Popular US restaurant chain shutters 42 locations amid 'mounting financial problems'

Popular US restaurant chain shutters 42 locations amid 'mounting financial problems'
By: dailymail Posted On: October 22, 2024 View: 105

A popular restaurant chain, which at one time claimed to be the 'largest full-service restaurant chain in the Pacific Northwest' has closed 42 locations due to 'mounting financial problems.' 

Their restaurants were famous in one part of America for their delicious pies, hexagonal buildings and 24-hour service 365 days a year. 

At its peak, the diner claimed to serve over 48,000 eggs annually and grilled a whopping 200 pounds of beef a week served with 50,000 slices of bread. It even held the honor of being the ninth largest family restaurant chain in the US.  

However, the restaurant now looks set to shut its doors for good in the state where it first opened 45 years ago in 1978. 

That restaurant chain is Shari's Cafe and Pies and it might have served its last cooked breakfast in its home state of Oregon after the diner announced this week that all 42 of its locations across the Beaver State were set to close. 

Shari's Cafe and Pies, which once claimed to be the 'largest full-service restaurant chain in the Pacific Northwest' has closed 42 locations due to 'mounting financial problems' (file photo)
Their restaurants were famous in one part of America for their delicious pies, hexagonal buildings and 24-hour service 365 days a year (stock photo)

Shari's has been slowly winding down its operations across the state in recent weeks with restaurants in Portland and Oregon city being amongst the most recent to close. 

Oregon Live reported that on Sunday all employees received an email from Sam Borgese, the managing member of the restaurant chain‘s parent company, which said that all their restaurants in the state would close at 5pm that dat. 

In the letter, Mr Borgese said: 'I personally thank the Shari’s employees, especially those that during the past 14 months worked tirelessly to overcome the constant challenges of an ever changing and uncertain business environment with hopes their efforts would result in a different outcome than the one we face today.'

At one time Shari's claimed to be 'largest full-service restaurant chain in the Pacific Northwest' with locations across multiple states in the West Coast. As recently as 2017 the chain had 95 locations across California, Washington, Idaho and Wyoming.

In its heyday, the restaurant employed over 4,000 staff and had locations as far away as Texas.  

But in recent years Shari's has faced financial problems. The company owes more than $900,000 to the Oregon Lottery - which funds businesses and other amenities across the state. 

KGW News reported in August that the company faced numerous unpaid bills, back taxes and eviction notices. 

As of yesterday, Shari's restaurants remained open in California, Washington and Idaho remained open.

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