Does the local KFC franchise have a new owner?

The locks which had been placed on the doors of the KFC restaurant at the corner of Grenville and Melville Streets over two weeks ago, have been removed.

And yesterday, activity was observed at that outlet, even as one radio station reported on its Facebook page that local businessman Kelly Glass had taken over the fast food franchise.{{more}}

However when SEARCHLIGHT spoke with Glass yesterday, he declined to comment, except to say we should check him again next week.

The locks had been placed on the doors of the three local branches of the fast food chain on Monday, March 9, 2015, by receivers from auditing firm Grant Thornton. They were acting on instructions from the Bank of Nova Scotia, after previous franchise holder Ormiston “Ken” Boyea failed to meet his obligations with the KFC franchise and the Bank.

Over the last two weeks, Glass had been spotted in the company of the Receivers at the property at Arnos Vale, where KFC-3 is located.

But a new franchise owner does not necessarily mean that the restaurants will reopen in the same locations. KFC-1, located at the corner of Grenville and Melville Streets in Kingstown and KFC-3, at Arnos Vale, both operate from buildings owned by Boyea’s company, St Clair Investments, now in receivership. KFC-2, at the corner of James and Bay Streets in Kingstown operated from rented premises.

When the doors shut on the three KFC restaurants and sister outlet Pizza Hut Delivery, 150 people were sent home. Forty other persons, employed under the St Clair Investments umbrella, were also affected by the closure.