Byline: Kimberly Pierceall
Jun. 7--The owner of Riverside Plaza is set to buy Spoons Grill & Bar on Central Avenue if a Santa Ana bankruptcy judge grants approval July 3.
The restaurant's parent company, Irvine-based Spectrum Restaurant Group, which owns National Sports Grill and Crabby Bob's Seafood Grill, which includes a location in San Bernardino, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in August 2006.
'We're looking at options. We will almost certainly demolish the building at some point. When that will be, we can't predict right now,' said George Carroll, majority owner of Westminster Funds, which owns Riverside Plaza and the Spoons building.
The mall's administration offices are on the second floor. Carroll said a new building would be built in its place.
A motion filed by Spectrum's lawyers on Wednesday asked the U.S. Bankruptcy Court to approve the purchase. It would cost The Westminster Funds $400,000 to buy out the last 13 years of the restaurant's lease, the restaurant's assets and its liquor license.
Until the bankruptcy court approves the motion, Spectrum must keep paying monthly rent, Carroll said. According to the court motion, the restaurant pays an annual base rent of $139,972 or $11,664 monthly.
'We just decided to go ahead and close the restaurant,' said Spectrum's attorney Evan Smiley. 'That restaurant's been losing money.'
A typed note posted on the door of the Spoons restaurant Tuesday said the restaurant would be closed until further notice 'due to owner transfer.'
'We thank you for all the years of patronage and look forward to seeing you soon,' the note said.
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