The Company Formerly Known as Verts Filed For Bankruptcy

Austin-born fast-casual chain Noon Mediterranean, formerly known as Verts, filed for bankruptcy protection earlier this month. It closed seven locations, which included two Austin-area shutters in Round Rock and Hill Country Galleria.

Through its Chapter 11 filing, Noon, known for customizable bowls, is looking for an investor to help the company continue to stay open, as reported by Restaurant Business. It also laid off 89 staffers in the company. Eater has reached out for more information; watch this space for updates.

Verts first opened under co-founders/owners Michael Heyne and Dominik Stein as VertsKebap in 2011. It underwent a slight name change in 2016, and expanded quickly and widely throughout the East Coast.

The company changed the name completely to Noon Mediterranean in 2016 because Heyne thought that people didn’t understand what the original name meant. During that name change, Noon closed several Austin locations already, as well as the only two San Antonio restaurants.

Similarly, Washington, D.C.-based Mediterranean fast-casual chain Cava is quickly making its mark on Austin. It opened three restaurants — Westlake, west campus, and the recent downtown one — within three months, and there’s already a fourth slated for the Domain next spring.

• Noon Mediterranean Files For Bankruptcy [Restaurant Business]
• Verts Changes Its Name to Noon Mediterranean [EATX]