A Denny’s franchise owner abruptly closed all of its Minnesota and Wisconsin restaurants last week, Fast Company has confirmed.
The franchisee, M15 Inc., reportedly said it can no longer meet payroll or purchase supplies after accumulating unsustainable debt and plans to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
A Denny’s spokesperson confirmed the closures when contacted by Fast Company.
In an emailed statement, Denny’s Inc. said it was “saddened to learn of the closure” and that it is “working with urgency alongside our franchise network to explore every viable path to reopen as many of these restaurants as we can.”
The diner-style restaurant chain said it expects to share an update in the coming weeks.
The closures were reported earlier by Bring Me the News. According to the Minnesota news site, M15 Inc. notified employees that it would close all of its restaurants in Minnesota and Wisconsin the next day, effective at 7:00 a.m. on September 3.
The franchisee reportedly apologized for the difficult outcome and thanked its employees for their hard work.
In a notice hung on the door of one of its locations, the company also reportedly warned that it could not guarantee it would have sufficient funds to cover all outstanding and final payroll obligations. It said that employees with unpaid wages could file a claim against M15 through the bankruptcy court.
Which Denny’s locations have closed?
The following five locations are impacted by the franchisee’s closure:
Minnesota:
- 255 Century Ave N, Maplewood, MN 55119
- 12950 Aldrich Ave S, Burnsville, MN 55337
- 2045 Twin Lakes Pkwy, Roseville, MN 55113
- 38681 Tanger Dr, North Branch, MN 55056
Wisconsin:
- 1000 Gateway Blvd, Hudson, WI 54016
In a statement provided to Fast Company by Denny’s Inc., Manny Trewn, the franchise group’s representative, said, “We are deeply saddened to have made the difficult decision to close five Denny’s restaurants in Minnesota and Wisconsin.”
Trewn also said, “It is our sincere hope that these locations will have the opportunity to reopen under new ownership and continue serving their communities as Denny’s restaurants.”
