Restaurateur Bob Evans dies

CLEVELAND, June 22 (UPI) -- Bob Evans, who parlayed an Ohio truck stop and a quest for quality sausage into a restaurant empire bearing his name, has died at age 89.

Evans died Thursday at the Cleveland Clinic of complications from pneumonia, the Chicago Tribune said.

He formed Bob Evans Farms in 1953 with five friends and relatives, emphasizing farm-fresh food, cleanliness and service in a homey atmosphere. It was located on a farm near Gallipolis, Ohio, about 80 miles southeast of Columbus. The first restaurant, known as The Sausage Shop, started with 12 stools.

Business was brisk but Evans could not get sausage he liked. So, he made his own, starting with $1,000, a couple of hogs, 40 pounds of black pepper, 50 pounds of sage and other secret ingredients.

The restaurant's name was changed to Bob Evans in 1962. At the time of Evans' death, it had grown into a chain of 579 restaurants in 18 states with sales of $1.6 billion.