A popular restaurant chain that once claimed to be the “largest full-service restaurant chain in the Pacific Northwest” has closed 42 locations due to “mounting financial issues.”
Their restaurants were famous in part of America for their delicious pies, hexagonal buildings and 24-hour service, 365 days a year.
At its peak, the restaurant claimed to serve more than 48,000 eggs annually and grill as much as 200 pounds of beef per week, served with 50,000 slices of bread. In fact, it had the distinction of being the ninth largest family restaurant chain in the US.
However, it appears the restaurant will now close its doors for good in the state where it first opened 45 years ago in 1978.
That restaurant chain is called Shari’s Cafe and Pies and may have served its last hot breakfast in its home state of Oregon after the restaurant announced this week that all 42 locations in the Beaver State would close.
Shari’s Cafe and Pies, which once claimed to be the “largest full-service restaurant chain in the Pacific Northwest,” has closed 42 locations due to “mounting financial difficulties” (file photo)
Their restaurants were famous in part of America for their delicious pies, hexagonal buildings and 24-hour service, 365 days a year (stock photo)
Shari’s has been slowly winding down its operations across the state in recent weeks, with restaurants in the city of Portland and Oregon among the most recent to close.
Oregon Live reported that all employees received an email on Sunday from Sam Borgese, the managing member of the restaurant chain’s parent company, stating that all of their restaurants in the state would close that day at 5 p.m.
In the letter, Mr Borgese said: ‘I personally thank Shari’s employees, especially those who have worked tirelessly over the past fourteen months to overcome the ongoing challenges of an ever-changing and uncertain business environment, in the hope that their efforts will would lead to a different outcome than the one we are dealing with today.”
Shari’s once claimed to be “the largest full-service restaurant chain in the Pacific Northwest,” with locations in multiple West Coast states. As recently as 2017, the chain had 95 locations in California, Washington, Idaho and Wyoming.
In its heyday, the restaurant employed more than 4,000 employees and had locations as far away as Texas.
But in recent years, Shari’s has faced financial problems. The company owes more than $900,000 to the Oregon Lottery, which funds businesses and other facilities across the state.
KGW News reported in August that the company was facing numerous unpaid bills, back taxes and eviction notices.
As of yesterday, Shari’s restaurants remained open in California, Washington and Idaho.
