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RioStar Corporation was an American restaurant holding corporation controlled by Ninfa Laurenzo and her family. The company controlled the Ninfa's, Bambolino's, and Atchafalaya River Cafe brands. In March 1990, RioStar had 22 employees working in its corporate office.〔 When RioStar was in existence, its corporate headquarters were in the East End of Houston, Texas.〔''D & B Nusiness Rankings''. Dun & Bradstreet, Inc., 1998. (38 ). Retrieved from Google Books on February 6, 2012. "4824 RIOSTAR CORP 2727 Canal St, Houston, TX 77003-1526"〕 RioStar was one of Houston's largest Hispanic-owned businesses.〔Woodyard, Chris. "(Firms owned by Hispanics growing fast/Number of businesses rose 76% in 5 years )." ''Houston Chronicle''. Thursday July 11, 1996. Business 1. Retrieved on February 6, 2012.〕 In 1994 it was one of 23 Hispanic-owned businesses in Greater Houston to be listed in ''Hispanic Business'' magazine's top 500 Hispanic-owned business in the United States,〔Staff. "(Top Hispanic-owned companies )." ''Houston Chronicle''. Saturday June 23, 1994. Business 1. Retrieved on February 6, 2012.〕 taking the rank of 65th largest.〔Hassel, Greg. "(Billy Blues, Ninfa's break engagement )." ''Houston Chronicle''. Wednesday January 26, 1994. Business 1. Retrieved on February 6, 2012.〕 The chairperson of RioStar was Ninfa Laurenzo.〔Hassel, Greg. "(Sysco goes to court vs. RioStar/Chapter 7 sought for Ninfa's parent )." ''Houston Chronicle''. Friday October 18, 1996. Business 1. Retrieved on February 6, 2012.〕 By 1993 she no longer operated the restaurants on a family basis.〔Hassel, Greg. "(Corporate combination platter/Ninfa's joins forces with San Antonio's Billy Blues )." ''Houston Chronicle''. Thursday September 23, 1993. Business 1. Retrieved on February 6, 2012.〕 Roland Laurenzo, Ninfa's son, served as the company's president.〔 Lee Kelleher served as the vice president and chief financial officer.〔Boisseau, Charles. "(Serving up more Cajun/Atchafalaya hot on expanding )." ''Houston Chronicle''. Saturday March 24, 1990. Business 1. Retrieved on February 6, 2012.〕 Steve DiMeo served as the executive vice president.〔 ==History== Roland Laurenzo, a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, was named president of RioStar Corporation when he was 24 years old, around the year 1976.〔Tyer, Brad. "Mama Ninfa and her Comeback Kids." ''Houston Press''. Thursday August 6, 1998. (2 ). Retrieved on February 6, 2012.〕 In 1989 the company had eleven Ninfa's locations, with one in Dallas, and 13 Bambolino's, all in Houston.〔Stovall, Watrina. "(Best Bites )." ''The Dallas Morning News''. Friday January 5, 1990. Home Final Guide Dining Page 6. Retrieved on February 7, 2012.〕 In November 1989 RioStar had purchased four Atchafalaya River Cafe locations, two in Greater Houston and two in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, for $6 million. RioStar had acquired them from Richard Tanenbaum, a Houston restaurateur. Greyhound Financial Corp., a firm from Phoenix, Arizona, loaned $4 million to RioStar to allow it to acquire Atchafalaya River Cafe.〔 Of the Atchafalayas locations in the DFW Metroplex, one was in Addison and one was in Arlington.〔 In March 1990 RioStar stated that it planned to build two or three more Atchafalaya locations over the following 12 to 18 months, intending to open one in Clear Lake City by September 1990.〔 In 1989 and 1990, RioStar converted four Bambolino's locations into Ninfa's Cafe ''fajitarias''.〔Staff. "(4 Bambolino's change menus to Mexican )." ''Houston Chronicle''. Friday June 8, 1990. Business 2. Retrieved on February 6, 2012.〕〔Staff. "(No pizza today )." ''Houston Chronicle''. Friday June 8, 1990. Business 1. Retrieved on February 6, 2012.〕 The first conversion occurred in November 1989, and the conversions of the other three occurred afterwards. Ten Bambolino's remained.〔 In March 1990 RioStar managed eleven Ninfa's locations, 10 Bambolino's locations, and four Atchafalaya River Cafe locations.〔 Rio Star had $27.2 million in sales in 1990. In May 1991 the company, then the largest Hispanic-owned employer in Houston, had 1,300 employees, 11 Ninfa's, 10 Bambolino's, 4 Atchafalaya's, and nine other food operations.〔Boisseau, Charles. "(Hispanic companies thriving/Houston has 26 of top 500 firms )." ''Houston Chronicle''. Friday May 31, 1991. Business 1. Retrieved on February 6, 2012.〕 In 1993 the chain managed a total of 33 restaurants.〔 During that year, RioStar finalized a deal to sell two Atachafalayas to Landry's Restaurants, receiving over $3 million. After selling those two and then opening two additional Atchafalayas locations, RioStar owned six Atchafalayas.〔 In 1996 the Laurenzo family, under RioStar, opened Bradley's Restaurant and Brewery, which was the only brewery in Clear Lake City. Bertrand Callahan created the menu, which included beer and light and hearty food items.〔Staff. "(DIGEST )." ''Houston Chronicle''. Friday April 5, 1996. Dining Guide Page 1. Retrieved on February 6, 2012.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「RioStar Corp.」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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