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God, what is happening?! First, Road Warrior Animal passes away. Then we find out NFL legend Gale Sayers died. And now Sizzler is filing for bankruptcy?!!
Can we just skip ahead to December 31st and be done with the year 2020 already?!
CNN reports Sizzler USA filed for Chapter 11 because of the affects of COVID-19 on its ability to serve customers. The filing is only for Sizzler’s 14 company-owned restaurants, however, and not the dozens of other franchised establishments.
Still, this is not good news.
“Our current financial state is a direct consequence of the pandemic’s economic impact due to long-term indoor dining closures and landlords’ refusal to provide necessary rent abatements,” said Sizzler President Chris Perkins in a statement.
Sizzler first opened for business 62 years ago as Del’s Sizzler Family Steak House in Culver City, Calif. offering a juicy steak for just 99 cents.
The restaurant chained also spawned numerous copycats such as Ponderosa Steakhouse and Bonanza Steakhouse and created a restaurant market that now includes the likes of Lone Star Steakhouse, LongHorn Steakhouse, Texas Roadhouse, and more.
Sizzler previously filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1996, closing over 130 locations.
Other companies which have been forced to file for bankruptcy amind the ongoing global pandemic include JCPenney, Neiman Marcus, Vapianos, and California Pizza Kitchen, as well as a Pizza Hut franchisee who owns nearly 300 restaurants.