COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	9 Months Ended
Jun. 27, 2026
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES Leases — The Company leases several restaurants, bar facilities, and administrative headquarters through its subsidiaries under terms expiring at various dates through 2046. Most of the leases provide for the payment of base rents plus real estate taxes, insurance and other expenses and, in certain instances, for the payment of a percentage of the restaurant’s sales in excess of stipulated amounts at such facility and in one instance based on profits. In connection with one of our leases, the Company obtained and delivered an irrevocable letter of credit in the amount of $324,000 as a security deposit under such lease. Bryant Park Grill — The Company's agreements with the Bryant Park Corporation (the “Landlord”) (a private non-profit corporation that operates and maintains Bryant Park under agreements with the City of New York Department of Parks & Recreation), for the Bryant Park Grill and the Bryant Park Café expired on April 30, 2025 and for The Porch at Bryant Park expired on March 31, 2025. In July of 2023 (for the Bryant Park Grill and the Bryant Park Café) and September of 2023 (for The Porch at Bryant Park), the Company received requests for proposals (the "RFPs") from the Landlord to which we responded on October 26, 2023. The agreements offered under the RFPs for both locations were for new 10-year agreements, with one five-year renewal option. In the second quarter of 2025, the Landlord stated publicly that it had selected a new operator for the Bryant Park Grill, the Bryant Park Café and The Porch at Bryant Park. However, to the best of our knowledge, no agreements between the Landlord and the selected operator have received the approvals of either the City of New York Department of Parks & Recreation or the New York Public Library, of which both approvals are required before any new lease can become effective. Management has been working with outside advisors to assist the Company's efforts to ensure that the RFP awards process was both fair and transparent and to enforce the Company's right of first lease under the Company's lease agreements in connection with the Bryant Park Café. On March 28, 2025, the Company filed a complaint in New York State Supreme Court (the "New York Action"), alleging among other things, that the bid process conducted by the Landlord was defective, failed to comply with the provisions of the agreements underlying the Landlord’s right to operate Bryant Park and violated applicable law; that a lease was being awarded to a lower bidder with a limited, unsuccessful track record in the hospitality business; and that the award of the lease for the Café violated the Company's right of first lease. As part of the relief sought in the New York Action, the Company requested that the court declare that, under the circumstances presented, the Landlord was required to accept—and should have accepted — its submitted bids. The Company received from the Landlord a “notice to quit” the premises and for the Company to terminate its tenancy. On June 16, 2025, the Company filed an amended complaint in the New York Action, adding a cause of action for age discrimination by the Landlord in its selection of a new operator for the Bryant Park Grill, the Bryant Park Café and The Porch at Bryant Park. On June 26, 2025, the Landlord filed counterclaims against the Company in the New York Action seeking, among other things, to eject the Company from the Bryant Park Grill, the Bryant Park Café and The Porch at Bryant Park. On July 16, 2025, the Company moved to dismiss eight of the fourteen counterclaims filed by the Landlord. On July 29, 2025, the Landlord filed a motion to require the Company to make monthly use and occupancy payments in connection with the Bryant Park Grill, the Bryant Park Café and The Porch at Bryant Park during the pendency of the case. On August 13, 2025, the Court issued a decision requiring the Company to make the use and occupancy payments demanded by the Landlord during the pendency of the case. Given that the Company had made and has continued to make all payments pursuant to the relevant leases while it continues to operate the restaurants, it did not substantively oppose the Landlord’s motion or appeal the Court's decision. On December 8, 2025, the Court dismissed the Landlord’s claims for declaratory judgment, unjust enrichment, and tortious interference. On January 9, 2026, the Landlord moved for summary judgment, seeking dismissal of the Company’s claims and judgment in its favor on its counterclaims for ejectment, breach of contract, and use and occupancy. The Company cross-moved for summary judgment, seeking judgment in its favor on its causes of action for enforcement of its right of first lease and its cause of action for age discrimination. By decision and order dated June 18, 2026, and entered on June 22, 2026, the Court granted the Landlord’s motion for summary judgment, in part, and granted and denied the Company’s cross-motion, in part. The Court granted the Company’s motion for summary judgment on its breach of contract claim, ruling that the Company is entitled to damages to the extent it was harmed by the Landlord’s breach of the Company’s right of first lease. A trial will be held to determine the Company’s damages, with a pre-trial conference scheduled for September 22, 2026. The Court granted judgment in favor of the Landlord on its counterclaims for ejectment and use and occupancy. The Court ruled that the Company be ejected from the Bryant Park Grill, the Bryant Park Café and The Porch at Bryant Park premises. On June 26, 2026, the Court issued judgment of ejectment with respect to the Bryant Park Grill, the Bryant Park Café and The Porch at Bryant Park premises. Also on June 26, 2026, the Company filed a notice of appeal to the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, First Judicial Department, from