Bennigan's, Steak-and-Ale chains abruptly close

[flashl]

Miami Herald staff and wire report

Bennigan's was founded in 1976. The restaurant has locations in 32 states, including six South Florida locations.

Bennigan's and Steak-and-Ale restaurant chains, owned by Metromedia Restaurant Group, sought permission to liquidate in bankruptcy court protection, without citing a reason.

The Wall Street Journal recently reported that the Metromedia Restaurant Group prepared a bankruptcy filing after allegedly violating several terms of a lending agreement with GE Capital Solutions.

The general manager of the Bennigan's at 11460 North Kendall Dr. told CBS4.com that he received a phone call Tuesday morning informing him to cease operations effective Tuesday. Monday was their last day of business.

Employees and management teams were not given any warning at all. ''I am as upset as all of the employees are,'' said the general manager, who did not want to be identified.

[phantom power]

1. I wonder how many other businesses are rotting from the inside out...

on the verge of bankruptcy, but not telling anybody until they just implode one day.

[Xenotime]

8. Lots of small businesses...

why do you think the pugs want to save them and give them tax breaks. Financially, they are infested with termites and are waiting to crumble.

[Divine Discontent]

2. oh crap! it is on folks, more and more restaurants and retail outlets are gonna lock their doors

I had a coupon for Bennigan's, and obviously, I'm not going to get to use it! Sorry all those people lost their jobs, I hope they find something, especially those with kids, or ill relatives. To those who voted for Bush, or didn't vote at all - I am now starting to say, well, when you don't focus on the people running this country this is what happens.


More at - - www.cafepress.com/warisprofitable

[Taverner]

4. Trying to remember how many closed their doors the last time, end of Reagan

PanAm and Eastern went out - but those are airlines

[northernlights]

10. give it time

the airlines will be going down too.

[Taverner]

3. The market for restaurants is a sliding window

Unless you can build quick and cut your losses quickly, its a tough business

[izquierdista]

5. The Argentine solution

What would happen if the cooks and wait staff and crew came in and kept the restaurant running and didn't send their monthly tribute to the corporate franchisor?

[billyoc]

6. Right on.

http://www.thetake.org/

[Divine Discontent]

7. hey billyoc, thanks for the AFLCIO link! eom

[sendero]

12. It is the ..

.... corporate-owned locations that are closing. The franchise locations are doing whatever suits them.

[blue sky at night]

9. ate there for the last time....

last Sunday Night...there were about four tables in the joint with people at them, it was weird and the food wasn't so good, the beer warm. Adios and welcome to Bushworld.

[clarence swinney]

11. Bob Evans

closed in Greensboro and Burlington NC