Sonny's Real Pit Bar-B-Q
Encyclopedia
Sonny's Real Pit Bar-B-Q is a large barbecue
restaurant
chain. It was founded by Sonny Tillman in Gainesville, Florida
in 1968. Bob and Jeff Yarmuth, franchisees in the Orlando
area, purchased the company in 1991 and moved the headquarters to Maitland, Florida
. It has 138 restaurants in nine Southern states
.
franchisee of Sonny's) filed for Chapter 11
bankruptcy protection for ten locations, four of which were closed completely, raising concerns about another restaurant's viability after Metromedia Restaurant Group
closed its Bennigan's
and Steak and Ale
restaurant chains. Yet as of the first week of June in 2009, they came out of bankruptcy completing Chapter 11 requirements.
On October 15, 2008, all three Sonny's locations in the Greater Daytona Beach Area, Florida are closed. Also, as of December 1, 2009, the Tifton, Georgia
restaurant became known as The Smokehouse Restaurant due to disputes with Sonny's over imagery and icons in the restaurant itself and on employees' clothing.
of Kentucky is a brother of the franchisors and a silent partner in 16 restaurants. Royalties from his interest in the corporation provide most of his personal income. As a result, Yarmuth has pledged to donate his congressional salary to charity.
Barbecue
Barbecue or barbeque , used chiefly in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia is a method and apparatus for cooking meat, poultry and occasionally fish with the heat and hot smoke of a fire, smoking wood, or hot coals of...
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. It was founded by Sonny Tillman in Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
in 1968. Bob and Jeff Yarmuth, franchisees in the Orlando
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
area, purchased the company in 1991 and moved the headquarters to Maitland, Florida
Maitland, Florida
Maitland is a suburban city in Orange County, Florida, United States, part of the Greater Metro Orlando area. The population was 12,019 at the 2000 census. As of 2006, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 14,172...
. It has 138 restaurants in nine Southern states
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
.
Franchisee troubles
On September 25, 2008, Greater Atlanta Bar-B-Q (the only Metro AtlantaMetro Atlanta
The Atlanta metropolitan area or metro Atlanta, officially designated by the US Census Bureau as the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta Metropolitan Statistical Area, is the most populous metro area in the U.S. state of Georgia and the ninth-largest metropolitan statistical area in the United States...
franchisee of Sonny's) filed for 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 protection for ten locations, four of which were closed completely, raising concerns about another restaurant's viability after Metromedia Restaurant Group
Metromedia Restaurant Group
The Metromedia Restaurant Group is a United States casual dining company that operates and franchises more than 800 restaurants under the names Bonanza, Ponderosa, The Plano Tavern, The Southlake Tavern and the 29 Degree Tavern. Its headquarters are in Plano, Texas...
closed its 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...
restaurant chains. Yet as of the first week of June in 2009, they came out of bankruptcy completing Chapter 11 requirements.
On October 15, 2008, all three Sonny's locations in the Greater Daytona Beach Area, Florida are closed. Also, as of December 1, 2009, the Tifton, Georgia
Tifton, Georgia
Tifton is a city in Tift County, Georgia, United States. The population was 15,060 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Tift County.-Major highways:* Interstate 75* U.S. Highway 41* U.S. Highway 82* U.S...
restaurant became known as The Smokehouse Restaurant due to disputes with Sonny's over imagery and icons in the restaurant itself and on employees' clothing.
Political Involvement
U.S. Representative John YarmuthJohn Yarmuth
John Yarmuth is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2007. He is a member of the Democratic Party.- Early life, education and career :...
of Kentucky is a brother of the franchisors and a silent partner in 16 restaurants. Royalties from his interest in the corporation provide most of his personal income. As a result, Yarmuth has pledged to donate his congressional salary to charity.