by Grace Gagliano – Bradenton.com
Alison Thomas does everything with a smile — busing tables, wiping counter tops and rolling up utensils in napkins.
Her business partner Mary Beth Hansen is the same way, even when realizing that attempting to cook bananas and chocolate chips in a waffle iron will create quite a mess.
“We feel very fortunate for this opportunity,” says Hansen, who along with Thomas purchased all 10 Peach’s Restaurants and its catering business in December.
The longtime friends say they’ve embarked on their greatest business venture yet: owning and operating one of Manatee County’s most popular breakfast and lunch diners. The two purchased Peach’s Restaurants and Catering Co. out of receivership Dec. 7.
A foreclosure suit was filed against the restaurant chain and catering division Jan. 15, 2010, claiming then owner Michael Luciano owed more than $1 million on a $1.3 million loan. Total assets of Peach’s Management Inc. as of Dec. 20 were $5.5 million, according to court records.
“Yes, we are very fortunate this has worked out for us,” said Thomas, who wouldn’t disclose their purchase price. “It was a good deal.”
Sarasota attorney Morgan Bentley, who represented Peach’s in the foreclosure suit, said receiver Joe Hembree was instrumental in putting the business in good standing for its new owners.
“The receiver came in and it was textbook,” Bentley said. “He started making some money for the business, streamlining some things and the restaurant was able to get back on its feet and, hopefully, last years to come. Everyone loves Peach’s, including me.
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