There are tons of restaurants in Disney Springs.
Disney Springs
Many popular dining spots are all around the shopping and dining district. But did you know that one restaurateur owns several of the restaurants there? Robert Earl is the owner of Earl of Sandwich, Planet Hollywood, and co-owner of Chicken Guy! with Guy Fieri. Now, another restaurant owned by Robert Earl has filed for bankruptcy.
Buca di Beppo is an Italian-American restaurant chain owned by Robert Earl. There are currently 44 locations across 14 states and one new location is to open soon. However, it recently closed 12 restaurants, according to Reuters.
©Buca di Beppo
Now, shortly after closing those 12 locations, Buca di Beppo has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The restaurant plans on keeping all remaining stores open and restructuring the company. A significant drop in sales, rising food and labor costs, and staffing challenges are cited as reasons for the bankruptcy filing.
©Buca di Beppo
According to CBS News, the restaurant dealt with “limited customer demand” during the 2020 pandemic and never really recovered. Now with the rising costs of operating, the company has filed the Chapter 11 petition. The company is over $10 million in debt and follows other restaurants in filing for bankruptcy protection such as Red Lobster and Rubio’s Coastal Grill.
©Red Lobster
The president of Buca di Beppo, Rich Saultz, says the company’s leadership supports the decision to restructure. He said in a statement, “Buca di Beppo has been a beloved gathering place for celebrations and memorable meals for many years, and we are enthusiastic about entering this next phase of our brand’s story.”
©Buca di Beppo
The company is also seeking court approval to terminate leases at the 12 closed restaurant locations.
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Are you a Buca di Beppo fan? Let us know in the comments!
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Very sad. Bidenomics at its best!
Are used to be a big fan of Buca di Beppo until I watch the girls clean the tables with dirty rags from a bucket hidden under one of the tables. That was disgusting. We used to go there a lot. I have not been there in a couple years don’t plan on going back.
I haven’t been there in a long time because but I use to love their Lemon Chicken.