Bakers Square
Encyclopedia
Bakers Square Restaurant & Pies (also known as Bakers Square) is a casual dining
restaurant
chain in the United States
. Known for its pie
s, Bakers Square also offers full breakfast
, lunch and dinner
menus (and now features a weekend brunch
menu). It is owned by American Blue Ribbon Holdings. As of July 2011, there were 46 locations.
, that became popular for its pies. Pillsbury purchased Mrs. C's around that time, renamed it "Poppin' Fresh Pies", and opened additional locations. VICORP, owners of the Village Inn
restaurant chain, purchased Poppin' Fresh Pies from Pillsbury in 1983 and renamed the chain Bakers Square.
area and in California
. Except for the Des Moines area, Bakers Square and Village Inn operate in separate markets without overlap. The original Mrs. C's restaurant, on Merle Hay Road in Des Moines, remained in business as a Bakers Square until it closed on April 2, 2008, as parent company VICORP filed Chapter 11
bankruptcy
.
In late 1993, Vicorp acquired the right to a small Florida chain called Angel’s dinner. They acquired this from Eric A. Holm. Unfortunately he had also sold the rights to Golden Corral and Vicorp was forced to pay Golden Corral 1 Million to secure the exclusive rights. The intent was to convert under performing Village Inn and Bakers square units to this new concept. After building 7 units Vicorp realized that the concept was not economically viable and wrote off 11MM on the venture. During this time frame Eric Holm filed for personally Bankruptcy.
On April 3, 2008, VICORP filed for bankruptcy
under Chapter 11
of the federal bankruptcy code. VICORP closed 56 company-owned restaurants as a result of the move, leaving a total of 343 Village Inn and Bakers Square locations. Village Inn restaurants are found in the Midwest
states such as Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Indiana, and Nebraska, the Western United States
, Texas
, Virginia
, and Florida
.
In California
, Bakers Square competes directly with Marie Callender's
, Coco's Bakery
/Carrows
restaurants.
As of Feb. 2, 2009, more than 90 Bakers Square California locations have been closed. The only location still in operation by VICORP is in San Diego. This location will continue operations as a Bakers Square until a buyer is found. The restaurant also features Bakers Pub and is adjacent to Holiday Inn. Due to an agreement with the hotel, VICORP must continue operating until a suitable acquisition is completed.
VICORP also closed its Sante Fe Springs pie production facility. Under the name VICOM, pies were produced for Bakers Square, Village Inn, and J. Horner's, a line for foodservice and retail sale.
Bakers Square locations in Northern California remain operating under the same name but, have been acquired by Shari's Restaurants as of October 14, 2009 many have already been converted. Similarly, locations in Southern California will convert to Polly's Pies or Du-par's Restaurant & Bakery.
VICORP has also ceased operations in Michigan, where it once had a concentration of Bakers Square restaurants.
It is not known whether plans call for expansion of the Village Inn concept into these markets, although it is speculated this could occur within California through franchisees.
In 2009, American Blue Ribbon Holdings, a company owned by Fidelity National Financial
and Newport Global Advisors, acquired the assets of VICORP, including Village Inn and Bakers Square.
Casual dining
This is a list of casual dining restaurant chains around the world, arranged in alphabetical order. A casual dining restaurant is a restaurant that serves moderately-priced food in a casual atmosphere...
restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
chain in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Known for its pie
Pie
A pie is a baked dish which is usually made of a pastry dough casing that covers or completely contains a filling of various sweet or savoury ingredients....
s, Bakers Square also offers full breakfast
Breakfast
Breakfast is the first meal taken after rising from a night's sleep, most often eaten in the early morning before undertaking the day's work...
, lunch and dinner
Dinner
Dinner is usually the name of the main meal of the day. Depending upon culture, dinner may be the second, third or fourth meal of the day. Originally, though, it referred to the first meal of the day, eaten around noon, and is still occasionally used for a noontime meal, if it is a large or main...
menus (and now features a weekend brunch
Brunch
Brunch is a meal eaten between breakfast and lunch. The word is a portmanteau of breakfast and lunch.-Origin of the word:The 1896 supplement to the Oxford English Dictionary cites Punch magazine which wrote that the term was coined in Britain in 1895 to describe a Sunday meal for "Saturday-night...
menu). It is owned by American Blue Ribbon Holdings. As of July 2011, there were 46 locations.
