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 Competitors honor Bennigan's, Steak and Ale gift cardsDon't think that you'll have to eat your gift cards just because your local Bennigan's and Steak and Ale are closing. Some rivals of the now-bankrupt restaurants have decided to
honor the gift cards from their fallen competitors,
according to multiple reports. Logan's Roadhouse, a nationwide chain based in Nashville, Tenn., is offering a free entree, up
to a $15 value, with purchase of another entree. Another national eatery chain, Texas Roadhouse, ironically based in Louisville, Ky., is offering a
free entree, with no value limit, according to DallasNews.com. Meanwhile, Texas-based sandwich shop Texadelphia is also honoring Bennigan's and Steak and Ale
restaurants in at least two of its Dallas-area stores. However, it's not clear if all of these restaurants' locations will do so, thus be sure to call your nearest location before you visit. More than 300 Bennigan’s and Steak and Ale restaurants closed recently when S&A Restaurants Corp., the parent company, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection. Still, "138 domestic and international franchisee-owned restaurants were not part of that filing and will remain open," according to a statement from the Bennigan's Franchising Co. LP and the Steak & Ale Franchising Co. LP. But, according to the South Bend Tribune, you won't be able to use your gift cards at any of the still-open locations. Aaron Freitas, manager of the Bennigan's restaurant in Elkhart, Ind., told the Tribune, "I feel so bad. Hopefully the new company will say we have to honor these gift cards, but we won't know as a franchise unit for a few weeks.” Meanwhile, their competitors are more than willing to take
them, which is apparently not uncommon. When retailer The Sharper Image
declared bankruptcy, competitor Brookstone announced it would accept Sharper Image gift cards for a 25 percent discount off any
purchase in its own stores. 
6 Comment(s)Leave a comment |
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We were stuck with a Steak and Ale Gift Card when they closed recently. On the back of the Steak and Ale gift card we were listed a number of other restaurants that the card would be good for. Ponderosa and Bonanzas were listed, and are still open (we only have Ponderosas in our area). We contacted a local Ponderosa and they would not honor the card -- other than 1 free meal and drink (worth about 1/4 of the $$ amount that is still on this card).
Is this fraud or false advertising? Is there any other recourse for us?
My boss bought me two Steak and Ale gift cards at $25 each just a few days before they filed for bankruptcy. So I ended up with two worthless cards and no bonus. This totally sucks. I think someone should make them reimburse us for the cards. Or a competitor should do better than a free entree.
Keserbom, I'm sorry to hear about your issues with the S&A gift card. My suggestion would be to either email or call Ponderosa's headquarters and see if they might be able to better answer your questions. Any good company that values its customer should be more than willing to help you find what you're looking for.
For people stuck with cards that have the names of four or five restaurant chains on them, the only sure way to find out if a Bennigan's, Ponderosa, or Bonanza will redeem them is to call the restaurant. Franchisees that sold the cards kept the money until a claim came in from another restaurant. Some of those restaurants are honoring cards they sold. The problem is that non-franchisee cards were sold by the (chapter 7) S&A Restaurant Corp. part and not the Metromedia Steakhouses LP part (Bonanza, Ponderosa) of the Metromedia Company. Someone may be able to find a legal way to hold parent Metromedia Company responsible since the customer was not told who actually was behind issuing the card.
I had given my parents two certificates at different times ($90 total), and they had a meal at the Texas Roadhouse and were told that on their next visit they could have one entree free. This is generous of the Texas Roadhouse who doesn't have to offer anything, but this is quite a loss. It teaches us NOT to purchase dinner certificates for any restaurant in the future.
We too have a $50 gift card that we held onto for too long and the S & A closed. Bennigans will not touch it. Ponderosa said they will give us 2 free buffets/drinks and we surrender the card. I think the above statement about not buying restaurant gift cards is correct. Don't buy them.