The Lubbock (Texas) Avalanche-Journal recently published a statistics-laden article about the iconic Big Texan Steak Ranch in nearby Amarillo.
The gist — a lot of big numbers are involved in running the former Route 66 restaurant. That’s what happens when you feed 500,000 customers per year.
The whole article is worth reading, but here are a few tidbits that stand out:
— Women have a much better chance of completing the 72-ounce steak dinner challenge. The restaurant says one in every two women who attempt it finish it. That compares to one in every six for the guys.
— The Big Texan sells more than 35,000 gallons of its own beer annually. It has 11 types of beer on tap. A few years ago, the Amarillo Globe-News reported the Big Texan sold more beer in the metro area than any other establishment by a wide margin.
— Since opening in 1960, the Big Texan has closed for a total of only 40 days. Nearly half of that was due to a fire in the mid-1970s, and the other half during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Even the death of founder Bobby Lee kept it closed only for a half-day.
— Each year, the Big Texan sells 250,000 of its T-shirts.
— Finally, the Big Texan serves more than 300 tons of beef per year. That’s more than 1,600 pounds per day.
The Big Texan Steak Ranch started on Amarillo Boulevard (aka Route 66) in Amarillo and advertises its Mother Road roots often.
After Interstate 40 opened in the early 1970s, the Big Texan picked up and moved there to ensure its survival.
(Image of the Big Texan Steak Ranch by Lee Winder via Flickr)
I have visited twice and had a great experience and meal both times. On the first visit, a pair of motorcycle tourists were giving the 72-ounce steak meal a try, but failing miserably and laughing anyway.