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Popular microbrewery closes without fanfare

The parent company shutters 15 Hops and four Don Pablo's while reorganizing under bankruptcy protection.

By BRIDGET HALL GRUMET
Published March 1, 2005

PORT RICHEY - Sunday seemed like any other night at Hops Grillhouse & Brewery: Folks got plates of butter-glazed crescent rolls, platters of sizzling steaks and ice-cold glasses of home-brewed Alligator Ale and Hammerhead Red.

Then, after the last patrons cleared out about 10 p.m., the popular restaurant and microbrewery at 10042 U.S. 19 closed - for good.

There were no farewells or fanfare. Company officials say the diners probably didn't realize it was the restaurant's last night.

"We tried to be as responsive to our guests as we could be, even under those circumstances," said Jillan Hatchett, manager of financial analysis and investor relations for Hops' parent company, Avado Brands.

All told, 15 Hops restaurants and four Don Pablo's Mexican Kitchen locations across the country closed their doors Sunday night, Hatchett said, although the company did not provide a list of locations Monday.

The closures came as Avado Brands tries to emerge from bankruptcy.

The Madison, Ga., company filed for Chapter 11 protection in February 2004. The filing shields Avado Brands from creditors while the company reorganizes under the Federal Bankruptcy Code.

The closing of the Port Richey Hops "was purely a corporate business decision," Hatchett said. She declined to comment on the profitability of the busy restaurant, which opened a decade ago last month.

Each restaurant typically employs three to five managers and 40 to 50 hourly-wage employees, she said.

"We're doing everything we can to try to place employees (at other restaurants) when possible," Hatchett said.

Avado Brands is keeping 22 Hops restaurants open, including the one in Palm Harbor, she said. The chain owns other locations in Florida, Colorado and along the eastern seaboard.

The company is also keeping open 96 Don Pablo's restaurants across the country, Hatchett said.

The Hops closure comes just a few weeks after another Port Richey mainstay, Pit Boss Bar-B-Q, closed shop.

The Pit Boss owners hope to reopen at a new location with more parking. The old restaurant, located at 10128 U.S. 19, suffered by sharing a small parking lot with the wildly popular Carrabba's Italian Grill and Outback Steakhouse.

--Bridget Hall Grumet can be reached in west Pasco at 869-6244 or toll-free at 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6244. Her e-mail address is bhall@sptimes.com

[Last modified March 1, 2005, 01:11:12]