Goodbye, Ruby Tuesday?
Ruby Tuesday has filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, reported USA Today.
While the restaurant chain hopes to remain in business, it also revealed it would not reopen any of the 185 locations which have closed since the onset of COVID-19 in March.
"We do not anticipate any additional restaurant closures at this time," Ruby Tuesday chief marketing officer Jenifer Boyd Harmon said in a statement to the outlet. "We remain committed to providing our guests with safe, quality experiences at all our current locations."
The company said its remaining 236 owned and operated restaurants would continue with business as usual.
“This announcement does not mean ‘Goodbye, Ruby Tuesday,'" CEO Shawn Lederman added. "Today’s actions will allow us an opportunity to reposition the company for long-term stability as we recover from the unprecedented impact of COVID-19."
Ruby Tuesday is the latest chain to announce closures or filed for bankruptcy due to the global outbreak.
Since the onset of COVID-19 seven months ago, nearly 1 in 6 restaurants have closed their doors.
According to a survey by the National Restaurant Association, an astonishing 100,000 eateries have shuttered either permanently or for a long-term basis since the coronavirus pandemic began in March, reported Today. The closures also represent the loss of jobs for nearly 3 million people.
Many restaurants were affected early due to state and local lockdowns and quickly transitioned to takeout and delivery only. As stay-at-home orders loosened, some were able to reopen for outdoor dining and limited-capacity indoor dining. But even after reopening, closures ensued for those that saw employees test positive for coronavirus.
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