD A VISION.

ABOUT THAT TIME, THEY WERE HERE IN COLUMBUS.

THEY WERE IN FOOD COURTS IN THE MALL.

YORK STEAKHOUSE WAS NOT A PLACE TO GO IN THE MALL.

YOU SAY, I WILL PUSH THROUGH WITH THIS ONE.

WHAT MADE YOU DO THAT?

>> TIMES CHANGE.

BACK IN THE 70s, A LOT OF PEOPLE, FRIDAY NIGHT OR SATURDAY YOU WOULD GO TO THE SHOPPING MALL TO DO SOME SHOPPING, THERE WERE MOVIE THEATERS.

HOPEFULLY YOU ATE AT YORK STEAKHOUSE.

THEN AS TIME WENT ON, THE MALLS KIND OF DROPPED.

LIKE HERE IN COLUMBUS.

THE MAJOR MALLS, NORTHERN MALL, EASTERN MALL.

I WAS FORTUNATE.

THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW THAT WERE BILLED AS A FREESTANDING UNIT.

WE WERE STILL A VIABLE PLACE TO GO TO EAT.

WE ARE ALWAYS A DESTINATION RESTAURANT.

THANKFULLY, FOR ME, IT WAS GOOD TO HAVE A FREESTANDING NOT IN THE MALL.

>> YOU ARE A FAMILY OWNED BUSINESS?

>> SURE.

I'M VERY FORTUNATE, WE STILL HAVE THE CHAIN LOOK, YOU MIGHT SAY.

FROM THE EARLY 70s.

WE RAN IT AS A MOM-AND-POP YORK STEAKHOUSE.

ALL OF THE CUSTOMERS EAT THERE TWO OR THREE TIMES A WEEK.

FOR ME, THAT'S GREAT.

>> THE MENU, I LOOKED AT IT, IT'S PRETTY BASIC.

IN A GOOD WAY.

>> I HAD A STEAK YESTERDAY, THERE WAS A WHOLE MEAL HERE.

HOW DO YOU DO THAT?

HOW DO YOU KEEP PRICES DOWN?

HOW DO YOU DO THAT?

>> ONE OF THE ADVANTAGES, I'M NOT PAYING FOR A HEADQUARTERS OUT THERE.

I SUPPORT MY FAMILY AND MY STAFF.

THEY DO GOOD WORK.

YOU HAVE TO BRING EVERYTHING TO THE BOTTOM LINE.

I'M NOT IN A PRIME LOCATION, YOU MIGHT SAY.

IT IS NOT AS GOOD AS AN EASTERN AREA LIKE POLARIS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

YOU KNOW, IT'S AFFORDABLE, IT IS A GOOD SITUATION.

I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RAISE MY FAMILY AND KEEP THINGS GOING.

THAT PART IS NICE.

WHO ARE THE CUSTOMERS WHO COME HERE?

>> HONESTLY, THE CUSTOMERS ARE ALL OVER.

WE HAVE A GOOD BASE HERE.

WE HAD SIGNATURE ON OUR ITEMS THAT PEOPLE REMEMBER US BY.

THE SIRLOIN TIPS WILL ALWAYS BE THE NUMBER ONE DINNER.

NOTHING EVEN COMES CLOSE.

WE HAVE THE HONEY GLAZED CHICKEN.

THAT IS REALLY POPULAR WITH US.

ALL THOSE MENU ITEMS, PEOPLE SAY THEY ARE NUMBER ONE.

PEOPLE SAY, I REMEMBER NUMBER FOUR.

THERE WERE ONLY FOUR OR FIVE ITEMS ON THE MENU.

IT WAS A CHOPSTICK PATTY ON A NICE DINNER ROLL.

THEY REMEMBER THAT AS A KID GETTING THAT WHEN HE CAME OUT.

THE SIGNATURE STEAK FRIES , WE DON'T HAVE THOSE TOO OFTEN.

THICKER FRIES.

THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE REMEMBER.

WE ARE ONE OF THOSE RESTAURANTS, WHEN YOU HAVE KIDS, YOU START OUT AT McDONALD'S OR WHATEVER.

MAYBE WANT TO INTRODUCE THEM TO A FAMILY SITDOWN RESTAURANT.

YORK IS A GOOD PLACE TO COME.

YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE YOU'RE IN A FOUR-STAR RESTAURANT WHICH I LOVE.

ON THE OTHER HAND, IT INTRODUCES THEM TO MORE OF THE ENVIRONMENT.

YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH KIDS TOO.

>> YOU CAN BE KIND OF IN THAT MIDDLE SEGMENT.

IF TIMES ARE BAD, INSTEAD OF EATING OUT A HIGHER-END RESTAURANT, YOU COME TO NEW YORK.

INSTEAD OF HAVING FAST FOOD.

IT'S KIND OF NICE TO BE THERE RIGHT THERE IN THE MIDDLE.

>> WHAT DID YOU DO WHEN COVID HAD A PLACE LIKE THIS?

>> THAT WAS TOUGH.

I WAS ONE OF THE TOUGHEST TIMES IN MY WHOLE CAREER.

IT WAS A SUNDAY NIGHT, WATCHING TV.

I CAME ACROSS THAT ALL RESTAURANTS WILL BE CLOSED TOMORROW.

I FINISHED THE TWO BIGGEST WEEKS OF MY CAREER.

>> YOUR WHOLE CAREER.

WORKING IN THE BACON JURY AND THEN TAKING OVER.

THIS WAS THE NATURAL PROGRESSION.

>> I'VE ALWAYS BEEN IN FOOD, I WORKED IN A GROCERY STORE FOR ABOUT FOUR YEARS AND THEN I WAS IN THE BAKERY.

I STARTED WITH YORK.

THEY HAVE BEEN VERY UNDERSTANDING WITH THE BUSINESS.

I HAVE HAD THREE KIDS, THEY ALL WORKED HERE FOR ME AFTER SCHOOL AND COLLEGE.

I STILL HAVE A SON WORKING FOR ME.

I HAVE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE THAT TYPE OF SUPPORT AROUND ME.

I'M DOING GOOD.

>> WE HOPE THAT YORK STEAKHOUSE WILL CONTINUE TO GROW.

WE THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, WE APPRECIATE IT.