King’s restaurant locations in Venango Co. staying open

By SAXON DAUGHERTY
Staff writer

King’s Family Restaurant announced Sunday it is closing five locations in western Pennsylvania, but the chain’s two sites in Venango County won’t be affected.

As of 7 p.m. Sunday, the Pittsburgh-area company closed its restaurants in Altoona, Bridgeville, Harmar Township, Imperial and Wexford.

The Franklin location on Allegheny Boulevard and the site along Route 8 in Barkeyville will keep their doors open.

“We are functioning well and going strong,” said Tim Hurley, general manager of the Franklin location.

A manager at the Barkeyville restaurant also confirmed he hadn’t been made aware of his store being affected by the cuts.

The Franklin restaurant opened in March 1985, just months after the company bought the former Perkins Restaurant that had occupied the building for 11 years.

Including the two spots in Venango County, King’s has 24 locations in operation across western Pennsylvania, plus one in eastern Ohio.

King’s Family Restaurant was founded in 1967, but was sold two years ago to Kelly Capital, a San Diego, California private equity firm.

The new owners said two years ago they had no immediate plans to close any locations or cut any employees.

About 130 workers were affected by Sunday’s closings.