ATLANTA Former Rare Hospitality Inc. chairman and chief executive Philip J. Hickey Jr. has purchased what remains of the bankrupt Jocks and Jills sports bar brand in partnership with sportscaster and concept co-founder Craig Sager and former Hard Rock Cafe executive Jeff Trent.
Trent is serving as operating partner.
Based here, Jocks and Jills filed for Chapter 11 protection from creditors in March 2007 after being ordered to pay $2.25 million in a discrimination lawsuit that had been filed in 2000 by a former employee. The company, which also owned Frankie's Sports Bar at The Prado in Atlanta, once had as many 10 locations. But the chain has been whittled down to two company-owned outlets and two franchised stores.
The concept was started in 1995 by Sager and NBA players Doc Rivers, Scott Hastings and Randy Wittman,
Hickey confirmed in an e-mail on Wednesday that he had purchased Jocks and Jills. In a follow-up note, he said it was "too early to tell" what changes the new owners may make to the brand. But he noted that he and his partners will take steps to improve "the value proposition to the guest" before expanding the chain.
Acourt document filed April 1 indicated that a bankruptcy court had approved the sale of certain Jocks and Jills assets to Jocks II Inc., a company owned by Hickey and Sager.
While terms of the transaction were not available, court documents filed last November show Jocks and Jills was seeking $3.25 million for the sale of all assets to a company called Hyena Investment Company LLC, based in Atlanta.
Hickey led the $1.4 billion sale last year of Rare Hospitality, operator of The Capital Grille and LongHorn steakhouse chains, to Red Lobster parent Darden Restaurants Inc.
Jocks and Jills spokesman Jeff Trent referred all questions to Hickey.