The company that owns the Brigham's Ice Cream stand in The Mall at Rockingham Park in Salem, N.H., yesterday announced that the chain of eateries it owns will declare bankruptcy.
Still, it is unclear on whether Brigham's would close its mall shop.
The North Andover Brigham's will not be affected by the bankruptcy announcement. The restaurant is privately owned by a local woman who said yesterday she intends to keep her 79-seat restaurant open.
"We are not closing," said Fari Tayarina of North Andover, who has operated in North Andover for 17 years, and has a loyal following.
"We are kind of a family diner," Tayarina said. "We have a relationship with our customers. Many of the older generation loves us. They grew up with Brigham's ice cream and they love to come here."
Her restaurant in North Andover Plaza, off Route 114, employs three people full time and one part time.
Deal Metrics LLC, based in Maryland, bought 28 Brigham's shops, most of them in Massachusetts, in 2008 when the company was split into two entities: one making ice cream, the other operating the restaurants.
The ice-cream manufacturing arm of Brigham's was purchased by Hood, a Lynnfield company that intends to continue operating, said a spokeswoman.
Since Deal Metrics purchased the restaurants, several have already been closed. Yesterday's announcement said Deal Metrics intends to keep eight of the most profitable restaurants or ice-cream stands operating.
A manager of Brigham's in the Salem mall said he hadn't heard whether the shop he runs would close. It has been open about three years and employs eight people. The shop is the farthest north.
Deal Metrics officials could not be reached for comment.
