QUAKER STEAK & amp; LUBE 8th restaurant opens

Sharon-based restaurant chain prepares to push its expansion beyond Ohio and Pennsylvania.
THE VINDICATOR, YOUNGSTOWN
By DON SHILLING
VINDICATOR BUSINESS EDITOR
SHARON, Pa. -- The eighth Quaker Steak & amp; Lube restaurant has opened in suburban Cleveland, and a ninth is planned for Dayton.
The Sharon-based company is planning to expand far beyond Ohio, however.
"We're ready to go nationwide," said Stacey Kollar, director of franchise administration. "But we're going slow to ensure quality and control."
Owners George Warren and Gary Meszaros opened the original restaurant in a former gas station in 1974. The eatery quickly developed a loyal following for its chicken wings and automotive decor, which includes cars hanging from the ceiling.
They started franchising in 1997. The newest restaurant is off Interstate 90 in Sheffield.
Pat and Larry Campana, who own a steel-related company in Lorain, are the franchisees. They had been entertaining clients from this region at the original Lube for years. They didn't know the Lube owners but when they heard about the franchising, the Campanas jumped at the chance to be involved, Kollar said.
Another restaurant is to open next month in Dayton.
Taking it slowly
Kollar said the company doesn't have goals for the number of restaurants that will open, but officials are looking beyond Ohio and Pennsylvania. A Lube restaurant is to open next spring in Charlotte, N.C.
Kollar said the expansion effort has been slow so far so officials can be sure they can provide support to the franchisees.
The company is looking for franchisees who are able to open large restaurants with an extensive automotive decor.
In Ohio, the company also has franchises in Columbus and Valley View, which is near Cleveland. There also are two locations in both the Pittsburgh and Erie areas.
Typically, the franchisees are people from those areas who are familiar with the Lube, but the Dayton restaurant is being opened by the franchisee from Columbus, Kollar said.
The company has a fast-food style eatery in Boardman but opted for franchising the rest of its expansion because of the cost of opening full-scale restaurants.
shilling@vindy.com