Matty’s saloon and restaurant in Lake Shore closed Tuesday.
Owner Matty Walsh said his intention was to keep the restaurant open through the charitable Gull Lake Frozen Fore to benefit Confidence Learning Center.
Walsh is working through bankruptcy and closed his restaurants in Walker about a month ago and his one in Brainerd last Saturday. Walsh said when he took his receipts from the Brainerd restaurant to his bank on Tuesday, he was informed his assets were seized by the bank.
Walsh said he had a plan to pay people he owed money to, including about $5,000 in payroll. But, Walsh said, when he asked if the bank would cash the payroll checks, the bank said no.
Other bills were for groceries, snowplowing, cable, telephone.
The Frozen Fore event coming up on Saturday was the Lake Shore restaurant’s biggest day of the year, Walsh said. He estimated the receipts would be about $20,000 and he planned to use those to pay various bills to people in the community. The day was expected to bring in additional revenue as Matty’s last day open as regular customers stopped in as well. Now, Walsh said, with the bank stepping in he will not be able to take in those dollars.
“If they wanted to take the money, they should have taken it next Tuesday,” Walsh said.
He pulled out of participating in the Frozen Fore event.
“Whatever is going to happen to me, I take full responsibility for,” Walsh said, but he said not being able to pay his employees was wrong. “It’s a question of morality for me.”
Walsh said his employees could have quit, but didn’t and he planned to be able to pay them for their efforts.
“It’s not a blame thing,” Walsh said. “My employees should get their money. People who worked for me in good faith should get their money.”
RENEE RICHARDSON may be reached at renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5852.
Comments (14)
Add commentBlame game?
Matt, it is still your responsibility to pay your employees. I hope you find a way to honor the back wages of your employees. Quit blaming the bank like you blamed the economy for your bad business decisions. Matty's location in Lake Shore is a great spot, and whomever buys it will be successful if they manage the business properly.
Hang in there!
I have serious doubts SouthCass has ever owned a business before! As a former business owner myself I can feel your pain Matt...it is a very unpleasant process, but you do get through it. SouthCass, if you can hear me up on your lonely pedestal, listen closely. My husband and I both owned businesses in the Brainerd Lakes Area. We EACH had enough money for 8 months in bills AND an additional 6 months for home bills. We had to start relying on that money in June of 2008. It didn't take us into 2010. We had business consultants come in, we had the bank in, we had atty's in. When the money is gone it's gone, when a person has exhausted all avenues and tried everything they can try, sometimes it just doesn't work. And yes, it was directly due to the economy, that conclusion came from the experts. In all our planning, in all our searching, in all our resources...we still lost it all...the businesses, our home, etc. But we learned a whole lot along the way and I plan on being positive and moving forward despite ignorance from people who haven't been through it or say people like us were at fault. Or would you like to walk the THOUSAND MILES in my shoes, or Matt's?
Matty's Closing
From the point of view of someone who understands how much work the Frozen Fore group does to create excitement for this event, I think the financial institution that could not work out a plan that would allow Matty to fulfill his obligations to his employees and the Frozen Fore is inhumane. This is not a big anonymous transaction. I assume that a local institution could factor in the "human" element and show a little compassion. We live in the Brainerd Lakes Area because we like interacting with our neighbors (Matty has lived next to me for a couple of years). It is too bad that the economy has given financial institutions no leeway to make common sense decisions.
Ditto... Hang in there!
Nicely said punke_1995. Matt, you went for it and the timing was tough. You are more than right about the bank picking the wrong time to lock the doors. I was on my way from Maple Grove on Saturday to wish you my best. That was the only reason I was on my way. I'm not sure if I will still come now? If I do, I hope to see you. A lot of your friends are thinking of you and wishing you the very best. (from your Party at the Pavillion friend - DL)
No Class Cass
I am going to assume you know nothing of the situation with Matty and his business, therefore what you say is based on no truth or knowledge, and that makes you sound ignorant. The employees stayed on while not getting paid because they liked and respected him and wanted to see him pull out of this. As long as he sticks to his word and pays the people he owes, Matty deserves no ill will from anyone. He is among the thousands that could not make it through the tough times. Good Luck Neighbor!
I worked at the Brainerd
I worked at the Brainerd location for Matty and just want to say that he and Missy are two of the most caring and generous people that I've ever met. Matty is one of those guys who would literally give you the shirt off his back. I have no doubt that Matty will get the payroll out to his employees. He's always treated us well and with respect, and managed his businesses very well. Everyone is so quick to speak, but until you've lost everything you have no idea. Try being human today and express some compassion.
I've come for the rent!
I'd be interested in knowing the name of the financial institution and the reason why both reporter and editors felt it was important to leave such a key fact out of the story.
I had the same curiousity,
I had the same curiousity, alpha. Barring other factors not mentioned in the story, the actions of the bank appear selfishly premature, if not financially foolish, and more than a little cold-hearted.
I had the same curiousity,
I had the same curiousity, alpha. Barring other factors not mentioned in the story, the actions of the bank appear selfishly premature, if not financially foolish, and more than a little cold-hearted.
In the old days the saying
In the old days the saying was you can't fight city hall ,, now it's you can't fight the banks heartless
Banks are sooo bad
ok so you sign a contract to pay your loan, you dont pay it and it's the big bad banks fault for closing your doors? I'm sure that there is a lot more to the timing of it than what the article states.
Matt Walsh is honorable man in midst of tough time
Many of you understands and say kind words. Thank you.
Matt is my brother-in-law. He is honorable man. For many months, he tried to make things go and this economy has hit ALL of us. He could have ran away and hid like some others have. He chose to stand and honor his family, his son, his sweetheart Missy, and his employees. What a difficult journey but this is truly remarkable. And brave!
The fact the employees did not quit at the first sign of trouble says a lot about Matt's leadership & ability to inspire loyalty.
He had a plan to make sure employees get paid. The bank screwed him and everyone over. Sometimes, we as humans forget common sense in our rigid rules and that includes the banks.
Still, the economy is affecting EVERYONE. Remember, we are humans and we will prevail. History has shown that and we will do it again.
Matt, we are proud of you and glad to be part of your family.
Hugs,
Jessica, Andy and Riley
hang in there
drive any highway in the area-closed,empty and abandoned buildings with no hope in the short term,friends of mine could not believe all the expense and paperwork the state imposes-they made it 1 year, best of luck to the employees. that was class to help to the end!
Mattys
Lets stop blaming the banks and blame the one responsible! Matt Walsh. Blame economy, blame everyone Blame yourself! The bank shut you down because you arent paying your bills so to say everyone will be paid. Lets hope so! Pay the bank too! Its not there fault your a bad business man!