Google has bought the renowned restaurant guide firm Zagat to shore up its local services, the web search giant announced on Thursday.
“Zagat will be a cornerstone of our local offerings,” said Google vice president Marissa Mayer in a blog post. Google declined to discuss terms of the deal for Zagat, which was founded 32 years ago and forged a reputation for reliable reviews in pocket sized guides, which according to Mayer “were ‘mobile’ before ‘mobile’ involved electronics.
Zagat confirmed the deal on its website, saying that “by combining their content, resources and platforms, this ‘dynamic duo’ plans to optimize the potential of the Zagat brand while offering new ways for consumers to express their opinions and make informed decisions.
Tim and Nina Zagat, the husband-and-wife founders of the company, said they planned to remain involved in the business as co-chairs.
“We couldn’t be happier to see our baby placed into such good hands and are looking forward to being Googlers in the years ahead,” they said.
