COLUMBUS Ohio The Pittsburgh restaurant company that agreed in late April to buy Max & Erma’s has not been pursuing an acquisition of Damon’s Grill, contrary to local news reports, the chairman of Damon’s and its current parent company said Friday. But the official, William Burk, divulged that he had asked Max & Erma’s intended buyer to assist in a “reorganization” of the rival Damon’s system.
The Columbus Dispatch reported about a week ago that G&R Acquisition Inc., a holding of Pittsburgh restaurateur Gary Reinert Sr., was believed to be negotiating a purchase of the 80-unit Damon’s chain. Damon’s is currently owned by a construction company, Alliance Development Group, where Burk serves as chairman. The concern has acknowledged that it is exploring “strategic alternatives” for Damon’s, a grill-style casual-dining chain based here.
However, in a letter sent Friday to The Dispatch, Burk said G&R was not pursuing a purchase of Damon’s and did not hold a stake in the chain.
“Because [Damon’s] has been struggling for the past four years, I had contacted Mr. Reinert to ask for his assistance in a reorganization effort,” the paper quoted Burk as having written.
G&R has agreed to buy Max & Erma’s, a 107-unit casual-dining chain, for $10.2 million. Max & Erma’s and Damon’s are both based here.
