Perkins closes without warning in W. MI

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Company officials from Perkins Restaurant & Bakery closed seven West Michigan locations late Sunday afternoon with no warning to employees or managers, a spokeswoman confirmed.

Perkins & Marie Callender's Inc, owners of Perkins restaurants, filed for bankruptcy in a Delaware court on Monday, according to federal court documents. The company closed 65 restaurants nationwide, resulting in about 2,500 layoffs.

Officials said the locations were unprofitable, according to the documents. The company listed total assets at $290 million and liabilities at $440.8 million in its Chapter 11 petition. Eleven of its affiliates were included in the bankruptcy filing.

"There are a variety of factors that we have to consider when closing a restaurant, and it's a difficult decision," Perkins spokeswoman Vivian Brooks said in a phone call on Sunday. "We're grateful to our employees and our customers for their loyal service and patronage."

The affected stores in West Michigan include the three in Grand Rapids, on 28th Street, Alpine Avenue and Northland Drive; a Holland store on North Park, a Kalamazoo location on E. Cork Street, the restaurant in Norton Shores on Harvey Street, and the Jenison store on Chicago Drive.

This leaves three locations in Michigan: one each in Houghton, Marquette and Menominee.

Several former employees at Perkins contacted 24 Hour News 8 on Sunday, informing us of the closures and expressing their concern for the situation.

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Four Orlando Perkins closed in a similar manner Sunday, with five other Florida locations shutting down abruptly, as well.