Financing

Bad weather trumps Good Times’ big draw

Photograph: Shutterstock

The drawing power of an all-natural menu wasn’t enough to offset Mother Nature’s wrath during the second quarter ended March 26 for Good Times Burgers & Frozen Custard, with same-store sales dropping 5.9% because of bad weather, according to management

Parent company Good Times Restaurants posted a loss for the quarter of $180,000, compared with a year-ago shortfall of $132,000, on revenues of $27.2 million, up 15%. Net losses for fiscal 2019 should approach $1 million because of $1.7 million in preopening expenses for Good Times’ second concept, full-service Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar, the operator said. Five of the restaurants are expected to open during the year.

Management was quick to assure investors that business has rebounded at the Good Times brand as seasonally typical weather has returned to Colorado, where most of the chain’s 35 restaurants are located. Comps are up 4% so far in the third quarter, said CEO Boyd Hoback. 

Bad Daddy’s comps rose 1.3% during Q2. Hoback did not reveal how sales have trended for that younger brand so far in Q3. 

Colorado was hit with freakish snowstorms far later into the winter than usual. Bad Daddy’s 26 units have a broader geographic distribution.

Good Times features burgers and other quick-service staples made with additive-free ingredients. 

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