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7 | W aterloo C hronicle | T hursday,F ebruary 13,2020 w aterloochronicle.ca @WLChroniclew @WLCh roniclew @WLChroniclew @WLChroniclew @WLCh roniclew @WLChroniclew @WLChroniclew @WLCh roniclew @WLChroniclew oniclew @WLChroniclew @WLChroniclew oniclew @WLChr oniclewes @WLChr oniclew @WLChr oniclew oniclew oniclewes @WLChr oniclew @WLChr oniclew oniclew @WLChroniclew @WLChroniclew @WLChroniclew @WLC hroniclew @WLChr @WLChroniclew @WLC hroniclew @WLChronicl ew @WLChroniclew @WLC hroniclew @WLChronicle wes @WLChroniclew @WLCh roniclew @WLChroniclew @WLChroniclew @WLCh roniclew @WLChroniclew @WLChroniclew @WLCh roniclew @WLChroniclew @WLChroniclew @WLC hroniclew @WLChronicl ew @WLChroniclew @WLC hroniclew @WLChronicl ew @WLChroniclew @WLC hroniclew @WLChronicle wes @WLChroniclew @WLCh roniclew @WLChroniclew @WLChroniclew @WLCh roniclew @WLChroniclew @WLChroniclew @WLCh roniclew @WLChroniclew @WLChroniclew @WLC hroniclew @WLChronicl ew oniclew @WLChroniclew @WLChroniclew fo llo w u s @WLChroniclew FEBRUARY 13-16 4 DAYS ONLY! THUR 9-9 FRI SAT SUN 9-9 9-6 10-5 WEEKEND DEALS! 1362VICTORIA ST N. KITCHENER MON-FRI 9AM-9PM SAT 9AM-6PM SUN 10AM-5PM MANY STYLES TO CHOOSE *p rod uc ts ma yn ot be ex ac tly as sh ow n. lim ite ds up ply .n ot ax on ly ap pli es to aa rea rug s CLICK VINYL PLANKS 6MM THICK .99¢/SQ FT3.99 12MM THICK LAMINATE $157PER SQ FTREG 3.99 GLASS AND STONE BACKSPLASH $199PER SQ FTREG 8.99 ENGINEERED 5" WIDE X 3/4" THICK HARDWOOD $399PER SQ FTREG 8.99 2-TONE FRIEZE CARPET $149PER SQ FTREG 3.99 MODERN GRAY LEDGESTONE $499PER SQ FTREG 8.99 LAMINATEVINYL TILE TILECARPET HARDWOOD AREA RUGS NO TAX! MORE SIZES AVAILABLE! OVER 1,000 IN STOCK! $4999FROM 5'X7' SHAG RUGS When it comes to 190 out-of-work Bos- ton Pizza (BP) employees receiving their final pay, the only person who stands in the way is former owner-operator Brian Haase, says Boston Pizza International. Peter Blackwell, vice president of mar- keting and communications with Boston Pizza International, which oversees nearly 400 locations across Canada, spoke about the situation on Tuesday, Feb. 4. "We have seen Mr. Haas and his advis- ers make several claims. They've been, at a minimum, misleading and in some cases, outright mistruths." The mis- trust, Black- well says, is in Haase's claim that it will cost $20,000- plus to file for bankruptcy -- a move that would allow for his assets to be liquidat- ed and have employees paid through the Wage Earner Pro- tection Pro- gram. Haase did not respond to a request for comment. "He owes funds to a number of other parties. He told BP that he would file for bankruptcy two weeks ago," said Black- well. Recently, Haase said he approached Boston Pizza for help last summer and his requests fell on deaf ears. He was in a meeting with Boston Pizza executives as well as banks on Jan. 20, where he in- formed them of his dire situation. The next day, his payroll account was frozen. On Jan. 24, he closed the four locations. Haase estimates that he's between $4 and $5 million in debt. The amount of debt accrued is also challenged by Boston Pizza. Blackwell says the numbers just don't add up. "What we have is a line of sight to see what the sales were at his restaurants. We know what he owes us and we know what it costs to operate these restau- rants," said Blackwell. "And we know the math simply doesn't add up." Moving forward with the four loca- tions, Blackwell said Boston Pizza is looking to reopen as soon as possible. He said they are "close" with a new owner-operator at the Stratford location and are hoping for owner-operators to step forward for the remaining three -- two in Kitchener and one in Waterloo. "We feel for those staff members and the best thing Boston Pizza International can do is get those restaurants re- opened." NEWS BOSTON PIZZA CLEARS UP 'MISTRUTHS' FROM OWNER OF SHUTTERED LOCAL RESTAURANTS ADAM JACKSON ajackson@waterloochronicle.ca Four area Boston Pizza locations, including this one on Ottawa Street in Kitchener, have closed suddenly. Locations in Waterloo on Erb Street West and King Street North, and one in Stratford, are also closed. Brent Davis photo "They've been, at a minimum, misleading and in some cases, outright mistruths." - Peter Blackwell, vice president of marketing and communications with Boston Pizza International