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The founder of Minnesota's popular Zorbaz restaurant chain has died. Tom Hanson was 70. 


Hanson, a former teacher and debate coach, launched Zorbaz more than four decades ago in a vacated beachside candy shop in Detroit Lakes, Minn., reports the 

 — a reference to the movie "Zorba the Greek," which starred Anthony Quinn as "a man who was fun-loving, carefree, and would gulp life instead of sip it," he said. "That's what we wanted to be — a fun-loving, carefree business."


Hanson, who wasn't a smoker, died Friday after a nine-year battle with throat cancer, according to multiple media reports. 


"It's a tremendous loss for our community," Detroit Lakes Mayor Matt Brenk told the DL-Online.


As much as anyone, Brenk added, Hanson helped create the destination place that Detroit Lakes is today.

 on or near lakes in Minnesota. All but three are open year-round.

Founder of Detroit Lakes Based Business "Zorbaz" Dies


While Hanson stepped back from actively running his restaurants in 2006, the company remains in family hands, according to the 

 that a celebration of Hanson's life is scheduled Thursday from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Detroit Lakes Country Club. 

https://twitter.com/DanaWessel/status/633598141560819712

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Ann Arbor Miller

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Tom Hanson launched the lakeside fixture more than four decades ago in a vacated beachside candy shop in Detroit Lakes, Minn.

Founder of popular Zorbaz restaurant chain dies

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