Ryan’s buffet restaurant closes locations in Myrtle Beach area, Conway

Ryan’s buffet restaurant closed its locations in Conway and near Surfside Beach over the weekend, disappointing customers who showed up for lunch Monday only to read signs posted on the door that one of their favorite dinning spots was no longer in business.

“This is very surprising,” said Steve Gause of Aynor, after reading the sign posted at the Conway location on Church Street.

“I told my wife that Monday was discount day for veterans, let’s go there and have lunch,” Gause said. “This is very disappointing.”

Ryan’s had three restaurants in Horry County before the closing of the locations in Conway and off U.S. 17 Bypass near S.C. 544. The location in North Myrtle Beach is the only one in the area that remains open.

The company has been abruptly closing locations across the country.

Buffets, LLC of San Antonio, Texas, which owns Ryan’s and several other buffet-style restaurants, said in a statement they are preparing to file Chapter 11 bankruptcy to restructure debts and liabilities and was strengthening its operations “by closing weaker restaurants.”

The restaurant reported last month it had closed 70 locations.

Buffets, LLC, was acquired by merger in August and the Chapter 11 filing was prompted by the discovery of liabilities the company says they do not believe were disclosed in negotiations, the statement said.

“We intend to investigate the propriety of the disclosures, and intend to consult with our counsel regarding any remedies we may have,” said Peter Donbavand, vice president for business development of Food Management Partners, of which Ryan’s is a division.

Financial problems were also blamed on an $11 million court judgment against the company from a 2010 lawsuit that Buffets, LLC says was not disclosed by the sellers. The corporation is “attempting to overturn such judgment on the basis of the wrong defendant entity having been sued and other grounds,” the statement said.

“Buffets, Inc., the named defendant, was not the entity actually operating the restaurant where the alleged incident occurred,” the statement said.

“All of these issues are being reviewed by financial and legal professionals,” says Donbavand. “However, we are completely committed to the continued operation of these brands, and this is a necessary step for us to take to make this happen.”

Ryan’s in North Myrtle Beach is still open. Donbavand said a multi-million dollar loan was acquired to assist in restructuring.

Jim Rafferty learned about the closure of the location off U.S. 17 Bypass when he stopped there for lunch Monday.

“I'm shocked. Been coming here 10 years,” Rafferty said. “I love it.”

Carol and Robert Pitts said at times Ryan's was so busy they had to circle the parking lot just to find a place to park.

“We come here a lot. We like this place,” said Carol Pitts, a snowbird from Vermont.

Tom Barksdale and his wife Barbara of Conway were also disappointed to find the doors closed.

“We’ve been coming here for 12 years, what a loss for the community,” Barbara Barksdale said.

This story was originally published March 7, 2016 at 3:00 PM with the headline "Ryan’s buffet restaurant closes locations in Myrtle Beach area, Conway."