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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Love Leigh Angel
Natrona Heights, US
★★★★★ 5
BEST PILLOWS EVER!!!
Color: White-cooling Basic, Size: Queen(Pack of 2)
I am very picky with my pillows because I have a bad neck and I can never seem to find a good pillow. But I tried this pillow because it had everything I was looking for and the price was great! You get two of them and they are absolutely awesome.! normally I would need to lay on two pillows to try and get comfortable but with these pillows I just lay on one and I wake up with no neck pain. They really have a nice cooling effect. They actually puff up immediately after opening them. All you have to do is just shake them up and the pillow just puffs straight up.. It comes with extra cushioning if you want it to make it firmer and if you don’t want it as firm as it is, you can actually take some out. It really is such a beautiful pillow. It’s perfect in every way to me being such a picky pillow person. You just lay your head down on it and it forms around your neck and your head and when you get up, it goes right back to its normal form. It doesn’t get flat and I love it. I completely recommend this to anyone who is a person who has a hard time finding a really good pillow.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 12, 2026
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$@[)E
Port Orchard, US
★★★★★ 5
Top of the line, best pillows Ive ever had
Color: White-cooling Basic, Size: Queen(Pack of 2)
These pillows are top of the line! I bought them in 2024 and they are still fluffy. When they lose a little fluff, you just punch em around a little bit and voila, like new again. They have kept their shape cery well and do great for cooling. I haven't had to add more filling yet either. I just laid my head on one and thought, I need to do a review cause everytime i lay on these pillows its like clouds. My head is heavy and this is relief :-D
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Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2026
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Chelsea H.
Boise, US
★★★★★ 3
Weird smell
Color: White-cooling Basic, Size: Queen(Pack of 2)
The pillows are great for someone looking for something cool and comfortable. We loved them so much that we bought a second pair. However, we were seriously disappointed with the odor of our last purchase. They give off a strong and indescribable chemical/burning plastic smell so nauseating that it’s difficult to sleep with. We’re hoping this issue will resolve with a couple more washes of the pillow cases, but am worried the source is the stuffing itself.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2026
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Ken Hill
Houston, US
★★★★★ 5
helped treat my sore neck
Color: White-cooling Basic, Size: Camping Pillow(Pack of 1)
This pillow — after dialing in the right amount of shredded foam — has greatly helped my sore neck. Initially, I had to remove some foam. Then I gradually added foam until it reached optimum comfort and support. It is also CPAP-friendly — especially when I position my head near the pillow's edge. (I am a left-side sleeper.) I like the travel size because I use a bulky hugging pillow to ease stress on my shoulder and elbow. That makes my side of the bed feel cramped if using a larger head pillow. A smaller pillow is easy to flip end-to-end in the middle of the night. I have spent lots of money on pillows over the years, but this is the best I've ever had for relieving [1] neck pain and [2] CPAP mask seal problems. Very comfortable, supportive, and affordable. I did not notice any unpleasant smell — and I am usually sensitive to that kind of thing. Would highly recommend.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2026
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Molly Farrell
Battle Creek, US
★★★★★ 5
Love them!
Color: White-cooling Basic, Size: Queen(Pack of 2)
Love them! After 10 years with our MyPillows, they finally lost their fluff. The reviews I read of the MyPillows of today were not good; they didn’t have as much filling as they used to. These pillows remind me of how fluffy our new MyPillows were 10 years ago!! You sink right into them and can mush them however and they stay. These are way cheaper than the Coop and it’s the same concept; add or remove the filling as needed. The cooling side is a huge plus too! You won’t be disappointed with these pillows!
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Reviewed in the United States on May 22, 2026

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