I recently received a $50 gift certificate to a local restaurant here in town, and my wife and I were planning to use it for a nice night out. Unfortunately, the restaurant closed its doors a few weeks ago and now we're not sure how to get that money back. I tried calling their phone number but it's out of service. Has anyone out there had a similar experience and if so how did you resolve the situation?
Thank you in advance!
Kenm

I think you might be S.O.L, unless:
1) It's a chain restaurant with more than one location
2) It was purchased on a credit card with return protection (like Amex)

Even if it isn't a chain, if the owners have more than one restaurant, they may honor the gift certificate at another one.

I am also nominating Chumley's and Broome St. Bar for great burgers. Chumley's serves their burger on an english muffin, and Broome St.'s is on a pita.

I've heard good things about Rare in the Shelburne hotel, but haven't had the chance to try it.

Sorry! Meant to post this on the burger thread - please ignore!

If they closed due to bankruptcy you probably are SOL as lizzie says.

Try to do some research to see why they closed. If they are not bankrupt, you can probably get some restitution by tracking down the owners.

Depending on the circumstances, you may just have to suck up the loss and move on.

You might try contacting the restaurant reviewer for your local paper to see if she/he might have any information. I know that the restaurant reviewer for the Columbus Dispatch makes a point of lsting where gift certificates for a closed restaurant might be honored.

Good luck!

This happened to us. We had a gift certificate for a grocery store. The store changed hands. When we went in to use the certificate they would not honor it. We tried to fight it, went all the up the chain of management and no deal. So in the garbage it went. To bad. We now use our gift cards and certificates ASAP.

Yeah, I think you're out of luck. Macy';s wouldn't even honor the "Bra and Panty Club" card from Kaufmanns - and they had JUST been bought out and haven't even changed the name yet!

If we knew the name and location of the restaurant we might be able to help you find somebody associated with the business who could give you an answer to your question.