The Metromedia Restaurant Group is a United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 casual dining

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...

 company that operates and franchises more than 800 restaurants under the names Bonanza, Ponderosa

Ponderosa/Bonanza Steakhouse

Ponderosa Steakhouse and Bonanza Steakhouse are a chain of buffet/steakhouse restaurants. They are two of the most franchised subsidiaries of Metromedia Restaurant Group....

, The Plano Tavern, The Southlake Tavern and the 29 Degree Tavern. Its headquarters are in Plano

Plano, Texas

Plano is a city in the state of Texas, located mostly within Collin County. The city's population was 259,841 at the 2010 census, making it the ninth-largest city in Texas and the 71st most populous city in the United States. Plano is located within the metropolitan area commonly referred to as...

, 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...

. It is part of the Metromedia Company, which is privately owned by businessman John Kluge and is related in lineage to the former entertainment company of the same name

Metromedia

Metromedia was a media company that owned radio and television stations in the United States from 1956 to 1986 and owned Orion Pictures from 1986-1997.- Overview :...

.

Bankruptcy of S&A Restaurant Group

Metrommedia Restaurant Group also formerly operated certain Bennigan's

Bennigan's

Bennigan's is an Irish pub-themed casual dining restaurant chain with locations throughout the United States, and in 14 countries and 15 territories outside the continental U.S...

 and Steak and Ale

Steak and Ale

Steak and Ale was an American chain of casual dining restaurants, operated by S&A Restaurant Group. Steak and Ale was founded as an independent restaurant chain in Dallas, Texas, on February 26, 1966, by Norman E. Brinker...

 under the S&A Restaurant Group division. This division was forced into an involuntary Chapter 7 liquidation

Chapter 7, Title 11, United States Code

Chapter 7 of the Title 11 of the United States Code governs the process of liquidation under the bankruptcy laws of the United States...

 by its lender, GE Capital

GE Capital

GE Capital is the financial services unit of General Electric, one of five major units. Its various divisions include GE Capital Aviation Services, GE Capital Real Estate, GE Energy Financial Services and GE Money....

, in August 2008, and closed over 300 company-owned Bennigan's and Steak and Ale restaurants. The franchise-owned Bennigan's locations were not named as debtors in the bankruptcy and continued to operate, nor were the Bonanza and Ponderosa Steakhouse chains, operated by a different subsidiary, Metromedia Steakhouses Co. LP, affected by the filing. Atalaya Capital Management bought the Bennigan's and Steak and Ale brands and their franchisor later that year.