Downtown restaurants file for bankruptcy

Eric Zackrison filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy for Agrario LLC and Bodega LLC on Jan. 23.

Zackrison owns four dining establishments, all on the 300-block of South Patton Avenue: Agrario restaurant and Bodega Bar under the Agrario LLC banner, Patton Alley Pub under the Bodega LLC banner and Hickok’s Steakhouse & Brewery Inc., co-owned with Scott Tillman.

Since opening Agrario in 2002, Zackrision has amassed at least $200,000 in debt, according to bankruptcy filings. He cites small weeknight dinner crowds, undercapitalization and high-interest loans for the bankruptcy.

Patton Alley Pub, a casual place for burgers and beer, does great business, Zackrison said. It’s included in the bankruptcy filing because it’s been financially supporting Agrario, located next door.

Agrario, a fine-dining establishment where a dinner guest spends $35 on average, is struggling because people who can afford to eat there regularly don’t come downtown on weeknights. Instead, Zackrison said, they eat at restaurants closer to their homes on the south and east sides of town.

He plans to move Agrario to the south or east part of Springfield by the year’s end, keeping his other establishments downtown.

Zackrison has until May 23 to file his reorganization plan.

“It’s looking really positive for both Agrario and (Patton Alley Pub) to pull through Chapter 11 really successfully,” he said.

See SBJ’s Feb. 12 issue for more updates on downtown Springfield restaurants.