This morning in a terrible show of corporate responsibility, Bennigan’s contacted their managers at 7:30a and told them to be on a conference call at 8a. They were told in no uncertain terms, ‘We’re closing. Lock up and go home.” The managers were told to furlough all employees and leave — for good and oh, by the way, don’t talk to the media.

The parent company of Bennigan’s, Ponderosa and Steak & Ale is Plano based Metromedia Restaurant Group. The company has filed for Chapter 7 - rather than Chapter 11 which allows for reorganization. A few weeks ago, as we reported on this blog, Bennigan’s had quietly shuttered most of their locations in the Florida market. Now, it’s nationwide.

Metromedia is supposed to be issuing a statement later today.

This move places hundreds of Dallas area workers on the unemployment line.

In late May, Clay Dover, president and chief executive of Metromedia, quit abruptly after about six months on the job saying he and the owners could not agree on “the strategic direction for the company.”

Days later, the company denied a report in The Wall Street Journal that it had prepared a bankruptcy filing, but admitted that it was “currently in the process of formulating a proposal to present to its lenders to restructure its indebtedness…”

Due to the recent economic situation, restaurant business is down across the nation approximately 35%.

NOTE: Links were not included in this posting because all related sites to Metromedia / Bennigan’s are off line.