The Peru Gazette

“This is a notice that I have not been looking forward to but I have decided not to reopen the Ground Round Grill and Bar in Plattsburgh. My family has been operating restaurants in Northern NY and Vermont since 1956. After serving in the Navy from 1968 to 1972 I joined my father in the hospitality business.
With none of my three children interested in the business I hired Julie Kramer who eventually became the COO/CFO and vice President of Nine Platt Corp 18 years ago. One year ago I decided that it was time for me to retire and start the process of selling or leasing the Ground Round building. I advised the staff that at some point the building would change ownership but that I wanted it to be controlled and properly operated. I knew this would take time and we did not have a buyer or a tenant at that point. The unexpected turn of events with Covid-19 virus we were forced to close the restaurant. We took this as an opportunity to do some deferred maintenance which is nearly competed but we also had to lay off our entire workforce. Our vacation policies were followed and we assisted the staff in the completion of unemployment claims.
This was difficult but necessary and knowing that I, as well as the staff, would go through this again I decided last Monday April 6 that we would not reopen.
Nine Platt Corp will continue operating the Best Western Plus Plattsburgh and we will meet our obligations to staff, vendors, service technicians and customers. We are working out details of any gift cards that have not been redeemed with either the 99 restaurant, or our hotel. Details of that will be released in the near future.
Julie and I thank you for your patronage, friendship and we are very proud of the work our staff has done to provide excellent food, service and accommodations …………..and to be nice to people.”

Sincerely,
Robert Smith
Owner