Black Angus chain: Soft economy forces 7 closures

Nation's Restaurant News,  April 21, 2008  

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Los ALTOS, CALIF. -- Blaming the "disappointing sales" affecting much of its segment, the Black Angus Steakhouse chain has shuttered seven locations, leaving 75 branches operating in eight states.

The closures were in Thousand Oaks, Calif.; Scottsdale, Ariz.; Las Vegas; and two each in the Salt Lake City and Denver markets. Officials of the Los Altos-based chain said affected employees were being offered jobs at other branches.

Bruce MacDiarmid, Black Angus' president and chief executive, said: "It is no secret that our sales, like most other dinnerhouse companies, have been disappointing. While we will continue to focus our efforts on increasing the frequency of our guests' visits and encouraging trial by new guests, the current economy presents challenges that have impeded our short-term success."

The 44-year-old steakhouse chain, formerly known in core markets as Stuart Anderson's Black Angus or Cattle Co., is a subsidiary of American Restaurant Group Inc.

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