Is Nebraska the only state that has Runza?

Runza is a popular fast food chain known for its baked bread pockets filled with seasoned ground beef, cabbage, onions and other fillings. The chain started in Lincoln, Nebraska in 1949 and has grown to over 80 locations, primarily in Nebraska. This has led some to believe that Runza is unique to Nebraska. But is that really the case? Can you only find Runza restaurants in Nebraska? Let’s take a closer look.

Quick Summary

  • Runza was founded in Lincoln, Nebraska in 1949.
  • Today there are over 80 Runza locations, mostly in Nebraska.
  • Runza has expanded to a few neighboring states like Iowa and Kansas.
  • Runza is still predominantly a Nebraska-based chain.
  • Nebraska is where you’ll find the highest concentration of Runza restaurants.

So in summary – yes, Nebraska is the only state where you’ll find a high number of Runza locations. It originated there and remains primarily a Nebraska chain. But it has expanded slightly beyond Nebraska borders to a couple nearby states.

The History of Runza

Runza traces its origins to Lincoln, Nebraska in 1949. The company was founded by Sally Everett after she came across a recipe for a baked bread pocket sandwich while traveling through Russia. She opened the first Runza restaurant in Lincoln after tweaking the recipe to Nebraskan tastes.

The chain slowly grew across the following decades, opening new locations primarily in Nebraska. Runza hit a major milestone when it opened its 50th restaurant in Lincoln in 1987.

Expansion continued through the 90s and 2000s. Runza kept focusing heavily on Nebraska but began to open a small number of locations outside the state. This includes places like Des Moines, Iowa and Wichita, Kansas.

Today there are over 80 Runza locations across Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Colorado, and South Dakota. The headquarters remains in Lincoln, Nebraska where it first started.

Key Facts on Runza’s Locations

  • 80+ total Runza locations
  • Over 70 locations in Nebraska
  • 4 locations in Iowa
  • 4 locations in Kansas
  • 1 location in Colorado
  • 1 location in South Dakota

So while it has branched out slightly, Nebraska remains the epicenter of Runza by far. The vast majority of locations are still concentrated in the state where Sally Everett first brought the concept 73 years ago.

Runza Location Breakdown by State

Let’s take a closer numerical look at how many Runza restaurants exist in each state:

Nebraska

With over 70 restaurants, Nebraska accounts for the lion’s share of Runza locations. You can find them scattered across cities like Lincoln, Omaha, Grand Island, Kearney and more. This concentration of Runzas reflects the chain’s deep Nebraska roots.

Iowa

There are 4 Runza restaurants in the state of Iowa:

  • Ankeny
  • Council Bluffs
  • Des Moines
  • Urbandale

The first Iowa Runza opened in Ankeny in 2000. The most recent opened in Council Bluffs in 2017.

Kansas

Like Iowa, there are also 4 Runza locations in Kansas:

  • Kansas City
  • Lawrence
  • Topeka
  • Wichita

The Kansas restaurants opened relatively recently from 2016 to 2018, showing Runza’s slow out-of-state expansion.

Colorado

Colorado has just a single Runza location in Fort Collins. It opened in 2018, joining Iowa and Kansas as states beyond Nebraska to get a Runza.

South Dakota

South Dakota also has one Runza restaurant which opened in Sioux Falls in 2020. It’s the newest and furthest location from Nebraska so far.

Comparing Runza Locations by State

This table summarizes and compares the number of Runza restaurants in each state:

State Number of Locations
Nebraska Over 70
Iowa 4
Kansas 4
Colorado 1
South Dakota 1

The table highlights Nebraska’s dominance with over 70 restaurants compared to just 1 to 4 locations in other states. This visual representation shows clearly how Runza remains heavily concentrated in its original home state.

Why Has Runza Struggled to Expand?

While Runza has succeeded in becoming a Nebraska institution, the chain has struggled to expand that popularity beyond state borders. There are a few factors that help explain why Runza hasn’t grown more nationally:

Brand Recognition

Runza simply doesn’t have strong brand name recognition outside of Nebraska and immediate neighboring states. When you cross state lines, people are less likely to have heard of Runza or tried one of their sandwiches. This makes it harder for new restaurants to succeed.

