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Steers

South African restaurant brand that developed from George Halamandres’s early Johannesburg steakhouse ventures.

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Historic restaurant and founding-family photographs from the Famous Brands story
Historic images published with BusinessTech’s account of George Halamandres and the Famous Brands story. Photo: BusinessTech · Source

Steers is the restaurant brand that developed from Halamandres’s Golden Spur and Seven Steer ventures. [1][2]

History

The Golden Spur opened in Rosebank in 1961, followed by Seven Steer in Highlands North in 1963. [1][2]

The first franchised Steers restaurant opened in 1965. [1]

The family relaunched the franchise programme in 1983 before Steers Holdings listed in 1994. [1][2]

Brand and outlet ownership

Famous Brands controls the brand system within its listed group. [3]

Franchise partners own and operate many local restaurant businesses under group agreements. [1][3]

Frequently asked questions

Who founded Steers?

George Halamandres developed the restaurant ventures that became Steers. [1][2]

When did the Steers story begin?

The Golden Spur opened in Rosebank in 1961. [2]

Does Famous Brands own every Steers outlet?

No. Franchise partners own and operate many local restaurant businesses. [1][3]

Key milestones

  1. The Golden Spur opened in Rosebank. [2]

  2. The first franchised Steers restaurant opened. [1]

  3. The family relaunched the franchise programme. [1][2]

Founded / co-founded by

  • George Halamandres — South African restaurant founder who developed the ventures behind Steers and Famous Brands.

Related people

Related articles

Related institutions

  • Famous Brands — JSE-listed South African restaurant franchisor that grew from the Halamandres family’s Steers business.
  • Debonairs Pizza — South African pizza brand founded in 1991 and acquired by Steers Holdings in 1997.
  • Wimpy South Africa — Casual dining restaurant brand whose first South African outlet opened in 1967 and which Famous Brands acquired in 2003.

Sources

  1. Famous Brands, Our journey to today, 2024-02-29. Original source. Accessed 2026-11-11. ↩
  2. Famous Brands, Build compelling brands, 2024-02-29. Original source. Accessed 2026-11-11. ↩
  3. Famous Brands, Consolidated and Company Financial Statements 2026, 2026-02-28. Original source. Accessed 2026-11-11. ↩