RETAIL/TOURISM : Ruby’s Takes Hand in Shaping Disney Restaurant in Paris

From its beginnings a decade ago on the Balboa Pier in Newport Beach, owner Doug Cavanaugh has already seen his nostalgic Ruby’s grow into a chain of 10 restaurant diners--with more on the way.

That was gratifying enough. But he was paid another compliment when the Walt Disney Co. sought his help in developing a Ruby’s-type restaurant at Euro Disneyland outside of Paris.

“When you have a chance to be associated with Disney, it’s not one of those things you want to turn down,” Cavanaugh said. “I went to Disneyland when I was a kid all the time. That was an inspiration for me.”

For two years, Cavanaugh and his managers have worked with Disney to design a 1950s-style diner for the billion-dollar park opening this spring; Ruby’s is designed in 1940s fashion. The diner will be called Annette’s, after the original Mouseketeer and former teen idol Annette Funicello.

“They wanted to bring the American flavor to Paris,” he said. Disney adopted the exact Ruby’s menu, which is heavy on burgers, fries and meat loaf.

As simple as it sounds, it has taken European workers time to get used to the concept. Food servers generally handle more tables in Europe, and service is slower and more formal. Ruby’s is sending an elite team of 15 cooks, servers and managers to Euro Disneyland for three weeks to get the operation going.

Even though Disney has had extensive experience in restaurant operations, Cavanaugh said he believes that Ruby’s was chosen to simplify the process of opening many new restaurants all at once at Euro Disneyland.

Closer to home, the Ruby’s chain plans to open four new restaurants this year, Cavanaugh said.