1






Nashville, TN, April 20, 1998 -- Shoney's, Inc. announced today that it had
amended its existing shareholder rights plan to increase the beneficial 
ownership required to qualify as an acquiring person from 10% to 20% or more 
of the outstanding shares of the company's common stock.

         According to F.E. McDaniel, Jr., chief administrative officer, the
amendment to the shareholder rights plan also excludes from the definition of an
acquiring person the company, any wholly-owned subsidiary of the company and any
employee stock ownership or other employee benefit plan of the company or a
wholly-owned subsidiary of the company.

         Shoney's, Inc. owns and operates a total of 1,360 restaurants in 33
states, including 874 company-owned and 486 franchised restaurants. The
company's stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange, under the symbol
"SHN."