Legend's Restaurant

Looking at the upscale restaurant on Lindsey Street in Norman, Oklahoma, one would never have guessed that this business used to be a pizza delivery service in 1967.
Legend’s Restaurant, first named Lemuel B. Legend’s, is family-owned and operated by Joe and Rebecca Sparks. It was started on Norman’s South Navy Base as a pizza delivery service. To order pizza, one would simply dial LEGENDS on the phone.
Lemuel Legend became the restaurant's icon. He was an imaginary little man in a chef’s outfit delivering pizza from the seat of an antique Rolls Royce. Later in 1968, Lemuel B. Legend’s moved to a new location and added salads, steaks and sandwiches to the menu. And in 1972, the restaurant changed its name to Legend’s Restaurant and stopped serving pizza and started serving a more sophisticated menu. The restaurant also acquired the building next door to its new building in 1998 and named it Legend’s Times Two. Legend’s Times Two has become a banquet facility used for weddings, business meetings or any other gathering.
The restaurant’s goals “are to serve delicious, healthy, attractive food at a reasonable price, provide a positive working environment for our staff, and to be instrumental in the healthy, positive growth of our community,” said Joe Sparks, Owner and General Manager. Sparks thinks that the restaurant has become very successful in obtaining and preserving their goals.
“Legend's has become an important part of the history of Norman and extremely beneficial in volunteering and giving to the Norman community,” said Sparks. “Legends is important to the history of Norman because it provides the community with a upper-casual restaurant that is helpful for the community to grow. That is why we believe that Legend’s has become a vital part of the city of Norman,” said Sparks.
The restaurant participates in many fundraising events and donates food and catering services to events that help the community. “Joe and Rebecca Sparks give so much to the community, and shoulder the way Legend’s is involved in the community as well,” said Rick Steiner, dining room manager.
“The reason that we are involved in the community and give donations of food and time is because it is first important to live in a place and help nurture it and help it grow. It is like a house, you want your house to be structurally sound, welcoming and attractive. That’s what I want Norman to look like, and that’s why our restaurant is focused on helping the community. Second, volunteering and donating is good for promoting our business,” said Sparks.
Legend’s participates in Share Our Strength Taste of the Nation which combats hunger. It donates food to the Taste of Norman which invites the community to sample some of the town’s best restaurants and contributes to the music programs for both high schools in Norman. Sparks said he likes the event because it supports school programs. Sparks is the president of the school board in Norman.
Every year Legend’s Restaurant takes part in the annual Chocolate Festival in Norman, as well as contributes to the local arts scene. Sparks has received the Earl Sneed Business in the Arts Award for Legend's participation in the arts. The restaurant is involved with the Norman Firehouse Arts Center, as well as donates to the Sooner Theatre. Legend’s changes the artwork in the restaurant four times a year, and most of the pieces are for sale. When the artwork gets sold, all the money goes directly to the artist.
The restaurant has employed over 2,400 Oklahomans since its founding and many of them have been University of Oklahoma students. Legend’s prides itself on being a positive part of the community.
Jerry Andrews, who has been a Legend’s customer for the past ten years, says that Legend's is his favorite. “They give so much to the Norman community, and are helping to preserve a better future for the next generations to come,” said Andrews. “Joe Sparks is a good reason why Legend’s participates in so many events. He is even the president of the Norman Convention and Visitors Bureau, as well as volunteers for The Junior League,” said Andrews. “I admire Legend's Restaurant for all the work they do in the community,” he added.
Regardless of the restaurant’s involvement in the community, Legend’s has a long history of serving up good food that keeps Norman’s residents and visitors returning to this legendary establishment.