KEKE’S BREAKFAST CAFE temporarily closed four places in the Orlando area after a conflict between the restaurant and the local franchise owner.
The four restaurants are located in Apopka, Lake Mary, Winddamia and Winter Park. Kakez, probably the best -known big pancakes, offered breakfast and lunch, and tried to stay with the franchise owner to keep the center of Florida open, but temporarily closed. He said it was the best option. All restaurants want to resume with new owners, but no timetable was provided.
“It’s not the first choice or easy to close the cafe at any time,” said a restaurant. “KEKE’S, INC. In cooperation with the non -synchronous franchisie, we made a great deal of effort to find a solution that would have the best results as possible and prevent closure.”
The company has refused to provide details on the decision to close and how the franchise owner is “non -compliant”.
Gregory Leitzinger, a franchise owner in the four KEKE locations, was repeatedly accused by other companies claiming that he did not repay the loan as promised by his restaurant company.
However, Leitzinger said that he chose to run only his four places, refused to expand his role in the organization, and was kicked by KEKE’s leadership.
“They were forced me to sell franchises and things to own and sell things,” he said. “If I didn’t want to open a new store with them outside the Orlando and Florida market, they basically didn’t want to continue business with you.”
After he refused to sell, he said he had filed a lawsuit in retaliation. He added that the loan in question was taken out to build a restaurant with four local keys.
So far, the lawsuits filed in New York for their business have ended with three decisions to Leitzinger and his company, $ 192,053.
Racejinger said that the closing was not notified until January 28, when the restaurant was closed.
“They sent me an email on the day I closed the restaurant without giving me and the staff notification,” he said.
According to KEKE’S statements, all employees affected by the closure have not been guaranteed, but some closed KEKE restaurants have already found a new role in the company.
KEKE officials visited each place to “communicate directly with managers and team members” before temporarily closed, and said, “it does not affect their lives.”
Orlando -based franchise, Kekeeth, was acquired in July 2022 for $ 82.5 million in Denny’s Corporation.
For Racejinger, who opened the first franchise location in Winter Park in 2010, he said that his sales to Denny had begun.
“When Denny took over the company, things began to go south. Since then, there has been a problem,” he said. “But this was definitely not the decision I would have made, but there was another way they could go down.”
On Tuesday, the company said by e -mail that he had not commented on what is called “ongoing problems.”
In a previous statement, the company states: “Today, our focus is to encourage all stakeholders to quickly complete the necessary transactions.
Leitzinger said he wanted to see local KEKE’SCAFES being open for business again.
“I don’t think we will continue to work together, but we hope they will solve some solution so that the restaurant will be resumed and the employees can return to timely.” I did it.
Initially issued: February 5, 2025 5:30 am EST
