Local restaurants that got Federal funds

Here's a story from business 1st: https://www.bizjournals.com/louisville/ ... 2021-07-12
Here are the top 10 for those of you who can't get to the article:
1. ANB Concessions LLC (Wendy's), $3,833,022
2. BP Lake Buena Vista LLC (Blaze Pizza), $2,832,357
3. Ladyfingers Catering Inc., $2,520,336
4. Against the Grain LLC, $1,913,270
5. Bluegrass Brewing Company Inc., $1,751,300
6. Meeks LLC (Jack Fry's), $1,709,884
7. Wild Eggs Operations LLC, $1,609,469
8. Butchertown Grocery LLC, $1,249,066
9. Wiltshire Speed LLC, $1,209,190
10. Golden Yoki Enterprise Inc., $1,109,518
It seems that some of these probably didn't need the federal support as much as a lot of other local restaurants that did who apparently didn't get money from the fund or at least didn't get much from it!

If that ANB Concessions owns the Wendy's around town that I frequent (Breckenridge, Bardstown Rd, Poplar Level), I'm even angrier now. Dining rooms have been closed since the beginning of the pandemic, are still closed, and service times and service quality in the drive-through has been horrendous. To see that they've gotten $4 million in federal funds and have delivered less than nothing to customers for it is infuriating.

[Robin Garr]

I think so, Jeff. ANB is Ryan Bridgeman, son of former Wendy's magnate and U of L hoops star Junior Bridgeman. Ryan took over the local Wendy's franchises from his dad a few years ago when Junior became a Coca-Cola magnate.

Those figures are astounding. Had no idea. Butchertown Grocery closed several weeks ago- guess not before getting the $ 1.2MM.

[Robin Garr]

Those figures are astounding. Had no idea. Butchertown Grocery closed several weeks ago- guess not before getting the $ 1.2MM.

It seems excessive, but the same LLC does also own the Butchertown Grocery Bakery, which I believe remains in operation.

I really don’t want to hear any more boo-hooing from these restaurants about minimum wage increases.

ARG was another placed that was fully closed, until last month, though they did brew and have the Public House open. There are curiosities, like #10 (couldn't find it in a search) and #15 (a single location ice cream shop?). Overall, I'm glad that many indies like ATG, BBC, Mayan, Decca, Spinelli's, and others made the list, not just the big places that had legal services/financiers already in place.

ARG was another placed that was fully closed, until last month, though they did brew and have the Public House open. There are curiosities, like #10 (couldn't find it in a search) and #15 (a single location ice cream shop?). Overall, I'm glad that many indies like ATG, BBC, Mayan, Decca, Spinelli's, and others made the list, not just the big places that had legal services/financiers already in place.

Looks like Golden Yoki Enterprises is the Yoki Buffet on Alliant Drive, just off Blankenbaker. I'm guessing it's the last Chinese buffet in operation in Louisville. Any time we have a family get-together we go to a Chinese buffet, mainly because it's easier and cheaper than trying to accommodate 10 people at one of our houses. Our go-to was always Jumbo Buffet on Hurstbourne, but it looks like they're history. Several people in the family have birthdays in July, so we went to Yoki last Sunday. The place was mobbed, with a half-hour wait for a table.

This was the third time we've been to Yoki since dining restrictions were eased. The first time they gave us plastic gloves, but let us serve ourselves. The second time they had people behind the buffet dishing the food for you. This time it was no gloves and serve yourself.

The Wendy's on Bardstown Road at Hurstbourne should have taken that money and fixed their credit/debit card system.

Nine times out of the last ten times I've gone there, they were taking cash only. They get the machine back up, and then it dies again (according to a drive-through worker). I'm so outdone with them, I refuse to go back.

This seems kind of silly, after how we were told a few months back that there was a shortage of paper money and change, and we were actively encouraged to use plastic.

We tried to go to Wendy’s on Poplar Level for lunch today. The guy who answered the drive-through speaker said he was the only one there and it’d be 30 minutes before he could help us.

[Robin Garr]

I can't say I'm surprised at Wendy's not having enough staff to open. The Fern Creek Arby's has had to either close early or open late multiple times due to lack of staff. This past Sunday they posted a sign advising they wouldn't open until 4 pm.

With Louisville Burger Week going on, I witnessed what happens in a packed restaurant with limited staff. We went to RecBar, and the place was jammed, but the kitchen was so far behind. It was taking 30 minutes or more after order taking for the kitchen to start on a particular table's ticket (heard waitstaff talking about it).

I guess we might as well get used to it. Only Chick-Fil-A seems to be bucking the trend.