Ruby's Diner in Rancho shuts down without notice

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA – The Ruby's Diner in Plaza Antonio permanently closed its doors Monday – much to the surprise of diners and employees.

The restaurant closure was effective immediately Monday morning, Ruby's vice president of marketing Kimberly Myers said.

Irvine-based Ruby Restaurant Group had been in the process of purchasing the Rancho location out of bankruptcy since October. It had been a franchise operation owned by John D. Gantes, who operated 110 restaurants in four states until he filed for bankruptcy in late 2008.

Myers was unable to comment on the amount of debt left behind by Gantes. However, she said Ruby Restaurant Group viewed the bankruptcy as a good opportunity to "get full control of the assets."

However, "it (the location) needed to be delivered free and clear of liens, and that was unable to happen, so we were unable to complete the acquisition," Myers said.

Myers called Monday's closure "recent activity, all transpiring in recent days." Myers said employees were not notified until today because it had all happened so quickly, but that managers had been notified several days ago.

A manager who picked up the phone at the Plaza Antonio location declined to comment except to say "we're done here" and that she was busy packing the place.

The Plaza Antonio location had 44 employees, Myers said. She said the company is extending offers to relocate as many employees as possible to other Ruby's locations.

Customers were surprised by news of the closure. Coto de Caza resident Victoria Corbin said she was saddened.

"I would take my mother-in-law there every Wednesday for breakfast ... the atmosphere in there was so nice for her to enjoy," Corbin said.

Corbin said they were such frequent customers that their servers usually knew their order without having to ask.

"Everybody there was just so friendly and nice," Corbin said. "It's just going to be sad that it's going to be gone.... I think it's going to be really missed."

Contact the writer: 949-454-7343 or kchu@ocregister.com

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