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Bar Louie CEO Tom Fricke on the company’s future after being bought out of bankruptcyBar Louie CEO Tom Fricke on the company’s future after being bought out of bankruptcy

Bar Louie’s secured lender Antares Capital LP took over the Addison, Tx.-based gastropub chain in May and begins a recovery period

Joanna Fantozzi, Senior Editor

October 20, 2020

3 Min Read
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After the Addison, Tx.-based, 90-unit gastropub chain Bar Louie filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in January, the company underwent a restructuring process to tackle their debt and closed 38 locations. In April, Bar Louie’s agent for its secured lenders, Antares Capital LP, acted as the stalking horse purchaser of the company and bought them out of bankruptcy, using $82.5 million of its pre-petition claim to acquire the business via auction. 

Since then, the now 73-unit company (with 50 corporate and 23 franchise locations) has been focused on recovery efforts, according to Bar Louie CEO Tom Fricke, as they tackle both the challenges of coming out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy and the unique hurdles presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We filed i...

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About the Author

Joanna Fantozzi

Senior Editor

Joanna Fantozzi is a Senior Editor for Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality. She has more than seven years of experience writing about the restaurant and hospitality industry. Her editorial coverage ranges from profiles of independent restaurants around the country to breaking news and insights into some of the biggest brands in food and beverage, including Starbucks, Domino’s, and Papa John’s.  

Joanna holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature and creative writing from The College of New Jersey and a master’s degree in arts and culture journalism from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY. Prior to joining Informa’s Restaurants and Food Group in 2018, she was a freelance food, culture, and lifestyle writer, and has previously held editorial positions at Insider (formerly known as Business Insider) and The Daily Meal. Joanna’s work can also be found in The New York Times, Forbes, Vice, The New York Daily News, and Parents Magazine. 

Her areas of expertise include restaurant industry news, restaurant operator solutions and innovations, and political/cultural issues.

Joanna Fantozzi has been a moderator and event facilitator at both Informa’s MUFSO and Restaurants Rise industry events. 

Joanna Fantozzi’s experience:

Senior Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (August 2021-present)

Associate Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (July 2019-August 2021)

Assistant Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (Oct. 2018-July 2019)

Freelance Food & Lifestyle Reporter (Feb. 2018-Oct. 2018)

Food & Lifestyle Reporter, Insider (June 2017-Feb. 2018)

News Editor, The Daily Meal (Jan. 2014- June 2017)

Staff Reporter, Straus News (Jan. 2013-Dec. 2013)

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