BS: Bertucci's is bankrupt (restaurant)

Subject: RE: BS: Bertucci's is bankrupt (restaurant)
From: keberoxu
Date: 18 Apr 18 - 02:13 PM

"Stalking horse bidder." Shows my ignorance of auctions. Never heard that term before.

Three locations shut down in Connecticut.
Four locations shut down in Pennsylvania.
Six locations shut down in Massachusetts.
Already closed the branch in Kenmore Square.
One on Long Island closing.
Three of these are in western Massachusetts and the only locations in that part of the state -- the former employees have some hard choices as to whether to relocate to a part of the state with Bertucci's locations, or to try for jobs with other companies.

The corporation that up to now has owned Bertucci's restaurants
is in Los Angeles.
The 'stalking horse bidder' is in Chicago.

Subject: RE: BS: Bertucci's is bankrupt (restaurant)
From: keberoxu
Date: 17 Apr 18 - 07:08 PM

Today I ordered lunch at the Bertucci's on US Rte 1, on the stretch that is known as Providence Highway because it isn't in Providence. Not the salad, but pasta for a change, with chicken. Paid, left the tip, and as my booth was way the heck towards the back, headed through the dining room. Went past the big oven that every Bertucci's has, the brick oven that is actually out in the dining area behind a counter.

One of the senior waitpersons, who has come to recognize me as a regular, acknowledged me while working behind that counter. Since she had greeted me, I approached her, trepidation writ large on face, and loud in voice: "Excuse me, can I ask -- "
"We're fine," she said, without batting an eye. I wasn't the first person to approach her with that question. "The news media, they get the press release, they make what they always make out of it, they make a big story out of it.
"Sure," she continued, "the company that we belong to is selling us to another company. The only locations in Massachusetts that we're closing down are in Taunton and Raynham, nobody was eating there. The rest of us will keep going. We're still here, and we're fine."

So maybe, just maybe, I have not eaten my last arugula salad at Bertucci's.

Subject: RE: BS: Bertucci's is bankrupt (restaurant)
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 17 Apr 18 - 06:30 PM

RI had at least one bertucci's near the "Providence" airport in Warwick. That closed several years ago, possibly one of the first for the company to cut. I ate there a few times, but some friends ate there fairly often and raved about a chocolate dessert. I love chocolate but when I ate there I never had enough appetite left for dessert!

Subject: RE: BS: Bertucci's is bankrupt (restaurant)
From: keberoxu
Date: 17 Apr 18 - 11:11 AM

I specially like to order
the arugula salad with cherry tomatoes, chicken breast (skinless & boneless),
and focaccia bread.
A welcome and light change from Caesar salads.

Subject: BS: Bertucci's is bankrupt (restaurant)
From: keberoxu
Date: 16 Apr 18 - 09:08 PM

I'm sad about this. The Bertucci's chain of restaurants has roots in Somerville, Mass., although now it is in the clutches of some capital company outside of Massachusetts. It started as a homegrown made-from-scratch Italian family-oriented restaurant.

For over five years Bertucci's has been one of the losers in the competition for diners who want a meal quickly and cheaply;
journalism coverage of the story remarks on the competition with places where you don't sit down to eat, and you don't have to leave a tip.

The feature story says that the bankruptcy filing will be followed by an auction.
If it doesn't completely shut down,
they may still have to close half of their present locations.

ChanteyLass, does Rhode Island have Bertucci's Restaurants as well?