A popular restaurant chain that at one time claimed to be the “largest full-service restaurant chain in the Pacific Northwest” has closed 42 locations due to “mounting financial problems.”
His 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 a year and roast a whopping 200 pounds of beef a week served with 50,000 slices of bread. It even had the honor of being the ninth largest family restaurant chain in the United States.
However, it now appears that the restaurant will close its doors permanently in the state where it first opened 45 years ago, in 1978.
That restaurant chain is Shari’s Cafe and Pies and it may have served its last hot breakfast in its home state of Oregon after the restaurant announced this week that its 42 locations across the Beaver State were closing.
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 problems” (file photo)
His restaurants were famous in part of America for their delicious pies, hexagonal buildings and 24-hour service, 365 days a year (file photo)
Shari’s has been slowly closing its operations across the state in recent weeks, and restaurants in Portland and Oregon City are among the latest to close.
Oregon Live reported that on Sunday all employees received an email from Sam Borgese, the managing member of the restaurant chain’s parent company, saying that all of its restaurants in the state would close at 5 p.m. that day.
In the letter, Borgese said: “I personally thank Shari’s employees, especially those who over the past 14 months worked tirelessly to overcome the constant challenges of an ever-changing and uncertain business environment, with the hope that their efforts would lead to a different result than the one we face today.”
At one time, Shari’s claimed to be “the largest full-service restaurant chain in the Pacific Northwest” with locations in several West Coast states. As of 2017, the chain had 95 locations in California, Washington, Idaho and Wyoming.
At its peak, the restaurant employed more than 4,000 people 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 services 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 remained open.