HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016 02-05 Old Country Buffet closes 7 Twin Cities locations PIONEER PRESS 2/5/2016 Old Country Buffet closes 7 Twin Cities locations—Twin Cities
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2/5/2016 Old Country Buffet closes 7 Twin Cities locations—Twin Cities
By IIP4II0I (".YIL..°'rIIIAIII 4 I nwoltman @pioneerpress.com
February 5,2016 1 UPDATED:2 hours ago
Seven Old Country Buffet restaurants in the Twin Cities closed
suddenly Thursday as part of a nationwide downsizing by Ovation
Brands, the chain's parent company.
The Old Country Buffet welhsiite now lists only three metro-area
locations: one each in Burnsville, Coon Rapids and Maple Grove.
Restaurants in West St. Paul, Roseville, Woodbury, Maplewood,
Crystal, Richfield and Fridley have been removed from the site.
Greer, S.C.-based Ovation, whose holdings also include five other
restaurant brands, shuttered 74 "underperforming" Old Country
Buffet, Hometown Buffet, Ryan's, Fire Mountain and Country Buffet
restaurants nationwide, according to an emailed statement.
"While we cannot predict future market conditions, the plan is to
continue operating the remaining Ovation Brands' restaurants as
they are financially viable," said Peter Donbavand, vice president of
business development, in the statement. "We know that these
decisions are not easy, however, we strongly believe that
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2/5/2016 Old Country Buffet closes 7 Twin Cities locations—Twin Cities
this direction is best for the long-term health of all brands."
He added that a "large" number of employees will be laid off as a
result of the closings.
Ovation, which has filed for bankruptcy twice since 2008, was
acquired by San Antonio-based Food Management Partners in
August 2015.
Ovation's precursor, Buffets Inc., was once headquartered in
Eagan. Ovation maintains a corporate support center in Eagan, its
website says.
Tags: Food, Restaurant openings/closings
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