Ground Round Closes Locations <b></b>

Braintree, Massachusetts-All 75 company-owned GroundRound Grill & Bar restaurants closed suddenly February 13,following a bank loan default by American Hospitality ConceptsInc., owner of the casual-dining chain, sources indicated. Allcompany-owned assets and properties are set to be seized, and allcorporate employees have been terminated, one source close to thesituation said.

Franchised units of Ground Round, which had about 130restaurants in the United States and Canada, are still open. AHCofficials could not be reached for comment by press time.

Ground Round was founded in 1969 by hospitality company HowardJohnson. In 1997, backed by Boston Ventures Management, AHCacquired Ground Round. -Nation's Restaurant News