The parent company of Bennigan's, the Irish-themed casual dining place, filed for bankruptcy yesterday, resulting in the closing of 200 Bennigan's sites along with the 50 remaining restaurants of sister spin-off, Steak and Ale.
However, the 138 franchisee-owned restaurants are expected to remain open, though their future is uncertain without the support of the parent company, Metromedia Restaurant Group.
The casual, mid-price dining segment of the industry has struggled badly in recent times because of higher ingredient and labor costs coupled with downturns in consumer spending. People are dining out less or switching to fast food joints to save money.
I never was a fan of Bennigan's, with my preferred casual dining chain currently being The Cheesecake Factory (On a side note, if you are a Cheesecake Factory fan, they are offering $1.50 slices of cheesecake today to celebrate their 30th anniversary). Applebee's, which truly turns my stomach, is extremely popular near me because our local spot offers half-price appetizers after 10 pm, making it the perfect, cheap munchies food. Other than that after 10 pm traffic, I doubt they are getting many diners. Or at least I hope they aren't.
--Food Services Correspondent Travis
Posted by guest , Jul 30, 2008 2:23PM
o hamburgers!
Posted by guest , Jul 30, 2008 2:24PM
Why don't they get rid of Bonanza while they are at it? I don't get it. That place is horrible.
Posted by guest , Jul 30, 2008 2:24PM
Way to be all over this late-breaking news.
Guess I can either read the WSJ today, or just catch the news at dealbreaker.com a few days later...
Posted by guest , Jul 30, 2008 2:27PM
Nothin beats Ponderosa IMO. Oh, and 1st! to say Mayo!
Posted by guest , Jul 30, 2008 2:28PM
I'm sorry DB, but I have to agree with #3 at 2:24. Even Perez Hilton had this posted yesterday morning.
Posted by finance_baller , Jul 30, 2008 2:32PM
The only thing less relevant than this post is Steak and Ale.
Posted by guest , Jul 30, 2008 2:33PM
where the hell do the dealbreaker interns live? cheescake factory? an applebees nearby?? is that why this story broke so late? the interns were stuck in traffic for two days getting into work?
Posted by guest , Jul 30, 2008 2:34PM
Bennigans had lousy mayo, thats why they went bankrupt.
Posted by Travis , Jul 30, 2008 2:36PM
@ 7,
The good ol' suburbs of New Jersey.
@ 3, 5
Clearly, I waited till today to post this so that I could plug the $1.50 cheesecake slices. Duh.
Posted by Johnny , Jul 30, 2008 2:37PM
@7
I think there's an Applebees (and a Cheesecake Factory?) in Times Square. Where else would the B&T eat when they come into the city. They would starve.
Posted by I am a Dude , Jul 30, 2008 2:40PM
isnt there another DB staff member from new jersey?
why cant they get someone from queens?
Posted by guest , Jul 30, 2008 2:44PM
As president of the North Dakota Super Traders Association I have to say that the Bennigan's news has really affected our members. All the BSDs locally are headed to Applebee's.
~Clint Svensgaartenhuggerischt
Pres., NDSTA
Bismarck, ND
Posted by I am a Dude , Jul 30, 2008 2:44PM
isnt there another DB staff member from new jersey?
why cant they get someone from queens?
Posted by guest , Jul 30, 2008 2:44PM
I'm surprised the Fed didn't open the drive up (oops I mean discount) window to MCD to facilitate a takeunder. Any emergency orders forthcoming to restrict short selling of YUM, Wendy's and Chiptotle?
Posted by guest , Jul 30, 2008 2:45PM
Who is going to buy any of this shit in a liquidation?
Posted by guest , Jul 30, 2008 2:52PM
Nothing says Cuisine and Taste like METROMEDIA
All this f'n parent co. names are so lousy...
Posted by KipEsquire , Jul 30, 2008 2:53PM
@10:
"The best thing about Times Square is that you see things you would never see at home ... oh look, a Red Lobster!"
--"Title of Show"
Posted by guest , Jul 30, 2008 2:54PM
wow a mention of bennigans without the obligatory tip o the hat to the monte cristo?
Posted by guest , Jul 30, 2008 2:58PM
wow a mention of bennigans without the obligatory tip o the hat to the monte cristo?
Posted by guest , Jul 30, 2008 3:07PM
#14 @ 2:44.
Chipotle is a split-off of McDonald's. No shorting necessary.
Posted by Anal_yst , Jul 30, 2008 3:14PM
Travis represent your NJ roots brosefer!
Posted by guest , Jul 30, 2008 3:17PM
#12. My name is Assweepay Svensgaartenhuggerischt. We could be related.
95 year old Kluge is a billionaire with a CAPITAL BBBBBBB. He also is on wife #4 and #3 was a belly dancer. I love that old phart and his is one rich bastid, but why would anyone think it was a good idea to buy those white trash restaurants?
Who knows, maybe Kluge was mad at wife #4 and wanted to piss away some money from her trust fund.
Posted by guest , Jul 30, 2008 3:39PM
nice #1
http://www.southparkzone.com/episodes/514/
Posted by guest , Jul 30, 2008 3:40PM
Maybe it was all those half off coupons they gave to the Canadian strikers. Never a good business move.
Posted by guest , Jul 30, 2008 3:55PM
http://www.southparkzone.com/episodes/1204/
Posted by guest , Jul 30, 2008 4:17PM
Applebees and Cheesecake Factory.... could be Hackensack Avenue / Rt. 4
Posted by guest , Jul 30, 2008 4:30PM
My friend ordered the monte cristo... deep fried ham and turkey sandwich sprinkled with powdered sugar with jelly/syrup on the side. It was hilarious
On a side note, where will prom dates go now that Bennigans is closed?
Posted by guest , Jul 30, 2008 4:38PM
I work for a company that manages and tracks gift cards, and I've been following retailers filing for bankruptcy on savvywallet.com. Ponderosa and Bonanza are still accepting Metromedia gift cards. I'm not sure about franchise owned Bennigans's. My advice? Go spend your gift cards, we simply do not know how long they will be accepting them. Don't forget The Sharper Image incident: $25m in unused gift cards.
-Also, you can file a claim. Call this number for more details: 1-800-727-8355 and press 2
Posted by Anal_yst , Jul 30, 2008 4:58PM
@ 26, I'm thinking more of the Wayne/Willowbrook area actually
Posted by guest , Jul 30, 2008 5:51PM
Anal_yst - I'm with you, the description screams Willowbrook mall.
Travis, are Hooters and Pizzeria Uno in your rotation?
Posted by Travis , Jul 30, 2008 6:26PM
@ 30
I don't think there's a Hooters nearby, but there is a Pizzeria Uno.
Posted by diablo , Jul 30, 2008 11:03PM
Travis, Rt 1, eh? Indian food is better around there.
Posted by trojan , Jul 31, 2008 12:39AM
nothing could ever top In n Out. ever. whatever bank lands that ipo will make it rain.