Ruby Tuesday Shutting Down 95 Restaurants Nationwide

DETROIT (WWJ) - Casual dining chain Ruby Tuesday is shutting down nearly 100 of its struggling restaurants, according to the company.

Metro Detroit is home to more than a dozen of Ruby Tuesday's 700 locations restaurants, known for their salad bars and burgers. The Tennessee-based company says 95 "under-performing" corporate-owned locations will close by the end of September — with the possibility of five to 10 more.

There was no immediate word if any of the Southeast Michigan locations will be affected by the decision. The company says it will try to retain affected workers by placing them in other, nearby locations.

JJ Buettgen, Chairman of the Board, President, and CEO for Ruby Tuesday, Inc. says the closures are "necessary steps" in a broader plan "to change the trajectory of our business."

"Our Fresh Start Initiative has been designed to streamline our organization through asset rationalization, improve financial profitability, and ultimately create long-term value for shareholders. Our Fresh New Menu, Fresh New Garden Bar, and Fresh Experience initiatives will position us to accelerate traffic and will be supported by better in-restaurant execution, refining our media and targeting plans, and incorporating the insights from our Garden Bar and remodel tests into our go forward strategy," Buettgen said, in a statement.

"Through our goal of attracting more women and young families as well as increasing visits from our current Ruby Tuesday guests, we believe we can return to positive same-restaurant sales, expand restaurant level margins, and increase operating profit."

Since the announcement, reaction has been flowing in via social media — some comments indicating that many of the affected locations have already shut their door.

Aaron Younger wrote on Facebook: "I understand closing 95 location due to decline in sales, however, having a store location employees go in for a meeting this morning only to be told the restaurant is closed down and they no longer have a job.... Very unprofessional, so here's to hoping that the rest of the 735 locations get shut down and you guys go out of business..."

Sherry Tucker wrote, "In case you are thinking about closing the highway 153 site in Chattanooga, if the service was better, it would not be an underperforming site. I have lived in the area for several years and have yet to have a personable, nice server who made my dining experience pleasurable. Please give your personnel training in customer service. The food is good but def not an enjoyably dining experience."