Local Pride

Nebraskans take pride in claiming Runza as their own unique creation. Runzas have become ingrained in the state’s identity. This strong local affinity makes them less likely to embrace Runzas in other states as authentic.

Competition

Runza faces stiff competition from larger national chains as it expands to new states. People are more likely to choose familiar names like Subway, Arby’s or Jimmy John’s over an unknown option like Runza.

State Restrictions

Some states make it difficult for out-of-state brands to establish a foothold. Nebraska’s favorable business climate has helped Runza flourish locally over decades. Other states present more barriers inhibiting fast expansion.

Will Runza Ever Expand Nationwide?

It’s doubtful that Runza will ever succeed in becoming a major national chain. Their growth outside Nebraska has been very measured. Expanding from a regional chain to a national one requires huge investment in marketing, infrastructure and more.

Runza seems content continuing their slow stable growth mostly within Nebraska. The few out-of-state locations are located right along the borders in neighboring states.

Becoming a nationally recognized brand would mean altering the common perception of Runza as a Nebraska original. There’s also the risk of overexpanding and diluting what gives the brand its unique identity.

The regional approach has clearly worked well for Runza over 70+ years. They seem unlikely to change that successful formula and pursue aggressive nationwide growth anytime soon.

The Best Places to Find Runza

Since Runza remains predominantly a Nebraska chain, your best opportunity to enjoy an authentic Runza sandwich is visiting a location in the Cornhusker State. Here are some of the top places in Nebraska to grab a Runza:

Lincoln

As the birthplace of Runza, Lincoln offers plenty of good options. The original location on Cotner Blvd as well as the 50th anniversary spot on O St are landmarks for Runza fans.

Omaha

Greater Omaha now likely has the highest concentration of Runzas in any metro area with nearly 20 locations. Look for the one nearest you.

Grand Island

This central Nebraska hotspot off I-80 has two Runzas to choose from on the northern and southern ends of town.

Kearney

This smaller city midway between Lincoln and Omaha boasts its own Runza restaurant centralized downtown.

North Platte

North Platte features a Runza right along US-83 for easy access on road trips through western Nebraska.

No matter what part of Nebraska you’re in, you won’t have to drive far go grab a bite at Runza’s sandwich shop born in the state. Just look for the iconic red signs showing their signature logo.

Other Nebraska-based Chains

Runza isn’t the only restaurant chain that originated in Nebraska and remains based primarily in the state. Here are some other examples of homegrown chains with a strong Nebraska focus:

Amigos/Kings Classic

This taco chain has 24 locations across Nebraska with only two outside the state. You’ll find Kings Classic grilled tacos hard to come by elsewhere.

Zesto

There are around 20 Zesto shops serving signature ice cream treats and burgers in Nebraska. Just one Zesto exists outside the state in Iowa.

Valentino’s

This pizza delivery chain operates over 80 locations, mostly in Nebraska plus dozens in neighboring states like Iowa and Kansas. The headquarters remains in Lincoln.

Slim Chickens

With its focus on quality chicken tenders, Slim Chickens was founded in Fayetteville, Arkansas but its owners were Nebraska natives and about half of its locations remain in Nebraska.

Conclusion

In the end, Runza remains a chain focused firmly on its Nebraska roots despite some expansion into neighboring states. The vast majority of its 80+ restaurants exist within the state in which Sally Everett founded that first location back in 1949.

Nebraska is where you’ll find the iconic Runza name everywhere from Lincoln and Omaha to smaller towns across the state. Runza’s growth outside of Nebraska has been slow and measured rather than rapid expansion.

So while not technically the only state where you can grab a Runza sandwich, Nebraska is still virtually the only place that is densely populated with Runza restaurants. The chain’s identity retains a sturdy connection to Nebraska origins.

Out-of-state locations in Iowa, Kansas, Colorado and South Dakota represent Runza dipping their toes outside of Nebraska, but have not significantly changed the reality that this chain remains a Cornhusker State original and staple.

So while perhaps not precisely 100% accurate, it’s a pretty fair assessment when Nebraskans proudly proclaim that their state uniquely boasts Runza. You are not likely to find another pocket of the country so rich in Runza shops, thanks to the chain’s enduring Cornhusker identity 74 years running.

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