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NRA gifted restaurant memorabilia collection

The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation received a collection of iconic restaurant memorabilia on April 29, during a celebration of "The Elliot Collection" at Gotham Hall in New York City.

June 3, 2015

The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation received a collection of iconic restaurant memorabilia April 29, during a celebration of "The Elliot Collection" at Gotham Hall in New York City, the organization announced. The collection represents the legacy of the restaurant and foodservice industry, paying homage to the industry's pivotal role in helping to shape the American culture, communities and economic vitality, the NRA said.

Gifted to the NRAEF by The Elliot Group, a retained executive search firm specializing in the hospitality industry, the collection includes nostalgic items from more than 200 national restaurant brands, including P.F. Chang's, Starbucks, California Pizza Kitchen, The Habit Burger, Red Robin, Mellow Mushroom, Zoe's Kitchen, Friendly's, The Sardine Factory, Tony Roma's and more.

Founder and CEO Alice Elliot, along with her colleagues, spearheaded the initiative by asking companies to donate unique iconography and memorabilia that memorialized and highlighted the infancy of their companies, according to the announcement. Donated memorabilia consist of items such as a 1968 Red Lobster menu, an original Ruby Tuesday's stained glass logo and an original Logan's Roadhouse Jukebox.

"The genesis of the idea was years ago when we realized that companies representing today's iconic restaurant and foodservice sector all started with a passionate entrepreneur with a bold idea," said Elliot in a statement. "The Elliot Collection serves as affirmation of what the restaurant industry is all about. It's a place where you can start with a goal and a dream and build something formidable."

"Many of the restaurant brands represented in the collection started small, but through their leaders' entrepreneurial courage and determination, have grown to be national, if not global, companies. This collection is tangible evidence of the restaurant and foodservice sector's unparalleled influence in society, telling the story of opportunity, promise and achievement of the American dream," NRA Executive Vice President of Strategic Operations and Philanthropy Rob Gifford.

"We are deeply humbled by the trust Alice and The Elliot Group are placing in the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation in handing over the reins to this groundbreaking collection," said Gifford. "We believe this collection is truly emblematic of the inherent entrepreneurial spirit and enduring legacy of the hospitality sector and will serve to inspire future culinarians business leaders."