CHAPEL HILL, NC (WNCN) – The mother or father corporations of three Al Burger’s Shack areas in Chapel Hill have filed for chapter.

The restaurant gained nationwide notoriety in 2018 when TripAdvisor ranked it as America’s Finest Burger.

Proprietor Al Bowers says eating places will stay open and the chapter submitting is a “reorganization” effort.

“Whereas gross sales are sturdy in any respect three of our areas, now we have labored onerous in the course of the growth and want safety and aid as we reorganize. We respect your assist and patronage and we might want to reduce public touch upon these proceedings, ”he wrote in an e-mail to CBS17. “As grateful as now we have been to have obtained accolades in recent times, we’re much more grateful for having had this chance to return collectively. Relaxation assured now we have completely no plans to cease serving burgers and hope to see you at Al’s quickly.

Courtroom filings present mother or father firm AJEM Hospitality LLC listed belongings beneath $ 50,000 and liabilities between $ 500,001 and $ 1 million.

The Franklin Avenue location opened in 2013. Al’s then expanded to Southern Village and Governor’s Drive, with a location submitting particular person chapter filings final Friday.

A decide has scheduled a listening to in Winston-Salem for Wednesday.

In courtroom data, attorneys John Paul H. Cournoyer and Stephanie Osborne write that the issues began with the growth to the brand new premises.

They write: “With the intention to finance the modernization and different prices of the brand new areas, the debtors have obtained a number of service provider money advances beginning in 2017 and persevering with till 2019. The loans are meant as a money cost for the sale of the positioning. ‘a part of the long run. receivables. The efficient rates of interest on most (and maybe all) of those loans had been above 50%. “

“For instance, in 2019, Silverline Providers made a service provider money advance mortgage to Southern Village Shack LLC, with a purchase order value of $ 375,000, which carries an efficient rate of interest of roughly 100%.” , write the attorneys.

In an e-mail to CBS17, Cournoyer wrote: “As a part of the growth and opening of two new websites, corporations have secured sure excessive curiosity loans. Eating places are sturdy companies, and with out these loans companies could be wholesome. That is exactly the kind of downside that Chapter 11 chapter goals to resolve. I’m assured in our means to efficiently reorganize ourselves and that Al’s Burger Shack will exist for years to return.