Burger King, Packo's owner Bob Bennett dies at 76

5/8/2013

Robert G. Bennett, the owner of 26 Burger King restaurants who recently acquired the local Tony Packo's restaurant chain and operations, died unexpectedly today in the Cleveland Clinic. He was 76.

He was chairman and chief executive officer of Bennett Management Corp., a Maumee firm that owns 26 Burger Kings in three states. He retired in 1996.

He came out of retirement to take over local Tony Packo's Inc.operation in October, 2011, after winning a $5.5 million bid in the court-ordered sale of the business.

"It's exciting. It's a good company and it's a natural fit," he said in an interview with The Blade after his bid for the business was approved.

The sale included three full-sized restaurants, two Packo's Express eateries in The Andersons general stores in Toledo and Maumee, and a wholesale business.

Mr. Bennett, of Sylvania, saw himself as a a "white knight" who could preserve and improve the Toledo ionic eatery begun in 1932 by Hungarian hot-dog creater Tony Packo.

"I thought I could protect the brand and maybe grow the brand in the future," he said.

A lawyer and accountant, Mr. Bennett was a benefactor and supporter of Central Catholic High School, where a classroom bears his name.

Services are pending.