Christopher J Pappas

Brothers Christopher J. and Harris Pappas lead privately-owned Pappas Restaurants, Inc., a company operating more than 100 restaurants in seven states. Chris Pappas is the company’s CEO. His brother is its president. Pappas Restaurants grew from their father and uncles’ work at Pappas Refrigeration. Currently Pappas Restaurants has 11 brands, including Pappas Seafood Houses, Pappasito’s Cantinas, Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchens, Pappas Bar-B-Q’s, Pappas Bros. Steakhouses, Pappas Burger, Yia Yia Mary’s Pappas Greek Kitchen and the Dot Coffee Shop. Each company has its own specialty, with Yia Yia Mary’s, for instance, specializing in Greek food: fish and mezedes (Greek, with a hint of Texas). Pappas Restaurants also has a food catering business. Since 2001, the two have become major shareholders in the once-ailing, 67-year-old restaurant chain Luby’s, Inc., which is listed on the NYSE; the company’s market capitalization is currently $182 million. Luby’s acquired the 200-restaurant chain Fuddruckers, and three Koo Koo Roo California Kitchen eateries in June 2010 for $63 million. Chris Pappas is president and chief operating officer of Luby’s, which now has 93 Luby’s cafeterias, 62 Fuddruckers, 20 Cheeseburger in Paradise full service restaurants and bars, 1 Koo Koo Roo Chicken Bistro, and 1 Bob Luby’s Seafood Grill restaurant. Harris Pappas was its Chief Operating Officer until his retirement in 2011. Chris Pappas serves on the Board of Directors for the Greater Houston Partnership and is also a member of the Dean’s Advisory Board at the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management at the University of Houston. Chris is a member of the Board of Directors for the National Restaurant Association, the Texas Restaurant Association, and the Greater Houston Restaurant Association and is an Advisory Board member of Amegy Bank. Chris received his Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin. He and his wife Maria have been married 30 years and have five children.