Bob Evans Restaurants: Hiring, Background Check & Employment Verification FAQs

Bob Evans Restaurants was founded in 1948 by Robert Lewis "Bob" Evans (1918-2007), who began making sausage on his farm in southeastern Ohio to serve at a 12-stool diner he owned in nearby Gallipolis. Unable to find satisfactory sausage from outside suppliers, Evans decided to make his own, slaughtering hogs and using select cuts, with the sausage-making building constructed with open ends at his father's suggestion so it could double as a machinery shed if the venture failed. The original diner, sometimes referred to as "The Sausage Shop" or "The Steak House" depending on the source, has grown from its original 12 stools to seat 134 people today.

In 1953, a group of friends and family recognized the growing demand for Evans's sausage and became business partners, formally incorporating the company as Bob Evans Farms, Inc. By 1957, the company had opened four sausage plants to keep pace with demand, and in 1963, Bob Evans Farms completed its initial public offering. The company grew into a full-service restaurant business alongside its packaged food operations, making major acquisitions including Owens Country Sausage in 1987 and SWH Corporation (Mimi's Café) in 2004. In January 2017, Bob Evans Farms split its business, selling the restaurant division to an affiliate of Golden Gate Capital for $565 million, while its food production business (BEF Foods) was sold separately to Post Holdings later that year.

Most recently, in February 2026, 4x4 Capital, an investment platform focused on middle-market consumer goods and services companies, acquired Bob Evans Restaurants from Golden Gate Capital, with CEO Mickey Mills and her existing leadership team continuing to lead the company. Today, Bob Evans operates more than 400 corporate-owned restaurant locations (none are franchised) across states including Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and other Midwest and Mid-Atlantic states, employing more than 15,000 to 30,000 people depending on the reporting period, and remains headquartered in New Albany, Ohio. Bob Evans's workforce includes servers, cooks, hosts and hostesses, and restaurant managers supporting its family-dining locations.

Company culture and employee programs: Bob Evans emphasizes hospitality, community engagement, and a commitment to farm-fresh ingredients and quality as central to its brand identity, along with ongoing community initiatives such as agricultural education grants for high school students. The company has continued to innovate its menu, including recent additions like breakfast tacos and expanded chicken offerings. Benefits, scheduling, and advancement opportunities can vary by location, so candidates should confirm specifics with a recruiter during the hiring process.

Yes. Employers in the family-style restaurant industry, including Bob Evans, are legally permitted to conduct pre-employment background checks on job candidates, provided they comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws. In the United States, employment screening is governed by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which requires employers to obtain written consent, provide disclosures, and follow adverse action procedures.

Bob Evans is generally reported to conduct background checks as part of its hiring process, which is standard for restaurant employers, particularly for roles involving cash handling and food preparation.

The hiring process for server, cook, and host positions at Bob Evans typically includes an application, an interview with a restaurant manager, and a background check prior to a final offer.

Background check timelines can vary based on the type of screening requested and how quickly records can be verified. Learn more about typical background check turnaround times to understand what factors can affect the process.

A typical pre-employment background check for a family-dining restaurant role may include:

Under the FCRA, criminal history reporting is generally limited to seven years for most background checks, though state laws may extend or restrict this timeframe depending on the type of record and jurisdiction.

Hiring decisions involving candidates with criminal records are generally made on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the nature of the offense, how much time has passed, and its relevance to the role. Some states have adopted "ban-the-box" laws that restrict when employers can ask about criminal history during the hiring process.

Candidates can generally expect to provide personal information such as full legal name, date of birth, and Social Security number, along with signed consent authorizing the background check, in compliance with FCRA requirements.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is a federal law that regulates how employers can use background check information in hiring decisions. It requires employers to notify candidates before running a check, obtain written consent, and follow specific adverse action procedures if a decision is made based on background check results.

Running a personal background check with Checkr lets you preview what Bob Evans Restaurants may see during the hiring process, helping you address any concerns before you apply. A personal background check can include:

Learn more about Checkr Personal Background Checks and explore your Checkr Profile to see what information may appear in your own background check.

If you're a candidate with a background check in progress through Checkr as part of your application to Bob Evans Restaurants or another employer, you can check your status through the Candidate Portal. For additional support, visit the Checkr Help Center.

The information provided in this article does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice. All information is for general informational purposes only. Checkr does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of this information and is not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. This article may contain links to other third-party websites. Such links are only for the convenience of the reader. Checkr does not endorse the contents of the third-party sites and disclaims any affiliation with the companies mentioned in this article unless otherwise stated.