13 Wendy's close abruptly

Thirteen Wendy's restaurants in Western Massachusetts, all owned by a single individual, were closed yesterday, leaving employees wondering what will happen next.

Edward Rafter, a spokesman for Wendy's International at its northeast division office in Westford, said yesterday, "The 13 restaurants in that market are owned by an independent franchisee of Wendy's who has experienced financial difficulties and that's what forced the restaurants to close."

He did not identify the franchisee, but he said the franchisee closed the restaurants, not Wendy's. Rafter was not sure where the restaurants was located or how many employees worked for the 13 stores.

The Wendy's restaurant on Park Street in West Springfield was among those that was closed yesterday. It is owned by Robert T. Burda of Dublin, Ohio.

The Republican has previously reported that Burda owns 13 Wendy's restaurants in the region, and that he has been delinquent in paying property taxes or state meal taxes at the restaurant in West Springfield as well as those on King Street in Northampton, on Boston Road and on Allen Street in Springfield, and on Memorial Drive in Chicopee. The newspaper has also reported that he owns Wendy's restaurants in Ludlow, Palmer and on Southampton Road in Westfield.

Messages left for Burda at his home in Ohio yesterday were not returned. Outside the closed Wendy's restaurant at 788 Memorial Drive in Chicopee yesterday, across the parking lot from where the offices of the corporation which oversees Burda's restaurants is located, about a dozen Wendy's employees from various communities waited to be paid or to learn if they are still employed.

"No one has given us a reason for why we closed. People are scared and they're spreading rumors," said Christine M. Bednarski of Chicopee who works at the Wendy's in Ludlow.

She was told to report to the Chicopee parking lot to receive her paycheck, but after an hour, no one had come out of the corporation office with it, she said.

The Wendy's restaurant on Route 32, Palmer Road, in Palmer, was closed last night and a sign posted on the front door said "Closed today due to truck delivery."

At the Memorial Drive office for Burda's corporation, which is listed as XCL Enterprises, LLC, with the state secretary of state's office, a man who would not identify himself said, "I was told to close up and that all I know right now."