GREENFIELD — In 1985, the Rees family started building its Ponderosa Steakhouse franchise from the ground up. On Monday, July 20, Mike Rees, the owner of CMR Partners, which operates four Ponderosa Steakhouses in Indiana, had to shut the Greenfield location down for good.
“It was a very difficult decision,” Rees said. “This has always been our flagship store, so this is a heart-wrenching decision.”
The longtime restaurant is one of two popular eating establishments in Greenfield that announced during the weekend that they would shut their doors due to business problems arising from the pandemic. Florida Cracker BBQ, 812 S. State Street, is also closing for good at the end of August, the restaurant announced on its Facebook page.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]Click here to purchase photos from this gallery
The closures are a reminder of the economic toll the pandemic has taken — and likely will continue to take — on local businesses. Restaurants and other hospitality entities, in particular, are at risk because of continued restrictions on gatherings as part of the state’s halted Back on Track plan.
Rees said he did apply for and receive emergency funding through the Paycheck Protection Program, but the help wasn’t nearly enough to keep the doors open at the Greenfield Ponderosa, 1585 N. State St. The fact the restaurant brought in nearly 80% of its business through its popular buffet — which was forced to shut down due to the pandemic — proved to be too much to overcome.
“We got some money, but it’s just not enough to keep the store open,” Rees said. “We had 10% sales of what we were before — down some 90%.”
While the restaurant did reopen on a limited basis with delivery and takeout, there was no way it could stay afloat, Rees said. He also had to announce the closure of the Ponderosa in Goshen, which leaves him with two remaining Ponderosa restaurants open — one in Anderson and one in Beech Grove.
Rees noted an estimated 40 to 50 workers will be affected by the closure in Greenfield. One of them is assistant manager Christy Eastes, who was working right up to the last minute Monday organizing the last day’s workload.
“Everybody is here and in good spirits, but it is a sad day for sure,” She said.
Workers had been hearing about plans for someone to purchase the Ponderosa for some time, but it never happened. Then late last week, they learned they’d be shutting down permanently due to lack of business.
Eastes noted business never picked back up beyond 50% of their previous level despite their best efforts to continue without the buffet.
Eastes, a Greenfield native who has been in the restaurant industry for nearly 30 years, said she hopes to land on her feet at another local restaurant.
“I really don’t know what I’m going to do, but I am hoping I can find something somewhere in town,” Eastes said.
Rees noted his sister’s business owns the Ponderosa building and believes another restaurant will move into the building sooner rather than later, but he didn’t want to say who that might be.
For Rees, Monday was a hard day, he said, and not only for him but the workers and the community.
“We’ve had a great run,” Rees said. “We’ve enjoyed being in the Greenfield community and are sorry it had to come to this.”
The Ponderoa social media site on Facebook was flooded with comments from patrons who said they will be sad to see the long time local business close up for good.
One patron wrote, “This breaks my heart in so many ways. Our family has come to this particular Ponderosa for many, many years. Not only for the good food but to celebrate birthdays, to be together as a family to remember lost loved ones on their special days. If I would have known the last time I was there I definitely would have had one more plate.”
Florida Cracker BBQ announced its impending closure on social media during the weekend, telling patrons that with “hope and much sadness it is time to announce the FCB’s closure” after eight years in the community.
“We are listing the restaurant for sale,” the post said. “As for now, please come in and use your gift cards as soon as possible.”
Owner Jeff Clifford said the restaurant, which was closed Monday as part of its regular schedule, intends to keep the doors open until the end of August. On Facebook, the restaurant said on-site sales had been strong. But overcoming the loss of providing food for weddings, picnics, reunions and other events proved insurmountable, the post said.
“It has been our privilege over the years to cater to your special occasions…” the restaurant’s post said. Please pray for wisdom and job opportunities for our staff.”
