Galardi Inc.’s New Name Cuts Link to the Past

In a move designed to remove its single-product image, Der Wienerschnitzel International Inc. has changed its name to Galardi Group Inc. after the privately held company’s founder and president, Jack Galardi.

The 25-year-old company began with the Der Wienerschnitzel chain of hot dog restaurants, but in recent years has added two other restaurant operations and has broadened the Wienerschnitzel menu to include hamburgers and other sandwiches.

It has also dropped the Der from the marquee on its hot dog restaurants, Anglicizing the lengthy name to just Weinerschnitzel.

In addition to 280 Wienerschnitzel restaurants in 23 states, of which 263 are franchise operations, the company operates 70 Hamburger Stand restaurants--the original 39-cent burger outlet that began with one store in Garden Grove in 1983--and a lone Weldon’s.

Weldon’s is an upscale Costa Mesa restaurant featuring Mexican and Cajun food items, as well as hamburgers, grilled chicken breast sandwiches, salads, fresh-baked breads and rolls and, of course, hot dogs. It also contains a Baskin-Robbins ice cream shop with its own separate entrance--operated as a unit of the Galardi Group’s franchisee restaurant division.

Despite its move away from the hot dog as a sole source of fiscal nourishment, Jack Galardi says that his company--the nation’s leading hot dog chain--is anticipating no other name changes. The Wienerschnitzel name, mouthful that it is, will remain emblazoned on the company’s hot dog outlets, he said.