Michigan’s 14 Bennigan’s Grill & Tavern restaurants, which are owned and operated by an independent franchise, plan to remain open, even though their parent company, Metromedia Restaurant Group, has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
Michigan’s Bennigan’s restaurants are owned and operated by LaBelle Management Inc. of Mount Pleasant.
In a Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing, a company seeks to liquidate its assets and shut down. Metromedia Restaurant Group, in its filing, indicated that it has up to 49 creditors. It said it will have no funds left after administrative expenses are paid to repay its creditors, The Associated Press reported.
David Gannon, general manager of the Bennigan’s in Okemos, 2085 W. Grand River Ave., said the location will not be affected by the bankruptcy filing.
“We’re a franchise group and we’re going to be open for a long time,” Gannon said. “We’re owned by LaBelle Management.”
LaBelle Management is an independent franchisee of Metromedia Restaurant Group, according to a press release.
LaBelle Management said they will keep all 14 of their Bennigan’s locations in Michigan open.
“We are a strong, viable company that simply represents the Bennigan’s brand in the state of Michigan,” said Brad Hansen, chief executive officer of LaBelle Management, in the release. “We have no intention of closing any of our locations statewide.”
LaBelle Management owns and operates 37 establishments in Michigan and Indiana, including Fairfield Inn & Suites, Holiday Inn Hotel & Conference Center, two Big Boy restaurants and two Big Apple Bagels locations, according to the release.
Support student media! Please consider donating to The State News and help fund the future of journalism.
