ATLANTA - A longtime Atlanta restaurateur is calling it quits after over 40 years in the business.
The Atlanta Business Chronicle reports that Ray Schoenbaum, the founder of Ray's Restaurants, is retiring.
Schoenbaum, the son of Shoney's founder Alex Schoenbaum, opened Ray's on the River in 1984 and then expanded to Alpharetta's Ray's at Killer Creek and Atlanta's Ray's in the City.
In the decades that followed, the restaurants have been the spot where thousands of Atlantans celebrated big events and special occasions. Last year, Schoenbaum's contributions to the metro Atlanta restaurant scene were honored when he was inducted into the Georgia Restaurant Association's Hall of Fame.
"It's been a pleasure to be in business this long. It's a real honor to be available for that long," Schoenbaum told FOX 5's Buck Lanford earlier in April when "Burgers with Buck" visited Ray's on the River.
MORE: 38-year server for Ray's Restaurants surprised with sports car as retirement gift
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Ray's on the River celebrates 40th anniversary
If you grew up in Atlanta, there's a good chance you celebrated a big event or a nice night out at Ray's on the River. The Atlanta staple is celebrating its 40th anniversary and Burgers with Buck is proud to help them launch their new steakhouse burger menu.
Reports say that TEI Hospitality, a Kennesaw-based company, has bought the restaurants.