Ted’s Montana Grill
Bison Burgers and More Right Here in Connecticut
Note: The food is fresh and the portions are generous. A sample: order a bacon bleu cheeseburger to go and it’s enough to feed two people. The crisp toasted buns are slid into their own paper wrapper/sleeve to keep them toasty and the burger’s toppings are carefully placed to the side so you can assemble the sandwich to your liking. It works and whets the appetite for more.
By M.A. Black
CCM Photography
George McKerrow Jr. and Ted Turner in ConnecticutOne customer spotted Ted Turner strolling by while she was dining in South Windsor’s Ted’s Montana Grill. Turner flashed his trademark toothy grin and greeted the woman, then walked over and sat down with his partner George McKerrow.
The Atlanta-based Ted's Montana Grill chain is owned by, and named for, Atlanta media mogul and billionaire Ted Turner of AOL-Time Warner Inc. Turner also owns 1.7 million acres of ranchland in Montana and elsewhere in the West. And an awful lot of buffalo.
“I started with three – a bull and two cows – and when spring came we had two calves,” said Turner in an on-site interview. “So I had five, and from there on we were on our way.” Now Turner’s bison herd numbers more than 32,000 head. Yow. It is this plentiful resource that supplies the restaurants around the country. The menu includes beef, seafood, and poultry, but sample the bison, which is free of steroids, antibiotics, and hormones. The taste is much the same as beef, but bison is highest of all meat in iron and is leaner. If you want fresh, good food, even the croutons and salad dressings are made on site. Their customers choose beef or bison, with about half choosing bison.
“There’s 100 million cattle in the USA. We have the number one supply source of bison, thanks to my partner,” said co-founder and operator George McKerrow Jr., who was also in Connecticut recently. He may not be instantly recognizable to the general public, but he is well-known in the business community. The veteran restaurateur with 30 years’ experience pioneered the casual-steakhouse concept with the LongHorn Steakhouse chain and created several upscale restaurants in Atlanta.
Menu specialties at the Turner restaurants include American-style, made-to-order burgers (including bison burgers), blue plate specials such as short ribs and pot roast, and old-fashioned milkshakes. The eateries serve 25 brands of beer as well as wine and soft drinks.
The first Ted’s Montana Grill opened in Columbus, Ohio, in January 2002. This year 15 Ted’s restaurants are expected to gross $2 million to $2.5 million. The chain’s average check is $14.50. In the region, and under construction, are restaurants in Cranston, Rhode Island. Turner said deals are “significantly close” for locations in Providence, the Boston area, and Philadelphia.
“It just so happened this high-end development Poag & McEwen put together – they’re our landlords in Colorado and are highly successful in these lifestyle centers. So this just came online. First we expect to do a lot of restaurants in the Northeast. We think people will like what we have to offer,” said Turner.
Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., Poag & McEwen is the founder and leading developer of what they term “lifestyle centers.” According to their Web site, the company’s portfolio consists of 12 developments across the United States in the completed, under construction, or pre-development stages. One is in Connecticut (Buckland Hills area), at The Shops at Evergreen Walk.
“Ted’s traditional American fare done right with great service – that’s timeless.That’s what we’re trying to be. We’re building 15 restaurants a year right now; we’d like to be a national chain. We’re going for a niche,” said Turner.
Designed to look like Old West taverns, Ted’s Montana Grills include Western art on the walls, pressed-tin ceilings, and hickory wood floors. The dining spots range in size from nearly 4,000 square feet with 100 seats to 5,500 square feet and 190 seats.
Ted's Montana Grill is privately owned by Ted Turner and George McKerrow; the company manages all of its locations and does not anticipate a franchise program. For information regarding Turner Enterprises, visit www.TedTurner.com.
