Fargo-Moorhead developments information

[F-Misthebest]

this should clear up some stuff

Moorhead Bennigan’s to remain in business
Tracy Frank, The Forum
Published Wednesday, July 30, 2008

The Moorhead Bennigan’s Grill and Tavern will not close, despite reports that Bennigan’s restaurants throughout the country are shutting down due to bankruptcy.

“At this point in time, we’re not sure what, if any effects it’s going to have on us,” said Lisa Stenstrom, controller of Sterling Restaurant Management Group, which does business as Bennigan’s Grill and Tavern in Moorhead.

“Our plan right now is just to remain open with business as usual,” she said.

While the Bennigan’s corporation sets up food contracts for better pricing, the Moorhead Bennigan’s restaurant buys its supplies independently, Stenstrom said.

S&A Restaurant Corp. and affiliates Steak & Ale and Bennigan’s Grill and Tavern restaurants have filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, according to a statement from Leah Templeton, company spokeswoman.

Stores operated by franchisees, such as the Moorhead location, are not named as debtors in the filings, Templeton said in the statement.

The filings do not include Ponderosa and Bonanza, which operate under Metromedia Steakhouses Co. L.P., Bennigan’s parent company, according to the statement.

“These are filed as liquidation cases. Future decisions regarding the affairs of the debtor companies will be determined and administered by the trustee,” Templeton said in a statement.

The company indicated in the filing that it has up to 49 creditors, according to a report by The Associated Press. It said it will have no funds left after administrative expenses are paid to repay its creditors.

A Chapter 7 bankruptcy case does not involve filing a repayment plan as in Chapter 13. Instead, a bankruptcy trustee gathers and sells the debtor’s nonexempt assets and uses the proceeds to pay creditors.

Stenstrom has not heard how many restaurants have closed. She did not hear about the bankruptcy from the company.

Templeton said that her statement, which did not include information on how many stores would close, is all the information she has at this time.

According to CBS 2 in Chicago, the corporate-owned locations make up about half of the chain.

The company’s Web site states there are more than 310 locations in 10 countries. The Web site does not say anything about the closings.

The Chicago news station also reported that managers said they were not warned of the mass shutdown, which went into effect at midnight Monday.

The Forum previously reported that the Fargo Bennigan’s restaurant, 1776 45th St. S., closed on June 29. That restaurant, which opened in November 1999, closed for unrelated reasons, Stenstrom said.

The Fargo Bennigan’s closed because the owner, Kevin Bartram, who also owns the Moorhead franchise, received an offer and decided to sell, she said.

It was the only Bennigan’s Grill and Tavern in North Dakota, according to the company’s Web site.

Bennigan’s is an Irish American grill and tavern. The restaurant offers salads, burgers, steak and chicken entrées, sandwiches and desserts. Bennigan’s is based in Plano, Texas.

Bennigan’s Grill and Tavern

- Ownership: Kevin Bartram

- Where: 3333 Highway 10 E., Moorhead

- Contact: (218) 291-3333

- Info: www.bennigans.com

Readers can reach Forum reporter Tracy Frank at (701) 241-5526

[wilson]

A little birdie told me that all the Sunmarts are going through a major overhaul. Most of them are gonna become a "High end store" (Think Byerly's in the MSP area) and 2 of them are gonna become "value" stores to compete against Wal Mart. Those 2 are the ghetto mart (N University) and Moorhead off I94. Apparently the High End store is being tested in Hudson, WI right now, and is gonna be a go in Fargo.

[matt35503]

Did the birdie happen to have a time line for this overhaul?

[ww6789]

Thanks for the Sunmart info. We certainly need better grocery stores in Fargo. Here's a Fargo grocery question for the group -- has anyone noticed that the grocers pre-slice the deli meat. I've never been to a grocery deli (until I moved to Fargo) that didn't slice the meat of your choice fresh to order. Go into Hornbacher's at night and you'll see mounds of meat already sliced for the next day. Of course, I asked about this and they said it's more efficient and the presentation looks good. When I asked the deli worker about freshness and dried out meat, she said they pick out the dried out meat and throw it away -- nice. If you like deli meat, ask them to slice it fresh and maybe they'll get the right idea. I've never complained to management -- I just don't buy the meat. In the Publix grocery deli, they take the fresh whole meat and slice a sample for you. If you like it only then do they slice the full order. They always treat you to a sample.

Will

[wilson]

The time table I'm not sure on, but I think it's gonna be sooner rather than later. Also, the higher end stores are gonna be focused on a lot more perishable food, so the produce will be bigger, and the meat counter will have more choices as well as bigger. Also, there will be a larger health food area with specialists working in each store.

[subterranean]

Still cannot believe that this is the most active thread. Awesome.

[fredstrom]

Yah. I thought this was a large developments/skyscraper forum. Not deli meat.

Even the Sioux Falls thread, which is for a similar sized city if I'm not mistaken, has a lot more discussion on "major" type of developments like skyline additions and new beltways.

I think these cities are really interesting, but come on, what is really going on in Fargo that will shape its future?

[BigTicket]

Originally Posted by fredstrom

Yah. I thought this was a large developments/skyscraper forum. Not deli meat.

Even the Sioux Falls thread, which is for a similar sized city if I'm not mistaken, has a lot more discussion on "major" type of developments like skyline additions and new beltways.

I think these cities are really interesting, but come on, what is really going on in Fargo that will shape its future?

The UP Center in Southwest Fargo is starting to take to shape, I believe they started pouring the concrete for the ice surface today. Hockey fanatics in Fargo have been waiting a long time to get a nice arena for themselves and for development fanatics like us the arena should elevate growth in that area of the city that has already been explosive.

