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March 28, 2024

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Lynyrd Skynyrd BBQ, sister restaurant out at Excalibur

Excalibur and Luxor Restaurants

Courtesy

Lynyrd Skynyrd BBQ and Beer at the Excalibur.

Updated Thursday, Sept. 27, 2012 | 3:46 p.m.

Map of Lynyrd Skynyrd BBQ

Lynyrd Skynyrd BBQ

3850 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas

The Lynyrd Skynyrd BBQ & Beer restaurant and its sister establishment, American Burger Works, both at the Excalibur, closed Wednesday and their owners filed for bankruptcy protection.

The restaurants have disappeared from the Excalibur website and a spokeswoman for MGM Resorts International, owner of the Excalibur, confirmed Thursday that both restaurants are closed.

A message for comment was left with the managers of the businesses, which together employed 89 people in full- or part-time positions.

The Southern rock group Lynyrd Skynyrd of “Sweet Home Alabama” fame had a stake in the Lynyrd Skynyrd restaurant, and the group performed during its December grand opening.

A Las Vegas Weekly critic proclaimed Lynyrd Skynyrd BBQ & Beer’s barbecue was the best on the Strip, and the restaurant was noted for its rock atmosphere.

But financial issues at Lynyrd Skynyrd BBQ & Beer surfaced publicly in August when an electrical contractor, FBP Systems Inc., filed suit in Clark County District Court complaining it had not been paid for some of its work on the restaurant improvements.

Lynyrd Skynyrd BBQ & Beer has not yet responded to the suit.

The Lynyrd Skynyrd BBQ & Beer bankruptcy filing said FBP is owed some $122,000, while the restaurant owes the Excalibur another $425,000.

Lynyrd Skynyrd BBQ & Beer is part of the Drive This! Entertainment group of restaurants, bars and lounges created in 2006 by Michael Frey and Craig Gilbert.

The company set up to own the restaurant, Nuthin’ Fancy LLC, didn’t provide detailed financial information in its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing Wednesday but said its assets are valued at less than $50,000 while its liabilities are in the $1 million to $10 million range.

American Burger Works also opened in late 2011. It is owned by ABX Burgers LLC and is another Frey/Gilbert venture. Its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing listed assets and liabilities each estimated at under $50,000.

At the Excalibur, a spokeswoman said Thursday that the property is looking at all of its options for how to use the space occupied by the closed restaurants.

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