So, Bennigan's Lives? Steak & Ale Too? Good Luck With All That.

The Monte Cristo, still delicious Three months after Plano-based Metromedia Restaurant Group shuttered most of its Bennigan's locations in the middle of the night comes word that the franchise will soldier on under new ownership. New York City- and Atlanta-based Atalaya Capital Management issued a release this morning saying that...

By Robert Wilonsky

October 22, 2008

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The Monte Cristo, still delicious

Three months after Plano-based Metromedia Restaurant Group shuttered most of its Bennigan's locations in the middle of the night comes word that the franchise will soldier on under new ownership. New York City- and Atlanta-based Atalaya Capital Management issued a release this morning saying that the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Texas in Sherman has approved its acquisition of Bennigan's Franchising Company -- "including the company's equity, trademarks and other assets, including the Tavern and Steak & Ale brands," which should make Norm Brinker happy, if nothing else.

The deal's expected to close by Halloween, after which time Atalaya says it will "re-open up to 60 previously closed company-owned restaurants as well as open new franchisee-owned locations both domestically and internationally." In case you missed your Monte Cristo. --Robert Wilonsky

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