Tim Ruys, Operating Partner at Ruth’s Chris Steak House in Granger, Indiana and Regional Beverage Manager, Prime Hospitality Group

in the Mix In-Depth Interview with Tim Ruys

Tim Ruys is the operating partner at Ruth’s Chris Steak House in Granger, Indiana and the Regional Beverage Manager for Prime Hospitality Group. Tim is a veteran of over 40 years in the hospitality industry, owning or operating in all facets of the hospitality business from barbecue to fine dining, both nationally and internationally. Tim is from the San Francisco Bay area and attended the University of Oregon. He is a trained chef and sommelier. Tim has been with Ruth’s since 2005 and worked on the corporate side before coming to the PHG in 2011. During his tenure, Tim has led his teams to increase both sales and profits at the restaurant, and has coordinated the wine lists and drink lists for all locations. He writes a wine column in the South Bend Tribune, does a hospitality spot for local radio, and is an industry consultant and speaker. Tim lives in Granger with his wife, Diane. They enjoy cooking, traveling and of course, a nice bottle of wine!

Tim Ruys: Perseverance! The whole company rallied. Employees, managers and home office staff all put in the time and extra work needed to try new approaches and modify existing practices. Taking a fine dining steakhouse to a carry-out only was a challenge but ended up as a great lesson in teamwork and strategic planning.

ITM: Heading into springtime, how many of your restaurants are open?

TR: All our restaurants are open in some capacity. Many are still at 50 percent capacity, some less than that, and some still have no bar top available.

ITM: Can you tell us a little about the history of Prime Hospitality Group?

TR: PHG owns and manages seven Ruth’s Chris Steak Houses, a wine bistro called Bin 23 and 2 cocktail bars called The Exchange. Our owners, Kristy and Ryan Rans, first got involved with our restaurants over 6 years ago. Since that time, PHG established a full support system and corporate office in Indianapolis that has us poised for growth. Kristy and Ryan are passionate about hospitality and it shows in everyone who works at Prime Hospitality Group.

ITM: Have your beverage offerings changed since guests have been dining at home more this past year?

TR: For a short period, we were able to sell cocktails to-go at some locations. And some of our restaurants do have a to-go license that lets us sell full bottles out the door.

ITM: Have you activated any virtual wine dinners?

TR: Yes, we have done two so far, and look forward to more. We have partnered with Heaven Hill for a Bourbon tasting later in the year and have eight Tastemaker Series dinners planned that have a virtual component to them. Our guests really love them!

ITM: With guests returning to PHG restaurants, have you seen their beverage order habits change?

Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse’s new location in Chesterfield, Missouri is their second in the St. Louis area.

TR: We have seen the same trends that are running nationally, namely wine sales down slightly and liquor sales up, with beer sales flat to down.

ITM: Have you altered any steps of service related to beverage?

TR: With COVID, we incorporated additional safeguards for our guests, such as putting wrapped straws on the side and reducing garnishes.

ITM: IMI has been assisting you in organizing a beverage program across the PHG portfolio. What are your expectations from this effort?

TR: The folks at IMI have been great. I am impressed with their knowledge of brands, where the industry is trending and

RIGHT: The Exchange Whiskey Bar in Indianapolis is a craft cocktail and whiskey bar featuring over 450 whiskies and specializes in creating vintage speakeasy cocktails.

LEFT AND BELOW: Bin 23, a bistro, bar and marketplace located in Granger, Indiana.

what cocktails and spirits are “hot” right now. I believe working together, we can put out some innovative lists that still maximize profitability for our company.

ITM: Hosting in-person supplier and distributor meetings are tough these days. How have you been handling beverage RFP meetings?

TR: Great question. Last year, we did everything over the phone. It was pretty old school! This year, our RFP meetings are being set up in July. We are keeping our fingers crossed that most of the country will be back to normal. If not, I feel comfortable that IMI can get us through virtually or using hybrid communications.

ITM: What guidance can you give suppliers and distributors on presenting the “right” brands and activations for PHG?

TR: Find that unique item that can set us apart from others without scaring off the guest. Understanding the customer profile for each of our concepts is the key to sales success. ITM: Please tell us about the newest gem in the PHG portfolio.

TR: We just opened our newest Ruth’s Chris Steak House in Chesterfield, Missouri. It is absolutely beautiful and one of the largest Ruth’s Chris in the country. The new restaurant occupies approximately 16,600 square feet of indoor space, with seating for up to 450 guests. Three outdoor dining opportunities are also available, with one outside on the ground level and two on the roof. The restaurant also features three bars, six private dining rooms (one with access to a private outdoor patio), wine lockers and a double-sided fireplace. The facility was designed by Indianapolis-based Phanomen Design. Particular attention was paid to using eco-friendly building materials and equipment, including all LED lighting, certified energy efficient AC units, hood fans, refrigeration and water heaters. With safety being a priority, the building’s HVAC system is equipped with an air purifying system to deliver clean indoor air.

BELOW: Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse’s new location in Chesterfield, Missouri is their second in the St. Louis area.

Trellis Continues to Grow its Industry-Leading Portfolio of Independent Winemakers & Distillers

Founded by Derek Benham in 2001, Purple Brands produces an acclaimed portfolio of wines and several burgeoning spirits in Northern California, all CA Certified Sustainable. Purple Brands is well-known to National Accounts On-Premise, and we look forward to expanding the reach of these excellent and strategically priced wines & spirits. Welcome to our family, Purple Brands!

Founded by industry veteran, Danny Keefe, Grapejuice Group imports premium distinguished European wines with distinct sense of place and strong environmental commitments. From glou-glou by-the-glass options, to single vineyard Barolo from Daniele Conterno (!!), Grapejuice Group is equipped to provide unique options—both trendy and traditional—to groups at all check averages. Welcome to Trellis!

Barrow's Intense Ginger Liqueur is hand-made in Brooklyn with fresh Ginger. No extracts, no chemicals, just lots and lots of fresh Ginger. Founded by Josh Morton and already familiar to National & Strategic Accounts, Barrow’s Intense Ginger is the bartender-approved, fiery modifier to light up your cocktail program. Welcome, Josh & Barrow’s Intense!

Founded by wine industry veteran, Mark Clinard, Both Barrels is a wine importer and agent focusing on family-owned wineries. We are excited to bring Both Barrels into the fold and show you their gorgeous and well-reviewed Loire wines from Oscar Brillant! We are Sancerre-ly grateful to have them onboard!

Please join us in welcoming new independent partners to The Trellis Wine & Spirits family! Real Families. Real Wines. Real Support.

We invite you to pick the wines & spirits you really want. What will excite your staff & guests. Together, we can make menus more interesting and keep family producers alive & thriving!

-Proud Families -Historic Brands -New Discoveries -Established Players -True Artisans, Real PeopleSpring 2021 • itmmag.com