[Chatbrat]

Looks like Square 1 is going out of business --the company has filed for bankruptcy protection--this is a signal for all future restaurants who has to rely on burgers as their mainstay--

[DeanFL]

darn, just checked the article in Orl Sentinel:
---------------------------

In its bankruptcy filing, Square 1 blamed the financial troubles on an over-saturated restaurant market.

“Unfortunately, between 2014 and 2016, a number of restaurant franchises flooded the market saturating the areas around Square One’s restaurant with a litany of dining options,” court documents said. “When the competition settled in, Square One struggled to breakeven and quickly fell behind with its creditors.”
Square 1 closed in Winter Park in May after being ordered to leave after allegedly owing about $21,000 in back rent, according to court documents.
Winter Park landlord Andre Raab said the burger restaurant “left in the dark of night.” Square 1 also recently closed a location in Sarasota, according to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Square 1 Burgers kicked out of Winter Park restaurant space »

Square 1 has eight locations left and the company filed for bankruptcy on all eight individually.

A representative for Square 1 Burgers did not return a phone call or email Monday afternoon. The company’ s lawyer, Scott Shuker, said there are separate filings because each restaurant is an individual limited liability corporation.

Square 1 was founded by Tampa restaurateur Bill Shumate and partner Joanie Corneil, along with Ray Leich. Schumate and Corneil also own Bella’s Italian Cafe in Tampa’s Hyde Park.

-----------------------------------
We live 5 min from Sq One here, and so there every other week or so. The BEST burgers...and onion rings. We have noticed declining business there, esp since since snowbirds flew.

darn - and employees.... hopefully a good place will take over...

[Challenger]

Oh no! Its the "Developer's " fault. The rent was too high. A neighbor who has a daughter, who knows the guy who collects the garbage in the neighborhood where a waitress at Square 1 works told me.

[DeanFL]

Originally Posted by Challenger

Oh no! Its the "Developer's " fault. The rent was too high. A neighbor who has a daughter, who knows the guy who collects the garbage in the neighborhood where a waitress at Square 1 works told me.

-------------

wow - small world.

A guy we met told us the culprit was the Developer's greed too. This guy's gardener heard it from his girlfriend who heard it from her hairdresser who heard it from the UPS guy from Orlando who heard it from a gardener who does work in the Villages. So it MUST be true.

And the other Sq1 locations in FL going Chapter 11 - a coincidence.

[dewilson58]

Square 1 went to the dogs.

[Chatbrat]

We went there once or twice-- you can only do so much with a burger and their premium booze prices were ridiculous-- the bar persons were embarrassed when they gave us the tab--also, their location in TV was the kiss of death --if they had gotten the location where Five Guys is in Brownwood, they might have had a fighting chance--very little tourist traffic

[raynan]

It's a corporate financial problem not their Villages location when they're closing all those other locations. Instead of all these burger places I wish we'd get another seafood place.
Lighthouse is always crowded. Legal Seafood, where are you? Please come here.

[karostay]

I guess pets on the Patio wasn't such a strong market after all..
Stopped me from eating there.

[DonH57]

Originally Posted by raynan

It's a corporate financial problem not their Villages location when they're closing all those other locations. Instead of all these burger places I wish we'd get another seafood place.
Lighthouse is always crowded. Legal Seafood, where are you? Please come here.

Both my wife and I would like to see Legal Seafood come here as well but I doubt you'd see them in the villages.

[golf2140]

Originally Posted by karostay

I guess pets on the Patio wasn't such a strong market after all..
Stopped me from eating there.

[rubicon]

you know an enterprising guy could make a good living making bets on how long a restaurant would remain viable in this area

[Aloha1]

Originally Posted by raynan

It's a corporate financial problem not their Villages location when they're closing all those other locations. Instead of all these burger places I wish we'd get another seafood place.
Lighthouse is always crowded. Legal Seafood, where are you? Please come here.

Second!

[mixsonci]

I did love their burgers, however, the place always looked dark, dingy and "dirty" to me, not a pleasing atmosphere at all.

[DonH57]

Originally Posted by rubicon

you know an enterprising guy could make a good living making bets on how long a restaurant would remain viable in this area

Yea, really. Make bets on how long they last !

[DeanFL]

Just called the Sq 1 TV location - asked the mgr:

me> "Gee, heard about the bad news - are you gonna be open tomorrow?"

Sq1> "What bad news?"

Me> "About the bankruptcy and closure"

Sq1> "It's a reorganization and only affects Tampa".

Me> "Oh great - we love your burgers and rings" Will stop by tomorrow"

Sq1> "Super, thanks - See you then!".


We plan to go there - hopefully NOT for our last visit...