Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse

Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse was a Canadian-themed American casual dining restaurant chain, serving American cuisine, based in East Providence, Rhode Island. The restaurant first opened in October 1992 in Warwick, Rhode Island. Up until the mid 2010s, it was known for several novel animatronics based on the wildlife of Canada. Animatronics of bulls, buffaloes, or moose trophy head mounts would greet guests and provide entertainment. Other novelty characters such as Timber, The Talking Christmas Tree, would be programmed to tell customers about Canadian history and natural attractions.[1]

Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse
TypeWholly owned subsidiary
IndustryRestaurants
GenreCasual dining
FateBankruptcy
FoundedOctober 1992 (1992-10)
DefunctJune 2016 (2016-06)
Headquarters
East Providence, Rhode Island
,
U.S.
Number of locations
0
Area served
United States, Canada, Australia, Caribbean, Singapore, Malaysia, Brazil, China, Chile, Costa Rica, Guam, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Philippines, Ecuador
ProductsCanadian themed American cuisine
RevenueUS$ 3.888 billion (2017)
ParentPraesidian Capital

The menu offered classic steakhouse offerings. Some menu items included steak, burgers, salads, desserts, appetizers, breakfast food (mornings only), seafood, sandwiches, pasta, and other bar food.[2]

Bankruptcy and closure

In November 2010, Praesidian Capital announced that it is filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and closed most of its Massachusetts locations. At the time of the announcement, the company had 12 restaurants still in operation after closing 18 restaurants the previous week.[3] Following the bankruptcy, the chain began moving away from the talking animals, shutting down their animatronics while still leaving them up on the walls.[4] On June 29, 2016, the chain completely closed its doors worldwide.[5]

Animatronics

From the time of the chain's opening until the bankruptcy, Bugaboo Creek was known for its novelty animatronics. Among the real mounts of bucks, deer and bears, several recreated mounts would be fitted with robotics to talk and move. Depending on the location, moose or bull mounts would be near the dining tables or at the bar, whereas a constant Bill the Buffalo would watch over the customers coming into the dining room.[6] The characters would break the fourth wall, sardonically referencing their status as perpetually trapped robots, hanging above the guests, who were happily enjoying their meals.[7] Local restaurants would name these animatronics, such as Moxie the Moose or Goose the Moose. Classic flapping fish were included alongside raccoons or weasels who would pop out of wooden barrels. After each restaurant closed, the non-robotic mounts were sold at local auctions, yet the locations of the talking moose and buffaloes are unknown, theorized to have found other homes in other game themed restaurants.[8][9]

References
  1. Bugaboo Animatronic Tree, archived from the original on 2020-03-02, retrieved 2019-11-08
  2. "Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse Prices and Locations - Menu With Price". www.menuwithprice.com. Archived from the original on 2019-11-08. Retrieved 2019-11-08.
  3. "Bugaboo Creek files for Chapter 11". The Patriot Ledger. November 20, 2010. Archived from the original on May 5, 2019. Retrieved May 5, 2019.
  4. "What's a restaurant with no talking animals?". Bangor Daily News. Archived from the original on 2019-11-08. Retrieved 2019-11-08.
  5. "Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse closes its doors". Delaware Business Now. Archived from the original on March 30, 2019. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  6. Bugaboo creek buffalo, retrieved 2019-11-08
  7. talking moose..., retrieved 2019-11-08
  8. "TIMED ONLINE AUCTION 82 JAGUAR, ZODIAC BOAT, RESTAURANT EQUIPMENT". keenanauction.com. Retrieved 2019-11-08.
  9. Bugaboo Creek To Hold Auction, retrieved 2019-11-08
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