This story has been updated with a statement from Frisch's
Nearly a quarter of Frisch's Restaurants are subject to eviction proceedings in Southwest Ohio over the failure to pay more than $4.5 million in rent, according to court documents in Hamilton and Clermont counties.
The beloved local eatery's legal troubles have emerged six months after its Atlanta-based ownership pledged "no more" of its restaurants would close after five in Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky and Dayton were abruptly shuttered this spring.
The chain, based in Cincinnati's Walnut Hills neighborhood, on Wednesday issued a statement that it will close an unspecified number of stores with little explanation.
"Due to unforeseen circumstances and various other factors ... Frisch’s Big Boy Restaurants will be closing certain locations. We look forward to serving our loyal and beloved Frisch’s customers at other locations and apologize for any inconvenience."
The legal proceedings against Frisch's were filed by its landlord, Orlando-based NNN Reit Inc., which acquired dozens of locations in 2015 when the chain sold the properties and leased them back. NNN officials did not respond to messages seeking comment.
Court documents said NNN is seeking eviction from "more than 20" sites in Southwest Ohio. The company owns 66 Frisch's properties, according to its portfolio on its website.
Court documents indicate that Frisch's hasn't paid rent on at least some properties since February and in August the landlord demanded the eatery vacate multiple properties.
Check out what locations face eviction: Which Frisch's Big Boy restaurants are in jeopardy?
The closings were the latest wave by the chain, which cut more than 40 restaurants, or one-third of the 121 locations, since it was acquired by the Atlanta-based investment firm in 2015 for $175 million. As of Wednesday, the company listed 78 stores in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana on its website.
Frisch's is not the only diner or casual restaurant concept to face troubles after consumers have cut back on eating out amid high inflation in the past couple of years. This week alone, competitor Denny's announced plans to shutter 150 stores.
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This story was updated to add a video.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Frisch's Big Boy owes $4.5M in rent, faces evication from 20 locations