Sherry Cameron, CEO of Bill Johnson’s Big Apple restaurants, is asking fans to show up Tuesday at the company’s bankruptcy hearing to support its reorganization plan.
The local chain, which has been in operation for more than a half-century, has five Valley locations, including one in Mesa.
In an open letter on Facebook, Cameron writes:
Dear Friends, Colleagues and Family:
As you know, I came back to Arizona a couple of years ago to be the CEO of Bill Johnson Big Apple Restaurants. My grandparents started this business 55 years ago, and I wanted to make sure it was going to be around another 55 years.
I have had to make some tough decisions. Right now we’re going through Chapter 11 bankruptcy (that’s the good kind), and I’m proud to say there’s a real light at the end of the tunnel. Except. Some of my relatives have petitioned the U.S. Bankruptcy Judge who’s hearing our case to convert it to Chapter 7 (that’s liquidation).
This is a petulant and self-destructive move, one that will eliminate hundreds of jobs, and it shows you the sort of destructive nonsense I’ve been dealing with. I can’t forget that are real people and real families who depend on those jobs. We’re talking about a devastating blow to hundreds of people, many of them folks who have been with my family for decades.
It’s simply unthinkable to me a court would act on this motion and shut down five going concerns and throw that many people out of work in this economy. And that’s not to mention the hurt to their families, our suppliers, our loyal customers, and on and on.
Our hearing is this Tuesday. Will you come and show your support? We want the judge to see that this is a real business, with real lives at stake.
When: Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012, at 10 a.m.
Where: U.S. Bankruptcy Court 230 N. 1st Avenue, Courtroom 701 (In downtown Phoenix)
That’s right at Van Buren and 1st Avenue downtown. There’s parking right across 1st Ave.
Will you spread the word among your friends? If you’re into Facebook or Twitter, post or tweet about us! Or just tell anyone who cares about Arizona, our economy, and a great institution. Thank you for all your continued support of Bill Johnsons’ Big Apple Restaurants.
Regards,
Sherry Cameron
C.E.O. Bill Johnson’s Big Apple Restaurants
sherryc@billjohnsons.com
