Peter Strang
Executive Vice President
Don Strang, III
President
© Copyright - Strang Corporation, All Rights Reserved.
For over 60 years, the Strang Corporation based in Cleveland Ohio, has been
recognized by the hospitality industry as a premier hospitality company, an innovative
service provider with a strong technology infrastructure, and is now a leading diverse
hospitality company having sister companies with
restaurants across eight
states with over $50 million of managed sales and over
3,000 employees.
The Strang Corporation was founded in 1942 by Don Strang, Sr. when he opened a Howard
Johnson's Restaurant in the old Lighthouse building on the shores of Lake Erie on Cleveland's
west side. Early on, the company was successful and opened two other restaurants as well.
In the 1950's the company expanded across state lines and developed a Howard Johnson's
restaurant in Chicago.
In the 1960's, Don's son, Don Strang, Jr., entered the business and soon after, Strang
Corporation developed its first hotel. A Howard Johnson's Motor Lodge. It was a welcomed
addition to the successful Chicago restaurant. The hotel grew into one of the highest
occupancy hotels in the chain. In fact, it was named the "Outstanding Hotel of the
Year" in 1991 by the Howard Johnson Company.
In addition to this hotel Don Strang, Jr. expanded the corporation into fine dining custom
concept restaurants under the "Don's Restaurants" brand. He also led the company into
becoming a leading Red Barn restaurant franchisee, with 18 units by 1973.
Strang Corporation's reputation in the hospitality industry had reached a point to where
it was asked to take its first hotel management contract - the Christopher Inn, Columbus,
Ohio. In addition, the corporation landed a management contract in the food and beverage
operations of six Holiday Inns in the central U. S.
Strang Corporation experienced substantial changes and growth in the 1980's. The third
generation, Donald W. Strang, III, David E. Strang, and Peter W. Strang all started work
at the Company after various experiences in hospitality companies outside the family
business.
In 1985 the Company opened the first of eighty-six Applebee's Neighborhood Grill and
Bar's that it developed over the next sixteen years. The Applebee's were sold in 2001.
Strang Corporation and it's related company, American Bread Company, is one of
the nation's fastest growing franchisees' of Panera Bread Bakery Cafes in the country.
In 2007, twenty-seven Applebee's Neighborhood
Grill and Bar's were added to the Strang family, operated by
Apple Two Associates, Inc. They are
located in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Texas.
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"Whenever you're away from home, our pineapple is in the
window for you." In the days when men sailed far from home
for many months a pineapple placed in the window let them
know where they were welcome. Today, the pineapple has
become the international symbol for hospitality.
Company Founder,
Don Strang Sr.
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