History
Bakers Square began in December 1969 with a restaurant called "Mrs. C's" in Des Moines, IowaDes Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
, that became popular for its pies. Pillsbury purchased Mrs. C's around that time, renamed it "Poppin' Fresh Pies", and opened additional locations. VICORP, owners of the Village Inn
Village Inn
Village Inn is a casual dining restaurant chain in the United States. Its restaurants are known for their breakfast menu items, including buttermilk pancakes, skillets, crepes, omelettes, and eggs. In additional to their breakfast offerings, they also feature a variety of salads, sandwiches,...
restaurant chain, purchased Poppin' Fresh Pies from Pillsbury in 1983 and renamed the chain Bakers Square.
Operations
Bakers Square restaurants are primarily found in the Great LakesGreat Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
area and in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Except for the Des Moines area, Bakers Square and Village Inn operate in separate markets without overlap. The original Mrs. C's restaurant, on Merle Hay Road in Des Moines, remained in business as a Bakers Square until it closed on April 2, 2008, as parent company VICORP filed Chapter 11
Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code
Chapter 11 is a chapter of the United States Bankruptcy Code, which permits reorganization under the bankruptcy laws of the United States. Chapter 11 bankruptcy is available to every business, whether organized as a corporation or sole proprietorship, and to individuals, although it is most...
bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
.
In late 1993, Vicorp acquired the right to a small Florida chain called Angel’s dinner. They acquired this from Eric A. Holm. Unfortunately he had also sold the rights to Golden Corral and Vicorp was forced to pay Golden Corral 1 Million to secure the exclusive rights. The intent was to convert under performing Village Inn and Bakers square units to this new concept. After building 7 units Vicorp realized that the concept was not economically viable and wrote off 11MM on the venture. During this time frame Eric Holm filed for personally Bankruptcy.
On April 3, 2008, VICORP filed for bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
under Chapter 11
Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code
Chapter 11 is a chapter of the United States Bankruptcy Code, which permits reorganization under the bankruptcy laws of the United States. Chapter 11 bankruptcy is available to every business, whether organized as a corporation or sole proprietorship, and to individuals, although it is most...
of the federal bankruptcy code. VICORP closed 56 company-owned restaurants as a result of the move, leaving a total of 343 Village Inn and Bakers Square locations. Village Inn restaurants are found in the Midwest
Midwestern United States
The Midwestern United States is one of the four U.S. geographic regions defined by the United States Census Bureau, providing an official definition of the American Midwest....
states such as Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Indiana, and Nebraska, the Western United States
Western United States
.The Western United States, commonly referred to as the American West or simply "the West," traditionally refers to the region comprising the westernmost states of the United States. Because the U.S. expanded westward after its founding, the meaning of the West has evolved over time...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, and Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
.
In California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, Bakers Square competes directly with Marie Callender's
Marie Callender's
Marie Callender’s is a restaurant chain with 74 locations in seven western states. One East Side Mario’s restaurant also is part of the chain, a remnant of the period when the chain owned the ESM concept, purchased from Pepsico....
, Coco's Bakery
Coco's Bakery
Coco's Bakery Restaurant is a chain of casual dining restaurants operating in the Western portion of the United States.-Locations:, the chain operates over 115 restaurants in California, Arizona, Nevada and Colorado.-History:...
/Carrows
Carrows
Carrows is a chain of casual dining restaurants that serve breakfast and lunch/dinner in the western portion of the United States. As of August 16, 2008, the chain operates 89 restaurants in California and 2 in Nevada....
restaurants.
As of Feb. 2, 2009, more than 90 Bakers Square California locations have been closed. The only location still in operation by VICORP is in San Diego. This location will continue operations as a Bakers Square until a buyer is found. The restaurant also features Bakers Pub and is adjacent to Holiday Inn. Due to an agreement with the hotel, VICORP must continue operating until a suitable acquisition is completed.
VICORP also closed its Sante Fe Springs pie production facility. Under the name VICOM, pies were produced for Bakers Square, Village Inn, and J. Horner's, a line for foodservice and retail sale.
Bakers Square locations in Northern California remain operating under the same name but, have been acquired by Shari's Restaurants as of October 14, 2009 many have already been converted. Similarly, locations in Southern California will convert to Polly's Pies or Du-par's Restaurant & Bakery.
VICORP has also ceased operations in Michigan, where it once had a concentration of Bakers Square restaurants.
It is not known whether plans call for expansion of the Village Inn concept into these markets, although it is speculated this could occur within California through franchisees.
In 2009, American Blue Ribbon Holdings, a company owned by Fidelity National Financial
Fidelity National Financial
Fidelity National Financial , headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, USA , is a Fortune 500 company that provides real estate and financial services...
and Newport Global Advisors, acquired the assets of VICORP, including Village Inn and Bakers Square.