Shari's restaurants began in Hermiston, Oregon, in 1978. Positive public reaction to Shari's 24-hour family dining concept led to the establishment of a second restaurant in Sherwood, Oregon, within one year. Shari's has continued to open new restaurants, now operating 98 restaurants throughout the Western U.S., primarily in Oregon and Washington. Food revenues are in excess of $130 million; making it the largest privately held restaurant chain in Oregon.

In December of 2005, Circle Peak Capital, a private investment company based in New York, New York, led a group of investors that bought the company from Fairmont Capital Inc. of Orange County, California, who had owned the company since 1999. The original owners, Ron and Sharon Bergquist, operated the company for seven years. Sharon went by the name "Shari," which explains how the restaurant got its name.