A Denny’s franchisee has abruptly shuttered every one of its restaurants across Minnesota and Wisconsin, terminating waitresses, cooks and other staff on September 3 with no advance warning. The company, M15 Inc., told employees it lacked the revenue and cash needed to keep the restaurants running amid collection activity from its lenders, and it now plans to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
The closures hit Denny’s locations in Burnsville, Maplewood, Roseville and North Branch, Minnesota, along with a Hudson, Wisconsin restaurant, according to Bring Me The News. The former Burnsville restaurant sat at 12950 Aldrich Ave. S., and all of the shuttered locations have since vanished from Denny’s own website. M15 Inc. notified employees of the closures on September 2, just a day before the doors closed for good.
The outlet reports that M15 Inc. had borrowed substantial amounts of money over the past year and ultimately could not meet payroll, cover food and supply purchases, or keep its restaurants operating responsibly. The company said it will provide additional information about the anticipated bankruptcy process as it moves forward.
Regulars Left Without Their Morning Spot
For the Maplewood location, the closure on September 4 left waitresses, cooks and other staff without income overnight, per the same account. Denny’s staff there reportedly knew many of their customers by name and looked after regulars who came in daily for breakfast, a routine now gone along with their jobs…