Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Guy Fieri's Johnny Garlic's Abruptly Closes

Photo - GuyFieri.com
Guy Fieri's restaurant chain Johnny Garlic's abruptly closed their Sacramento, California location on Monday, which left dozens of employees out of work.  An employee that was hired just three days before the closure spoke to the local news about the lack of notice and other employees also stated they had no warning before the closure.  Some employees will have the opportunity to transfer to a Roseville location, but there will not be enough spots for everyone.

A chief operation officer of Johnny Garlic's spoke to the news stating, "Our real estate site selection has evolved into big box, theaters, things of that nature. This lease coming to an end no longer fits the profile of what we’re looking for."

Guy still has plenty of other restaurants with his name on them, mostly in tourist attractions/casinos such as Times Square, Atlantic City, Mt. Pocono, Baltimore, Las Vegas, and Carnival cruise ships.

The restaurant in this location was open for about 10 years, and was originally a Tex Wasabi's, but re-branded as a Johnny Garlic's in 2013.

26 comments:

  1. More like "Johnny Douchebags" with Guy Ferry running it.

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  2. Matt, can this be added to Restaurant:Impossible's closed totals just for the heck of it?!

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  3. I can understand and agree with the statement, "Our real estate site selection has evolved into big box, theaters, things of that nature. This lease coming to an end no longer fits the profile of what we’re looking for."

    What I cannot agree with is giving employees 3 days notice. This is similar to when Paula Deen's restaurant with her relative went out of business & employees weren't told until it happened. These decisions aren't made overnight & it's so unfair to employees that have obligations they have to meet.

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  4. Haha, thank you, thank you for the laugh.

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  5. Sounds like a lot of B.S.

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  6. It seems terrible to me also, on the surface of it, to give employees no notice but, having some knowledge of restaurant closures that happened locally, I can understand it. Owners have some not unrealistic fears that people soon to be unemployed might resort to theft or damage of equipment in retaliation. It's a tough decision either way.

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  7. When Bennigan's went under, the company gave the employees no notice at all. They reported for work as usual at the local outlet here only to find the doors locked and a "Closed" sign on the door.

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  8. I'm not sure they even got 3 days' notice. The only "3 days" I see in the article is in reference to an new employee being hired 3 days before the closure.

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  9. This could be a darkly amusing way to reinvigorate RI. Have Robert come in and fix up this particular Johnny Garlic's. Or whatever ends up in this space. Funnier still, if Robert went to work on either his now closed restaurant or the one still open.

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  10. Oh can this please be a sign of good things to come? The anti-Four Horseman of the Apocalypse, if you will?

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  11. Because the guy making the decision to close is not the same guy interviewing to hire. It's probably not even Guy Fieri that made the decision to close. It was probably his accountant. And the restaurant manager was kept out of the loop. Heck, Guy was probably kept out of the loop depending on how much leeway the accountant has.

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  12. You all make good points, Mo, Lucy and Matt. I just hate that it is so unfair to people relying upon their paycheck.

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  13. I remember that. I was in a town working and had arranged the night before, to meet a co-worker for lunch. I'd pased by in the evening, seen it all light up and called my friend with the suggestion to meet there. The next day at lunch there was a sign on the door saying it was closed. I was shocked.

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  14. I know I'd watch.

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  15. That's a good idea. The closing could also be the pilot for a new FN series. You've seen "Beat Bobby Flay"? The new show could be called "Close Guy Fieri". Every episode, a different Guy Fieri restaurant closes. And as every location closes, he loses some of his hair until at the end, he's completely bald. A R:I crossover episode could be done, Bar Rescue too, they would fail of course. To paraphrase the immortal words of Guy Fieri, "Winner, winner, no chicken dinner!"

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  16. How about Robert Irvine partners up with Dr Phil. It would be called.............Whine and Dine!

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  17. I've seen this happen before. When Bennigan's closed in my town, the employees showed up to find the doors locked and a note on the door. Maybe they're afraid of sabotage or something.

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  18. On the subject of Guy, he was in Albuquerque yesterday. https://www.facebook.com/goldencrownpanaderia/photos/a.430814615137.200962.130210105137/10152803301745138/?type=1&theater

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  19. I can picture Robert daying "Disgusting, all I taste is garlic"

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  20. This should probably be it's own story but I figured here was good as any. LOL. http://uproxx.com/webculture/2014/11/guy-fieri-without-frosted-tips/

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  21. Haha, saw that blowing up the internet today... The guy made the picture in June, and I guess it was just discovered.

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  22. This is, of course, a Photoshop. However, there are actual pictures of Guy in his younger days, and his natural haircolor is indeed very dark brown to black.

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  23. Well yea obviously. But it goes to show that image is important. Especially if you want to stand out and be on TV. If Guy didn't look the way he did, I doubt he's famous.

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  24. Wow, that looks creepy!

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  25. Pathetic way to run a business.

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