NDSU is also progressing with their major construction projects in downtown, both buildings are really starting to take shape. I can't wait to see what the extra 4-5k people will do to downtown.

NDSU also hired a firm to look into naming rights for a basketball arena it wants to build in conjunction with the city. I've heard from more then a few people that if NDSU can find the money the arena will happen.

Microsoft has also started construction on their 70 million dollar expansion project.

[matt35503]

The rebuilt 52nd Ave interchange is progressing nicely with work finishing up on the new 6 lane double span over I29.

Stabilization continues on the dirt mounds that will be the new 57st SE interchange that will be built next year.

I have also seen plans for new housing developments south of Frontier, just West of Shanley High School, and near the new Bethany Assisted Living on 42nd St.

The city is still waiting on approving building permits for the new Walmart Supercenter on 52nd Ave and the new Hilton Garden Inn Convention Center on 17th Ave.

There is no news about a new beltway though, guess Sioux Falls must be better, sorry.

[Doc]

Yeah, amenities have NOTHING to do with growth and building. People living and working in new buildings gotta eat. After all, new Microsofties coming to town might want to know where they can get a decent sandwich.

It's all connected, dude. If you don't like it, go to some Chinese message board. I'm sure they have plenty to say about huge construction projects.

[ww6789]

To sustain healthy long-term growth, Fargo/Moorhead must not only lure people from other parts of the country but also keep them here. Talented and skilled folks have the freedom and resources to move on if they're not happy. Substandard grocery stores and restaurants do not entice transplants to stay in Fargo for the long haul. Someone who thinks quality deli meat is irrelevant fails to see that the big picture is constructed of many small pixels. Too many North Dakotans accept and are content with mediocrity.

[ww6789]

I don't want to come across as a complete malcontent. I've lived in ND for three years and there are many things I like and lots of nice people here. I want to stay long-term but I would like to see progress in certain areas. I hope my commentary is perceived as constructive criticism not negativity. If ND wants more growth and thus outsiders, then please listen to us once we're here.

[Doc]

Totally with you there. The economist Richard Florida would agree with you as well. Gotta have a lot of pieces of the puzzle to make a place work. You didn't grow up on a cattle ranch, did you? You seem to know a lot about meat.

[ww6789]

Doc:

I grew up in rural Alabama and Georgia (not on a cattle ranch but close). Always had lots of fresh vegetables nearby. I've been cooking and eating fresh meat and veggies my entire life.

Will

[NanoBison]

Originally Posted by fredstrom

Yah. I thought this was a large developments/skyscraper forum. Not deli meat.

Even the Sioux Falls thread, which is for a similar sized city if I'm not mistaken, has a lot more discussion on "major" type of developments like skyline additions and new beltways.

I think these cities are really interesting, but come on, what is really going on in Fargo that will shape its future?

I hope you posted the exact same thing on the "Detroit City Government Scandal(s) Megathread" thread...

[NanoBison]

Originally Posted by ww6789

To sustain healthy long-term growth, Fargo/Moorhead must not only lure people from other parts of the country but also keep them here. Talented and skilled folks have the freedom and resources to move on if they're not happy. Substandard grocery stores and restaurants do not entice transplants to stay in Fargo for the long haul. Someone who thinks quality deli meat is irrelevant fails to see that the big picture is constructed of many small pixels. Too many North Dakotans accept and are content with mediocrity.

I completely agree. Which is why I moved to Fargo from another part of the state. It's at least moving in the right direction. But yes, we need to put forth even greater effort to continually convince people to move and STAY here.

[NanoBison]

As Big Ticket mention on the Microsoft expansion...

Not only have they started, but they are coming along nicely. The new "Vision" building is pretty much there with all structural steel finished, glass on the first floor and outside insulating walls covering most of the exterior. On the new "Commons" amenities building (new entrance to the campus), they've poured the concrete foundation and have progressed quite a bit with the structural steel. I believe the current goal is to have both buildings enclosed before winter starts up. They should be ready to go by Summer/Early Fall 2009. There is currently plans for 2 more buildings similar to the one being built, and also plans for a building on the eastern lawns.

I've heard rumors that the future buildings may be completely offices (no cubes) and that they are looking into possible locations for parking garages/ramps. (These are all rumors of course)

It's pretty exciting to see this campus flourish. It'll be great once it starts approaching it's 4,200 employee capacity. The building directly north of the campus, that I keep asking about, but nobody knows what it is, is almost completed.

[ww6789]

You've all seen the billboards for Midcontinent Cable. If you like to watch football in the fall and need really fast internet, Cable One is not ideal. We're getting the full Midco package installed next week -- tv, phone, and internet about 3 times the speed of Cable One. They have very good bundled service prices for the first year. Sounds great, but only if the service is reliable. I'll let you know in a few weeks if Midco is for real. Cable companies generally compete with telcos and satellite but not each other. It will be interesting to see Cable One and Midco battle for customers in West Fargo.

[Doc]

Originally Posted by ww6789

Doc:

I grew up in rural Alabama and Georgia (not on a cattle ranch but close). Always had lots of fresh vegetables nearby. I've been cooking and eating fresh meat and veggies my entire life.

Will

I grew up eating fresh food too (a lot of it we grew ourselves). I hear you on that one.

A few weeks ago, I went to see Prairie Destiny. It is an impressive house, but I'm kind of disappointed in the sprawl that it sits. It will definitely improve the neighborhood of McMansions. I'm sure they are nice people, but I would love to see a bit more planning go into these developments.

[Doc]

Just heard about some of the cool things about Monte's new restaurant opening on Roberts Street in September.

Wow.