the Court’s June 22, 2026 decision and order. On June 30, 2026, the Company moved, by order to show cause, to fix an undertaking pursuant to CPLR 5519(a)(6) arguing that it has an automatic right to stay enforcement of the order of ejectment pending appeal of the Court's decision on the motions for summary judgment. In connection with that motion, the Court entered a temporary restraining order enjoining the Landlord and its agents from ejecting or evicting the Company, or otherwise disturbing the Company’s possession of the premises, pending argument of the motion. On July 1, 2026, the Landlord moved for leave to reargue that portion of the Court’s decision granting the Company summary judgment on its breach of contract claim based on the right of first lease. Following oral arguments held on July 16, 2026, the Court issued a decision and order dated July 16, 2026, and entered on July 17, 2026, granting the Company’s motion in part and staying enforcement of the order of ejectment for three months from the date of the decision and order (i.e., through on or about October 16, 2026), conditioned upon the Company: (i) filing an undertaking in the amount of $125,000 with the Clerk of the Court on or before July 23, 2026, and (ii) continuing to make the monthly use and occupancy payments previously ordered by the Court until the termination of the stay. Under the terms of the order, failure to timely file the undertaking would result in the stay being vacated, and if the Company fails to make the required use and occupancy payments, the Landlord may move on three days’ notice to vacate the stay. On July 21, 2026, the Company filed the required undertaking in the amount of $125,000 with the Clerk of the Court and filed a notice of compliance with the Court. The Company has continued to make the required use and occupancy payments. The Company intends to move in the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, First Judicial Department, to extend the current stay of enforcement of the order of ejectment beyond the three months to the pendency of the Company’s appeal of the Court’s June 22, 2026 summary judgment decision. On August 3, 2026, the Court denied the Landlord's motion to reargue that portion of the Court’s decision granting the Company summary judgment on its breach of contract claim based on the right of first lease. As of the date of this filing, the Company continues to operate the Bryant Park Grill, the Bryant Park Café and The Porch at Bryant Park pursuant to the stay described above and intends to do so while it pursues its appeal and all other available options to protect the Company’s interests. However, unless the Court’s decisions are reversed on appeal or the stay is extended or further relief is obtained, the Company will be required to vacate these premises and cease operations at these locations upon the expiration of the stay, currently expected to occur on or about October 16, 2026. Management, after consultation with legal counsel, is unable to predict the outcome of the appeal or related proceedings at this time. The uncertainty related to this dispute has had, and is expected to continue to have, a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. If the Company is unable to prevail on appeal and/or is otherwise unable to extend or renew these leases on favorable terms, if at all, the loss of these operations would have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. The Bryant Park Grill, the Bryant Park Café and The Porch at Bryant Park, collectively, accounted for $17.1 million and $19.7 million of our total revenues for the 39 weeks ended June 27, 2026 and June 28, 2025, respectively, which represented approximately 14.5% and 15.4% of our total revenue for such periods, respectively. Historically, the Company has made rent payments related to the Bryant Park Grill and the Bryant Park Café based on prior year sales as required in the relevant agreements. As a result of the decline in sales due to the above litigation, such payments were in excess of the contractual minimums and were recorded as prepaid rent as they were expected to be applied against future lease obligations or otherwise recovered. However, based on the status of ongoing legal proceedings, and in consultation with external legal counsel, management determined that the prepaid rent balance was not probable of recovery. As a result, during the 13 weeks ended March 28, 2026, the Company recorded a charge of $566,000 to write off the amount of prepaid rent, which is included in occupancy expenses in the accompanying consolidated condensed statements of operations. Were the Company to prevail on appeal, it is possible these amounts could be recovered. Legal Proceedings — In the ordinary course of its business, the Company is a party to various lawsuits arising from accidents at its restaurants and workers’ compensation claims, which are generally handled by the Company’s insurance carriers. The employment by the Company of management personnel, waiters, waitresses and kitchen staff at a number of different restaurants has resulted in the institution, from time to time, of litigation alleging violation by the Company of employment discrimination laws. Management believes, based in part on the advice of counsel, that the ultimate resolution of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Leases — The Company leases several restaurants, bar facilities, and administrative headquarters through its subsidiaries under terms expiring at various dates through 2046. Most of the leases provide for the payment of base rents plus real estate taxes, insurance and other expenses and, in certain instances, for the payment of a percentage of the restaurant’s sales in excess of stipulated amounts at such facility and in one instance based on profits. In connection with one of our leases, the Company obtained and delivered an irrevocable letter of credit in the amount of $324,000 as a security deposit under such lease.

