The future of Doneckers — blurry for the past month — has come slightly into focus.
The Restaurant at Doneckers closed Monday as expected, but the shutdown might be temporary.
Meanwhile, the fashion and furniture stores continue to have major sales, apparently directed by business turnaround consultants.
The fate of Doneckers, an Ephrata institution since 1961, has been unclear for the past month after rumors began swirling that some or all of it might close.
As the New Era reported then, callers to the restaurant were being told that Monday would be its last day. That proved to be the case, for the time being at least.
"Our restaurant is now closed for reorganization and renovations," says a new message on the restaurant's telephone.
"We anticipate reopening (in) mid- to late fall, although an exact date has not yet been determined," it adds.
The message does not specify the nature of the changes or whether the upscale restaurant will remain part of the Doneckers organization.
Doneckers officials and restaurant executive chef Scott Martino could not be reached for comment by press time. Ephrata Mayor Ralph Mowen said Doneckers has not informed the borough of its plans.
The Restaurant at Doneckers, opened in 1984, was listed for sale recently for $1.3 million, a price that included the two-story building on North State Street. The listing expired in mid-June without a deal being struck.
At the nearby fashion and furniture stores, unprecedented sales have gone on for four weeks.
Markdowns are up to 40 percent at the fashion store and up to 50 percent at the furniture store, believed to be the largest discounts ever offered by Doneckers.
Shopping days have been expanded to new levels as well. The stores now are open Wednesdays, previously a weekday that Doneckers closed, and will be open the Fourth of July for the first time.
Throughout these sales, Doneckers has taken cash or major credit cards, but not the Doneckers charge card or checks. All sales are final; purchases cannot be returned.
To guide its strategy, Doneckers is believed to have retained two outside firms, Alliance Management and Gordon Brothers Group, although this could not be confirmed by presstime.
Alliance, a Minneapolis-based company, describes itself as a provider of "turnaround management consulting services to troubled companies." Boston-based Gordon describes itself as a specialist in "monetizing either unwanted or underperforming assets."
Staff writer Tim Mekeel can be reached at tmekeel@LNPnews.com or 481-6030.
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