Abstract

The case “An Enduring Family Business In A Competitive Industry – Columbia Restaurant Group” talks about the way the Hernandez-Gonzmart family operated, surmounted business challenges and grew the 110 year old family restaurant business in Ybor City, Tampa, Florida. The case starts out by providing in detail the background of Columbia Restaurant Group and the efforts of the founding member of the business, Casimiro Hernandez Sr. It then chronicles the initiatives undertaken by his son, Casimiro Hernandez Jr. to ensure business survival, during the Great Depression. The case also mentions the efforts of the son-in-law of Casimiro Hernandez Jr. - Cesar Gonzmart to save the business during a period of decline in Ybor City. The efforts of Richard Gonzmart, who represented the fourth generation of the family to take the business out of a debt crisis and ensuring that it was in tune with the times, were also provided. The case concludes with a glimpse into the succession strategy of Columbia and its expansion plans.

Learning Objectives

The case is structured to achieve the following Learning Objectives:

• To understand the intricacies of the dynamics in a family business
• To understand the need for family businesses to have effective leadership to make path breaking decisions during times of crisis
• To recognize the need for a long-standing family business to maintain its uniqueness and also be in tune with the times
• To understand the importance of succession planning in a family business
• To appreciate the role played by outsiders in bringing business skills that are lacking in the family

Keywords

Columbia Restaurant, Family Business, Specialized Restaurant, Succession Planning, Brand Managment, Customer Service, Employee Welfare, Spanish Restaurant, Family legacy, Crisis Management, Transition Management, Professional Management, Outsiders, Turnaround, Mentoring