FILET-O-?

We're in the middle of the Lenten season and, thus, this story a apropos.  It goes something like this - thanks, in part,  to USA Today.

In 1962, Lou Groen was having a tough time with his hamburger restaurant.  He had purchased a franchise from Ray Kroc to operate a McDonald's.  It was the first in Cincinnati and was located in our Monfort Heights area.  At that time, there were relatively few spread across the country and their total menu was hamburgers, fries and Cokes.

That menu didn't do well on Fridays in Lent on Cincinnati's west side - a predominately Catholic community. His competition was Dave Frisch who operated Big Boy Restaurants locally.  Frisch's locales were selling a Filet-O-Sole sandwich which was a big hit.

Groen contacted Kroc and explained his problem. He proposed a fish sandwich.   The big wigs in headquarters knew that something had to be done and they were already working on a meatless sandwich themselves.  It was to be called the hula burger - a slice of pineapple with cheese melted over it on a cold bun.

Groen and Kroc argued about which sandwich they should push and a test was proposed.  Groen brought them his - a slice of fish and a special tarter sauce he made up similar to the one Frisch was using.  They ran test markets on both sandwiches and the fish won hands down.  They called it the Filet-o-Fish and it has been a McDonald's winner ever since.

In 1986, Groen got out of the business.  By that time, he owned 43 McDonald's restaurants in the greater Cincinnati area.  He made good money but never got an extra dime for inventing the Filet-o-Fish.
*O*.