Red Lobster owes money to more than 40 WNY businesses, but will they ever get paid?

BUFFALO, N.Y. — When Red Lobster abruptly closed its doors on May 13, Kevin Monaco hoped a 25-year relationship with the company would give him a chance to see more than $15,000 owed to his company for restaurant services. landscaping.

Monaco Enterprises of Western New York, which also manages the Monaco Garden Center in Hamburg, has never faced a similar situation in its 27-year history, he said , and this one is going to hurt.

“For me, the worst thing is that we have a relationship with them that goes back about 20 years. The regional directors, they called and promised they would take care of it, but they string you along,” he said. he declared. . “We’ve worked with them in Erie and Niagara counties and they’ve been great to us up until the last six months.”

Although Monaco said there is enough demand to offset future business losses, he does not believe he will collect the money owed to his company through the bankruptcy process.