Oh where oh where has my Ruby Tuesday gone? We can tell you that it's not in the Meridian Mall any longer. It hasn't been there for quite some time now.

My family and I would eat at Ruby Tuesday at least once a month when they were open for business. I loved their salad bar!

Due to the coronavirus pandemic and facing the same long term challenges as other casual dining chains, Ruby Tuesday filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection today. (Oct. 7)

According to the Lansing State Journal, the company hopes to use the debt cutting process to improve its finances and stay in business, well at least that was the plan.

It's official, the CEO of Ruby Tuesday said in a court filing the company will permanently close 185 restaurants that had shut their doors during the coronavirus pandemic.

That leaves the chain with 236 company owned and operated locations, as well as an undisclosed number of locations run by 10 franchisee groups.

I cannot tell you how many times I went shopping at the Meridian Mall and then after my shopping was finished, my family and I would go to Ruby Tuesday to get a bite to eat. Ruby Tuesday was always packed inside the Meridian Mall, especially during the holiday season.

Ruby Tuesday specializes in ribs, steaks, seafood, chicken, appetizers, and my favorite, a garden bar.

Unfortunately, Ruby Tuesday had been in trouble for a whiles. The LSJ reports:

Ruby Tuesday had been struggling for years with increased competition from fast-food and fast-casual companies, as well as reduced traffic to its mall-based locations and the rise of new food delivery options, Lederman said.

Overall, the company has about 7,300 employees, including 7,000 who have been temporarily furloughed.

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