Ark Restaurants
arkr
Untitled Document








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Ark Restaurants Announces First Quarter Financial Results

Contact:
Robert Towers
(212) 206-8800
bob@arkrestaurants.com

NEW YORK, New York -- February 9, 2009 -- Ark Restaurants Corp. today reported financial results for the first quarter ended December 27, 2008.

Total revenues from continuing operations for the three-month period ended December 27, 2008 were $26,792,000 versus $29,280,000 in the three months ended December 29, 2007.

EBITDA from continuing operations for the three-month period ended December 27, 2008 was $1,885,000 versus $2,704,000 during the same three-month period last year. The Company's income from continuing operations for the three-month period ended December 27, 2008 was $847,000, or $0.24 per share ($0.24 per diluted share), as compared to $1,384,000, or $0.38 per share ($0.38 per diluted share), for the same three-month period last year.

Company-wide same store sales decreased 14.8% compared to the same period last year.

Net income for the three-month period ended December 27, 2008 was $847,000 versus $1,485,000 in the three months ended December 29, 2007.

As of December 27, 2008, the Company had cash, cash equivalents and short term investments totaling $8,500,000. As of the same date, the Company had no long-term debt other than $658,000 remaining due on a five year purchase money obligation undertaken in connection with the Company's January 8, 2007 acquisition of the Durgin Park Restaurant and the Black Horse Tavern in Boston, Massachusetts.

Michael Weinstein, the Company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated "Obviously business conditions deteriorated in all venues as compared to last year. We were especially vulnerable to cancellations of corporate events during the Christmas season as well as a general decline in headcounts."

Ark Restaurants owns and operates 20 restaurants and bars, 30 fast food concepts, catering operations and wholesale and retail bakeries. Seven restaurants are located in New York City, four are located in Washington, D.C., five are located in Las Vegas, Nevada, two are located in Atlantic City, New Jersey, one is located at the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Ledyard, Connecticut and one is located in Boston, Massachusetts. The Las Vegas operations include three restaurants within the New York-New York Hotel & Casino Resort and operation of the hotel's room service, banquet facilities, employee dining room and nine food court concepts; one bar within the Venetian Casino Resort as well as three food court concepts. The Florida operations under management include five fast food facilities in Tampa, Florida and seven fast food facilities in Hollywood, Florida, each at a Hard Rock Hotel and Casino operated by the Seminole Indian Tribe at these locations. In Atlantic City, New Jersey, the Company operates a restaurant and a bar in the Resorts Atlantic City Hotel and Casino. In Boston, Massachusetts, the Company operates a restaurant in the Faneuil Hall Marketplace.

Except for historical information, this news release contains forward-looking statements, which involve unknown risks, and uncertainties that may cause the Company's actual results or outcomes to be materially different from those anticipated and discussed herein. Important factors that might cause such differences are discussed in the Company's fillings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

ARK RESTAURANTS CORP.

Condensed Consolidated Income Statement

For the 13 week periods ended December 27, 2008 and December 29, 2007

(In Thousands, Except per share amounts)

                                                13 weeks ended  13 weeks ended

                                                December 27,    December 29,

                                                2008            2007

TOTAL REVENUES                                  $ 26,792        $ 29,280

COST AND EXPENSES:

Food and beverage cost of sales                   6,711           7,456

Payroll expenses                                  8,924           9,239

Occupancy expenses                                3,793           3,927

Other operating costs and expenses                3,986           3,922

General and administrative expenses               2,087           2,151

Depreciation and amortization expenses            906             668

Total costs and expenses                          26,407          27,363

OPERATING INCOME                                  385             1,917

OTHER INCOME:

Interest income - net                             192             130

Other income                                      358             119

Total other income                                550             249

Income from continuing operations

before income taxes                               935             2,166

Provision for income taxes                        (324   )        (782   )

Loss attributable to non-controlling interests    236             -

Income from continuing operations                 847             1,384

DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS:

Income from operations of discontinued            -               157
restaurants

Provision for income taxes                        -               56

Income from discontinued operations               -               101

NET INCOME                                      $ 847           $ 1,485

PER SHARE INFORMATION - BASIC AND DILUTED:

Continuing operations basic                     $ .24           $ .38

Discontinued operations basic                   $ 0             $ .03

Net basic                                       $ .24           $ .41

Continuing operations diluted                   $ .24           $ .38

Discontinued operations diluted                 $ 0             $ .03

Net diluted                                     $ .24           $ .41

WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF SHARES-BASIC           3,505           3,597

WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF SHARES-DILUTED         3,505           3,641

Continuing Operations EBITDA Reconciliation

Pre tax earnings (net of non-controlling        $ 1,171         $ 2,166
interests)

Depreciation and amortization                     906             668

Interest                                          (192)           (130)

EBITDA (a)                                      $ 1,885         $ 2,704

Continuing Operations EBITDA adjusted for

non-cash stock option expense

EBITDA (as defined) (a)                         $ 1,885         $ 2,704

Non-cash stock option expense                     78              78

EBITDA adjusted for non-cash stock option       $ 1,963         $ 2,782
expense




 (a) EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and
     amortization and cumulative effect of changes in accounting principle.
     Although EBITDA is not a measure of performance or liquidity calculated in
     accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), the
     Company believes the use of the non-GAAP financial measure EBITDA enhances
     an overall understanding of the Company's past financial performance as
     well as providing useful information to the investor because of its
     historical use by the Company as both a performance measure and measure of
     liquidity, and the use of EBITDA by virtually all companies in the
     restaurant sector as a measure of both performance and liquidity. However,
     investors should not consider this measure in isolation or as a substitute
     for net income, operating income, cash flows from operating activities or
     any other measure for determining the Company's operating performance or
     liquidity that is calculated in accordance with GAAP, it may not
     necessarily be comparable to similarly titled Measures employed by other
     companies. A reconciliation of EBITDA to the most comparable GAAP financial
     measure, net income, is included above.

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