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SALT LAKE CITY — Restaurant chain Village Inn reportedly closed more than two dozen locations nationwide, including five locations in Utah, as its parent owner filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy this week.
Federal court records show American Blue Ribbon Holding filed a notice for bankruptcy Monday. The Tennessee-based limited liability company owns restaurant chains Village Inn and Bakers Square.
In all, 33 “underperforming” Village Inn and Bakers Square locations were closed as the company restructures, according to Nation’s Restaurant News. The report says the move was made as American Blue Ribbon suffered a continued slide in sales that began in 2017.
There are no Bakers Square locations in Utah. The company didn’t list which Village Inn locations closed as a result of the financial move, including in its Chapter 11 petition. However, Village Inn previously listed locations in North Salt Lake, Orem, Roy, Sandy and West Jordan as of December, according to an archived version of its webpage. Those locations are no longer listed on the company's website.
In a statement, the company said the measure was done with the belief that it will help improve the company’s Village Inn and Bakers Square brands in a way that will be “beneficial for all stakeholders.”
“As part of the reorganization, the company will explore a variety of strategic and structural initiatives to best position the company for success in the future,” the statement continued.
Village Inn was founded in 1958. Even after the closures, the restaurant still has 159 locations nationwide. As of Tuesday, the company listed nine open locations across the state: Murray, Ogden, Provo, Salt Lake City, South Jordan, South Ogden, St. George, Taylorsville and West Valley City.
