What can I do with my Bennigan's gift cards now that they are no longer in business?

Question

I sure hope this doesnt mean I am out all the money I spent on these gift cards. They are supposedly good at Steak and Ale too, but they are also closed down.

Answer 1

Find a Bennigans that is still in business.  The franchise owners did not close and are not closing only the corporate run ones.  If you don't have a locally owned Bennigans close to you than you will lose your card benifit.

Answer 2

A gift certificate or gift card sold by a seller that seeks bankruptcy protection may have no value. However, the holder of the certificate or card may have a claim against the bankruptcy estate.

Sellers that file "Chapter 11" (reorganization) bankruptcy intend to stay in business, so they typically will ask the bankruptcy court for permission to honor gift certificates in an effort to maintain good customer relations.

If the bankruptcy court does not allow gift certificates or gift cards to be honored, or if the seller files "Chapter 7" (liquidation) bankruptcy, holders of gift certificates or gift cards are creditors in the bankruptcy case. They have relatively high priority among unsecured creditors in a Chapter 7 case, and may receive some percentage of the certificates or card’s value, but only if the bankruptcy estate has enough assets to pay claims. For information on filing a claim, and other basic information on bankruptcy, see "Consumer Tips on Retail Store Bankruptcies," under the "Bankruptcy" tab under the "Publications" button at www.dca.ca.gov.

A recently-adopted California law is intended to help gift certificate and gift card holders when the seller declares bankruptcy. It requires a seller in bankruptcy to honor gift certificates issued before the date of the bankruptcy filing.19 No court has ruled on the effectiveness of this law.

Answer 3

Not all Bennigan's shut down.  Most did.  About 200 out of like 300.  But you could sell them on EBay to someone who lives in the area of those.

Some are operated by franchises and are not part of this bankruptcy.  The same company Metromedia Restaurants Group that owns the ones that shut down owns Ponderosa and Bonanza restaurants, so you might see if one of those will honor your gift card.

How you find out which Bennigan's are franchise owned or not is hard to say.  I think you'd have to call all the ones in your area and if they answer the phone, you'll know.  But all the Steak & Ale's are gone.  Ours has been gone for years which was sad b/c I loved that place.  Our Bennigan's has also been closed for years but I always thought that was a good thing.  It had the worst customer service and food and still remains the only restaurant I have ever walked out of without paying.  I waited 40 minutes for the check, even walking into the kitchen and finding 2 people to ask if I could pay from.  10 more minutes and no one gave me a check so I left.

More than likely, you are just out the money though.

Answer 4

Not a thing darlin' unless you can use them at another restaurant owned by the same company or if you travel somewhere that does have a Bennigan's (there are other stores still open despite the bankruptcy...for now).  

Some Texas Roadhouse restaurants are accepting Bennigan's gift cards.

Otherwise, it looks like you're out of luck.

Answer 5

It depends on the card.  I have $6-700 worth of the multi restaurant (metro group the parent company) cards.  I am giving mine to a charity to give to people to use in Chicago where 5-6 stores take them.  The closest beningan's to me will only take one type of gift card.  

The Texas roadhouse deal is misleading. You trade a gift card for a coupon.