By Bill Zeeble
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-737004.mp3
Dallas, TX – Bennigans and Steak & Ale have abruptly closed hundreds of restaurants nationwide today, including more than 20 in north Texas.
Parent company Metromedia Restaurant Group, MRG, based in Plano, filed for chapter 7 bankruptcy, meaning more than 200 restaurants will not reopen.
Employees and clients alike were shocked. Lunchtime customer Melissa Gaspari had no idea until she arrived at Bennigans near Stemmons and Northwest highway. A sign on the door said closed for business.
Gaspari: I had quit going to them for a while because it got where the service was bad, but they changed their menu recently & I liked it so I actually began telling everyone to go to Bennigans because their menu's really good.
MRG reportedly has debts exceeding 300 million dollars. While franchisee-owned Bennigans and Steak and Ales will not close because they're not owned by Metromedia, those that are leave hundreds of workers out of jobs.
Steak and Ale, with its self-serve salad bar, was born in Dallas by Norman Brinker before he sold it. Bennigans was successfully launched in the 70s.
Bill Zeeble KERA news.