ORLANDO, Fla. — Four bars in the Church Street area of downtown Orlando could be headed for bankruptcy, just as business is picking up in the area thanks to the opening of the nearby Amway Center.
Mako's, 23, Oakroom, and Backroom are managed by Church Street Concepts. The company is being pushed into bankruptcy. A group of former investors filed paperwork claiming they're owed at least $400,000.
Someone who represents the bars denies the accusations and questions the timing.
"The arena opening, business started to pick up. And then all of the sudden they're hit with an involuntary bankruptcy case," attorney Jimmy Parrish said.
Company president Steven Jones says the former investors are just trying to push him out so they can run the bars.
Residents who frequent the bars say a change in management wouldn't be a bad thing.
"It's a horrible crowd, a young crowd that doesn't like to dress up that disrespects people around here, starts fights in the bars," said resident Michael Riley.
The earliest church street concepts could enter chapter 11 bankruptcy would be in early 2011.
WFTV