Bryant Park Grill — The Company's agreements with the Bryant Park Corporation (the “Landlord”) (a private non-profit corporation that operates and maintains Bryant Park under agreements with the City of New York Department of Parks & Recreation), for the Bryant Park Grill and the Bryant Park Café expired on April 30, 2025 and for The Porch at Bryant Park expired on March 31, 2025. In July of 2023 (for the Bryant Park Grill and the Bryant Park Café) and September of 2023 (for The Porch at Bryant Park), the Company received requests for proposals (the "RFPs") from the Landlord to which we responded on October 26, 2023. The agreements offered under the RFPs for both locations were for new 10-year agreements, with one five-year renewal option. In the second quarter of 2025, the Landlord stated publicly that it had selected a new operator for the Bryant Park Grill, the Bryant Park Café and The Porch at Bryant Park. However, to the best of our knowledge, no agreements between the Landlord and the selected operator have received the approvals of either the City of New York Department of Parks & Recreation or the New York Public Library, of which both approvals are required before any new lease can become effective.

Management has been working with outside advisors to assist the Company's efforts to ensure that the RFP awards process was both fair and transparent and to enforce the Company's right of first lease under the Company's lease agreements in connection with the Bryant Park Café. On March 28, 2025, the Company filed a complaint in New York State Supreme Court (the "New York Action"), alleging among other things, that the bid process conducted by the Landlord was defective, failed to comply with the provisions of the agreements underlying the Landlord’s right to operate Bryant Park and violated applicable law; that a lease was being awarded to a lower bidder with a limited, unsuccessful track record in the hospitality business; and that the award of the lease for the Café violated the Company's right of first lease. As part of the relief sought in the New York Action, the Company requested that the court declare that, under the circumstances presented, the Landlord was required to accept—and should have accepted — its submitted bids. The Company received from the Landlord a “notice to quit” the premises and for the Company to terminate its tenancy. On June 16, 2025, the Company filed an amended complaint in the New York Action, adding a cause of action for age discrimination by the Landlord in its selection of a new operator for the Bryant Park Grill, the Bryant Park Café and The Porch at Bryant Park. On June 26, 2025, the Landlord filed counterclaims against the Company in the New York Action seeking, among other things, to eject the Company from the Bryant Park Grill, the Bryant Park Café and The Porch at Bryant Park. On July 16, 2025, the Company moved to dismiss eight of the fourteen counterclaims filed by the Landlord. On July 29, 2025, the Landlord filed a motion to require the Company to make monthly use and occupancy payments in connection with the Bryant Park Grill, the Bryant Park Café and The Porch at Bryant Park during the pendency of the case. On August 13, 2025, the Court issued a decision requiring the Company to make the use and occupancy payments demanded by the Landlord during the pendency of the case. Given that the Company had made and has continued to make all payments pursuant to the relevant leases while it continues to operate the restaurants, it did not substantively oppose the Landlord’s motion or appeal the Court's decision. On December 8, 2025, the Court dismissed the Landlord’s claims for declaratory judgment, unjust enrichment, and tortious interference. On January 9, 2026, the Landlord moved for summary judgment, seeking dismissal of the Company’s claims and judgment in its favor on its counterclaims for ejectment, breach of contract, and use and occupancy. The Company cross-moved for summary judgment, seeking judgment in its favor on its causes of action for enforcement of its right of first lease and its cause of action for age discrimination.

By decision and order dated June 18, 2026, and entered on June 22, 2026, the Court granted the Landlord’s motion for summary judgment, in part, and granted and denied the Company’s cross-motion, in part. The Court granted the Company’s motion for summary judgment on its breach of contract claim, ruling that the Company is entitled to damages to the extent it was harmed by the Landlord’s breach of the Company’s right of first lease. A trial will be held to determine the Company’s damages, with a pre-trial conference scheduled for September 22, 2026. The Court granted judgment in favor of the Landlord on its counterclaims for ejectment and use and occupancy. The Court ruled that the Company be ejected from the Bryant Park Grill, the Bryant Park Café and The Porch at Bryant Park premises. On June 26, 2026, the Court issued judgment of ejectment with respect to the Bryant Park Grill, the Bryant Park Café and The Porch at Bryant Park premises. Also on June 26, 2026, the Company filed a notice of appeal to the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, First Judicial Department, from the Court’s June 22, 2026 decision and order.

