Fears for Big Boy restaurant franchise as dozens of closures stun Midwest

More than 20 Frisch's Big Boy locations person been threatened pinch evictions - sparking fears for nan beloved burger chain. 

The fast-casual burger concatenation is down connected astir $4.5 cardinal successful rent connected astatine slightest 20 of its 80 locations, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported. 

The franchise, loved for its Big Boy Burgers and sizable breakfasts, has asked an Ohio tribunal to hold nan eviction proceedings to springiness it clip to discuss pinch nan landlord. 

The franchise argues that a hold would besides alteration them to group a schedule to shutter restaurants if nary statement tin beryllium reached, arguing this would beryllium fairer to labor who would suffer their jobs. 

The eviction threats person sparked concerns nan full marque whitethorn spell nether aft a information of abrupt closures successful Ohio and Kentucky successful nan spring. 

Such fears were stoked further by nan brand's ain connection which said prime locations whitethorn person to adjacent owed to 'unforeseen circumstances and various different factors.'

The institution did not springiness immoderate further item astir what those undisclosed factors whitethorn entail. 

'Due to unforeseen circumstances and various different factors, Frisch's Big Boy Restaurants will beryllium closing definite locations,' nan connection read.  

'We look guardant to serving our loyal and beloved Frisch's customers astatine different locations and apologize for immoderate inconvenience.'

If nan under-threat locations close, nan brand's footprint would beryllium reduced by astir a quarter. 

Most of nan locations are successful Ohio, pinch 3 successful Indiana and 16 successful Kentucky. 

It comes aft nan concatenation unopen 5 underperforming locations earlier this year, claiming it was basal for nan wellness of nan wide company. 

The concatenation was acquired by an Atlanta-based finance patient for $175 cardinal successful 2015. 

Four months later, a Florida-based institution paid $47 cardinal for 74 of nan company's 121 stores successful a sale-leaseback agreement. 

The company, operating arsenic nan franchise's landlord, is now nan 1 trying to evict it from immoderate of nan locations. 

Big Boy is nan latest family-dining concatenation to look closures during a sadistic twelvemonth for bequest edifice chains. 

Earlier this year, Red Lobster closed much than 100 locations and entered into Chapter 11 bankruptcy, earlier being bought out. 

Denny's precocious announced nan closure of 150 of its locations aft 5 quarters of income declines.  

Applebee's besides closed 35 locations this year, blaming user be aware and economical conditions. 

The American grill chain, celebrated for its $10 burgers and 'dollaritas', closed 46 of its much than 1,500 locations owed to 'underperformance' past year.