A Michigan restaurant chain is permanently closing its doors. The owner of JR’s Hometown Grill and Pub announced the closure of its four locations just months after selling thousands of dollars worth of gift cards.
Many people said they were frustrated. Some patrons have thousands of dollars worth of gift cards that they are afraid will just go to waste.
“What do we do?” That’s the million-dollar question.
The owner announced the closure on Facebook Tuesday saying three of the four locations would close immediately. Not only are customers rattled due to the short notice, but also because of an influx of gift cards that may now go to waste.
“I got a call from my sister-in-law who bought me a gift card yesterday, and said ‘Hey, have you heard about JR’s?’ And I’m like, ‘No.’ And she’s like, ‘You might want to get there and use your gift card if you haven’t,’” Wendy Washington said.
Washington said she got the $25 gift card for Christmas. She is afraid that money will go down the drain.
“I sent my husband up here to try to use the card and he stood in line for a long time,” Washington said. “I guess there were a lot of customers in the line saying how they spent thousands of dollars on cards and they are not being able to use them. I have a card, I still can’t use it. I’ve been here since 10 o’clock this morning.”
Juva Johnson has $140 worth of gift cards and is just as frustrated.
“When I purchased them it was a Black Friday deal, and you paid $25 and you got a $50 gift card. So I bought four of them. And now I’m hoping I’m not stuck with them. I hate just to throw all that money away,” Johnson said.
Sisters Sarah Holtz and Jane Cattell say they have $2,000 worth of gift cards in their family.
“The biggest frustration is that he pushed sales hard every year for Black Friday he would do a deal, sometimes it would be a 25% off, a 40% off, this past year it was 50% off. Cash only. And so people like my dad, they buy the gift cards to last them through the year. And so all of that money just gone with no real opportunity to get it back.” said Holtz.
13 Action News reporter Brenna Nye went to Adrian Wednesday afternoon and was asked to leave the property. She tried calling to ask for a statement, and could not get through to anyone.
According to the social media post, the owner cited COVID-19 impacts, staffing, increased costs and decreased sales as reasons behind the decision to close. The Adrian location will remain open until Sunday, Jan. 28.
