SKU: 57241238037

House of Plenty: The Rise, Fall, and Revival of Luby's Cafeterias

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House of Plenty: The Rise, Fall, and Revival of Luby's CafeteriasScarred by the deaths of his mother and sisters and the failure of his father's business, a young man dreamed of making enough money to retire early and retreat into the secure world that his childhood tragedies had torn from him. But Harry Luby refused to be a robber baron. Turning totally against the tide of avaricious capitalism, he determined to make a fortune by doing good. Starting with that unlikely, even naive, ambition in 1911, Harry Luby

Scarred by the deaths of his mother and sisters and the failure of his father's business, a young man dreamed of making enough money to retire early and retreat into the secure world that his childhood tragedies had torn from him. But Harry Luby refused to be a robber baron. Turning totally against the tide of avaricious capitalism, he determined to make a fortune by doing good. Starting with that unlikely, even naive, ambition in 1911, Harry Luby founded a cafeteria empire that by the 1980s had revenues second only to McDonald's. So successfully did Luby and his heirs satisfy the tastes of America that Luby's became the country's largest cafeteria chain, creating more millionaires per capita among its employees than any other corporation of its size. Even more surprising, the company stayed true to Harry Luby's vision for eight decades, making money by treating its customers and employees exceptionally well. Written with the sweep and drama of a novel, House of Plenty tells the engrossing story of Luby's founding and phenomenal growth, its long run as America's favorite family restaurant during the post-World War II decades, its financial failure during the greed-driven 1990s when non-family leadership jettisoned the company's proven business model, and its recent struggle back to solvency. Carol Dawson and Carol Johnston draw on insider stories and company records to recapture the forces that propelled the company to its greatest heights, including its unprecedented practices of allowing store managers to keep 40 percent of net profits and issuing stock to all employees, which allowed thousands of Luby's workers to achieve the American dream of honestly earned prosperity. The authors also plumb the depths of the Luby's drama, including a hushed-up theft that split the family for decades; the 1991 mass shooting at the Killeen Luby's, which splattered the company's good name across headlines nationwide; and the rapacious over-expansion that more than doubled the company's size in nine years (1987-1996), pushed it into bankruptcy, and drove president and CEO John Edward Curtis Jr. to violent suicide. Disproving F. Scott Fitzgerald's adage that "there are no second acts in American lives," House of Plenty tells the epic story of an iconic American institution that has risen, fallen, and found redemption-with no curtain call in sight.

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: University of Texas Press
Published: 04/01/2015
ISBN: 9780292726017
Pages: 288
Weight: 0.94lbs
Size: 9.02h x 5.98w x 0.65d
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SKU: 57241238037

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4.4 ★★★★★
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Cindy Donitzen
Dallas, US
★★★★★ 5
They do their job!
Style: 600 Count (2 Pack of 300), Size: 300 Count (Pack of 2)
The thickness and the strength of these plates is great. They’re not flimsy at all. I haven’t had any issue with their functionality since small plates are typically for desserts or snacks. The only issue I’ve had is that they tend to be stuck together a fair amount of the time. Before gatherings, I’ve had to separate the plates. Not a huge problem, just a little inconvenience imo.
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Reviewed in the United States on October 25, 2025
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Verified Purchase
JRR
Massapequa, US
★★★★★ 5
She likes them
Style: 600 Count (2 Pack of 300), Size: 300 Count (Pack of 2)
Well priced and provide some spousal relief
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Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2026
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Marisa
Belleville, US
★★★★★ 4
Small Plate, Big Convenience
Style: 600 Count (2 Pack of 300), Size: 300 Count (Pack of 2)
These plates are sturdy and perfect for snacks and desserts. They don’t bend or soak through easily. Microwave‑safe and super convenient. Excellent value for everyday use.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2026
S
Verified Purchase
SHAWNIE
Lowell, US
★★★★★ 5
Good quality for a good quantity
Style: 600 Count (2 Pack of 300), Size: 300 Count (Pack of 2)
Lasted awhile especially with 4 kids in the house, this kept me from washing dishes constantly.
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Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2025
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Verified Purchase
Claudia. Lebel
Birmingham, US
★★★★★ 5
Convenience is king (or queen) for a busy person
Style: 600 Count (2 Pack of 300), Size: 300 Count (Pack of 2)
I use these plates a lot. Nice looking, nice weight and finish. Good for a quick bite or reheating something in the microwave. Thick enough and heavy enough not to leak. I use 3 different sizes, price is right
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Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2025

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