On June 30, 2026, the Company moved, by order to show cause, to fix an undertaking pursuant to CPLR 5519(a)(6) arguing that it has an automatic right to stay enforcement of the order of ejectment pending appeal of the Court's decision on the motions for summary judgment. In connection with that motion, the Court entered a temporary restraining order enjoining the Landlord and its agents from ejecting or evicting the Company, or otherwise disturbing the Company’s possession of the premises, pending argument of the motion. On July 1, 2026, the Landlord moved for leave to reargue that portion of the Court’s decision granting the Company summary judgment on its breach of contract claim based on the right of first lease. Following oral arguments held on July 16, 2026, the Court issued a decision and order dated July 16, 2026, and entered on July 17, 2026, granting the Company’s motion in part and staying enforcement of the order of ejectment for three months from the date of the decision and order (i.e., through on or about October 16, 2026), conditioned upon the Company: (i) filing an undertaking in the amount of $125,000 with the Clerk of the Court on or before July 23, 2026, and (ii) continuing to make the monthly use and occupancy payments previously ordered by the Court until the termination of the stay. Under the terms of the order, failure to timely file the undertaking would result in the stay being vacated, and if the Company fails to make the required use and occupancy payments, the Landlord may move on three days’ notice to vacate the stay. On July 21, 2026, the Company filed the required undertaking in the amount of $125,000 with the Clerk of the Court and filed a notice of compliance with the Court. The Company has continued to make the required use and occupancy payments. The Company intends to move in the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, First Judicial Department, to extend the current stay of enforcement of the order of ejectment beyond the three months to the pendency of the Company’s appeal of the Court’s June 22, 2026 summary judgment decision. On August 3, 2026, the Court denied the Landlord's motion to reargue that portion of the Court’s decision granting the Company summary judgment on its breach of contract claim based on the right of first lease.

As of the date of this filing, the Company continues to operate the Bryant Park Grill, the Bryant Park Café and The Porch at Bryant Park pursuant to the stay described above and intends to do so while it pursues its appeal and all other available options to protect the Company’s interests. However, unless the Court’s decisions are reversed on appeal or the stay is extended or further relief is obtained, the Company will be required to vacate these premises and cease operations at these locations upon the expiration of the stay, currently expected to occur on or about October 16, 2026.

Management, after consultation with legal counsel, is unable to predict the outcome of the appeal or related proceedings at this time. The uncertainty related to this dispute has had, and is expected to continue to have, a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. If the Company is unable to prevail on appeal and/or is otherwise unable to extend or renew these leases on favorable terms, if at all, the loss of these operations would have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. The Bryant Park Grill, the Bryant Park Café and The Porch at Bryant Park, collectively, accounted for $17.1 million and $19.7 million of our total revenues for the 39 weeks ended June 27, 2026 and June 28, 2025, respectively, which represented approximately 14.5% and 15.4% of our total revenue for such periods, respectively.

Historically, the Company has made rent payments related to the Bryant Park Grill and the Bryant Park Café based on prior year sales as required in the relevant agreements. As a result of the decline in sales due to the above litigation, such payments were in excess of the contractual minimums and were recorded as prepaid rent as they were expected to be applied against future lease obligations or otherwise recovered. However, based on the status of ongoing legal proceedings, and in consultation with external legal counsel, management determined that the prepaid rent balance was not probable of recovery. As a result, during the 13 weeks ended March 28, 2026, the Company recorded a charge of $566,000 to write off the amount of prepaid rent, which is included in occupancy expenses in the accompanying consolidated condensed statements of operations. Were the Company to prevail on appeal, it is possible these amounts could be recovered.

Legal Proceedings — In the ordinary course of its business, the Company is a party to various lawsuits arising from accidents at its restaurants and workers’ compensation claims, which are generally handled by the Company’s insurance carriers. The employment by the Company of management personnel, waiters, waitresses and kitchen staff at a number of different restaurants has resulted in the institution, from time to time, of litigation alleging violation by the Company of employment discrimination laws. Management believes, based in part on the advice of counsel, that the ultimate resolution of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.