In Memory

Buster Fuller - Class Of 1947

Bus Fuller, founder of the Earls restaurant chain, dead at 90

Leroy Earl (Buster) Fuller passed away on October 5, 2019.

The longtime resident of West Vancouver leaves behind a restaurant legacy that spans 65 years.

Earls restaurant founder Bus Fuller dead at 90.Earls restaurant founder Bus Fuller dead at 90. PHOTO BY PHOTO CREDIT: KAROLINA TUREK PHOTOGRAPHY

Leroy Earl (Bus) Fuller, the 90-year-old founder of the successful B.C.-based Earls and Joey restaurant chains, died on the weekend, according to a statement from his family.

Leroy Earl “Bus” Fuller, the 90-year-old founder of the successful B.C.-based Earls and Joey restaurant chains, has died.

Leroy Earl “Bus” Fuller, the 90-year-old founder of the successful B.C.-based Earls and Joey restaurant chains, has died.

Fuller’s first foray into the restaurant business was in 1954 when the Korean War veteran opened the Green and White Drive-Thru in Sunburst, Mont. He later moved his family to Edmonton and operated a string of A&W franchises in Western Canada, before opening, with his son Stan, the first Earls restaurant in the Alberta capital in 1982.

The casual dining chain began its rapid expansion after the Fullers move to B.C. in 1983. There are now 68 Earls restaurants spread out across Canada and the U.S.

“Those fortunate enough to work alongside and know Bus have lost an inspiring mentor, a charismatic leader and a true friend. Bus leaves behind a legacy that exists because of his dedication, hard work and ability to surround himself with great people. He has touched the hearts of many and will be forever loved and missed,” the Fuller family said in a statement.

The statement says Fuller died peacefully, surrounded by his family.

Ian Tostenson, president and CEO of the B.C. Restaurant and Food Services Association, says Fuller was a trendsetter who changed the entire Canadian restaurant landscape by creating a new business model.

“His influence was massive,” he said. “No one had done upscale casual dining in the concept of a chain restaurant before — and to have consistent quality is amazing.”

Along with Earls, Fuller’s fingerprints can be found on the menus of a number of other Canadian restaurant chains.

In 1992, he helped his son Jeff start the Joey chain, which now numbers 28 restaurants across North America.

The Fuller family also has a partial ownership in the Cactus Club chain, which was started in 1988 by Richard Jaffray and Scott Morison, a pair of former Earls servers. Morison later started Browns Restaurant Group, which is a competitor to both Earls and Cactus Club.

Fuller’s death cast a bit of shadow on Monday’s induction gala for the B.C. Restaurant Hall of Fame. Fuller was among the hall’s first inductees in 2005.

“Earls set food trends. Earls set beverage trends. They did things like sending their chefs on culinary adventures around the world and bringing back inspired cuisine. They taught us about wine, they taught us about food and they taught us about service,” Tostenson said. 

“Without Bus, the restaurant business would be a lot different from the one we know today.”

Vancouver Sun wine critic Anthony Gismondi called Fuller a “giant” in the food and beverage industry.

“Bus Fuller was the real deal. No one cared more about his customers than Bus, and he instilled that throughout every restaurant venture he was involved with during his lifetime,” said Gismondi.