- Bakers Square
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Bakers Square 
Type Subsidiary Headquarters Denver, Colorado Number of locations 46 (2011)[1] Parent American Blue Ribbon Holdings Website www.bakerssquarerestaurants.com Bakers Square Restaurant & Pies (also known as Bakers Square) is a casual dining restaurant chain in the United States. Known for its pies, Bakers Square also offers full breakfast, lunch and dinner menus (and now features a weekend brunch menu). It is owned by American Blue Ribbon Holdings. As of July 2011, there were 46 locations.[1]
Contents
History
Bakers Square began in December 1969 with a restaurant called "Mrs. C's" in Des Moines, Iowa, that became popular for its pies.[2] Pillsbury purchased Mrs. C's around that time, renamed it "Poppin' Fresh Pies", and opened additional locations. VICORP, owners of the Village Inn restaurant chain, purchased Poppin' Fresh Pies from Pillsbury in 1983 and renamed the chain Bakers Square.[3]
Operations
Bakers Square restaurants are primarily found in the Great Lakes area and in California. Except for the Des Moines area, Bakers Square and Village Inn operate in separate markets without overlap. The original Mrs. C's restaurant, on Merle Hay Road in Des Moines, remained in business as a Bakers Square until it closed on April 2, 2008, as parent company VICORP filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy.[2]
In late 1993, Vicorp acquired the right to a small Florida chain called Angel’s dinner. They acquired this from Eric A. Holm. Unfortunately he had also sold the rights to Golden Corral and Vicorp was forced to pay Golden Corral 1 Million to secure the exclusive rights. The intent was to convert under performing Village Inn and Bakers square units to this new concept. After building 7 units Vicorp realized that the concept was not economically viable and wrote off 11MM on the venture. During this time frame Eric Holm filed for personally Bankruptcy.
A typical Bakers Square restaurant
On April 3, 2008, VICORP filed for bankruptcy under Chapter 11 of the federal bankruptcy code. VICORP closed 56 company-owned restaurants as a result of the move, leaving a total of 343 Village Inn and Bakers Square locations.[4] Village Inn restaurants are found in the Midwest states such as Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Indiana, and Nebraska, the Western United States, Texas, Virginia, and Florida.[5]
In California, Bakers Square competes directly with Marie Callender's, Coco's Bakery/Carrows restaurants.
As of Feb. 2, 2009, more than 90 Bakers Square California locations have been closed. The only location still in operation by VICORP is in San Diego. This location will continue operations as a Bakers Square until a buyer is found. The restaurant also features Bakers Pub and is adjacent to Holiday Inn. Due to an agreement with the hotel, VICORP must continue operating until a suitable acquisition is completed.
VICORP also closed its Sante Fe Springs pie production facility. Under the name VICOM, pies were produced for Bakers Square, Village Inn, and J. Horner's, a line for foodservice and retail sale.
Bakers Square locations in Northern California remain operating under the same name but, have been acquired by Shari's Restaurants as of October 14, 2009 many have already been converted. Similarly, locations in Southern California will convert to Polly's Pies or Du-par's Restaurant & Bakery.
VICORP has also ceased operations in Michigan, where it once had a concentration of Bakers Square restaurants.
It is not known whether plans call for expansion of the Village Inn concept into these markets, although it is speculated this could occur within California through franchisees.
In 2009, American Blue Ribbon Holdings, a company owned by Fidelity National Financial and Newport Global Advisors, acquired the assets of VICORP, including Village Inn and Bakers Square.
References
- ^ a b "Jennifer Sanning to Lead Marketing for American Blue Ribbon Holdings’ Restaurant Brands". American Blue Ribbon Holdings. 29 July 2011. http://www.abrholdings.com/our_company/press_releases/Jen_Sanning_Press_Release_7-2011.pdf. Retrieved 22 November 2011.
- ^ a b Boeckman, Joanne (2008-04-03). "Original shop in Bakers Square chain is closed, along with second in Des Moines". The Des Moines Register. http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=PluckPersona&U=44cef8789c5a4bea91cee024d4480ea9&plckController=PersonaBlog&plckScript=personaScript&plckElementId=personaDest&plckPersonaPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3a44cef8789c5a4bea91cee024d4480ea9Post%3a32267066-2c48-4573-841d-f70c7477a9c8&sid=sitelife.desmoinesregister.com.
- ^ FundingUniverse.com. "VICORP Restaurants, Inc., Company History". http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/VICORP-Restaurants-Inc-Company-History.html. Retrieved 2007-02-04.
- ^ Milstead, David (2008-04-03). "Bankrupt Village Inn shutting down local restaurants". Rocky Mountain News. http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/apr/03/village-inn-parent-files-bankruptcy/.
- ^ VICORP Restaurants. "Find a Village Inn Location". http://storelocator.vicorpinc.com/vi_index.aspx?concept=vi. Retrieved 2008-04-03.
7. Eric Holm http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1994-09-24/business/9409240010_1_angel-diner-holm-chapter-7-bankruptcy
External links
Categories:- Companies that have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
- Regional restaurant chains in the United States
- Restaurants established in 1969
- Restaurants in Denver, Colorado
- Restaurants in Iowa
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