Cityscape

Bob Evans shutters underperforming Belton, Lee’s Summit locations and 25 other restaurants

By Joyce Smith

jsmith@kcstar.com
A quest for quality sausage to serve the truckers who filled his 12-stool, 24-hour-a-day steakhouse in southeast Ohio led Bob Evans — pictured in 2003 in front of his restaurant in Rio Grande, Ohio — to create the restaurant chain that bears his name. On Monday, the New Albany, Ohio-based chain announced the closing of 27 restaurants. Evans died in 2007 at age 89.
A quest for quality sausage to serve the truckers who filled his 12-stool, 24-hour-a-day steakhouse in southeast Ohio led Bob Evans — pictured in 2003 in front of his restaurant in Rio Grande, Ohio — to create the restaurant chain that bears his name. On Monday, the New Albany, Ohio-based chain announced the closing of 27 restaurants. Evans died in 2007 at age 89. File photo by Terry Gilliam The Associated Press

Bob Evans Farms Inc. has announced the closure of 27 restaurants, including two locations in the metro area.

Area locations at 1211 E. North Ave. in Belton and 1680 N.W. Chipman Road in Lee’s Summit shut down over the weekend, along with 19 others owned by the New Albany, Ohio-based company. Six other operations in leased buildings in other markets are expected to close in its fiscal year 2017.

In a statement, president and chief executive officer Saed Mohseni said: “Decisions to close restaurant locations are always difficult. Performance at each of these locations, despite the loyalty of valued guests and the efforts of our dedicated employees, was not meeting expectations.”

He said employees have been offered positions in nearby restaurants where possible. If a relocation is not possible, severance benefits will be offered to full-time and part-time employees.

The company expects proceeds of about $20 million from the sale of the restaurant properties. The restaurants generated about $30 million in annual revenue, but the closings are expected to improve annual operating income by about $1 million.

In April 2015, Bob Evans announced 20 restaurant closings. It shuttered area restaurants in Merriam, Overland Park and the Northland in May 2015.

It still operates area restaurants in Blue Springs and Kansas City, Kan.

Joyce Smith: 816-234-4692, @JoyceKC

This story was originally published April 25, 2016 at 12:11 PM with the headline "Bob Evans shutters underperforming Belton, Lee’s Summit locations and 25 other restaurants."

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