Former Baseball Player To Sell Off Failed Restaurant

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
Feb 21st 2010 at 6:02PM

Many sports figures tend to get into the restaurant business. For some this can be a great investment but it doesn't always have a happy ending. Baseball player Steve Finley has filed bankruptcy on behalf of BRG Restaurant Group, the company that owned his upscale, San Diego area Flight Restaurant. The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that last year, Finley ran into trouble, handing out paychecks that bounced. Finley has said he still wants to pay his former employees but that the business ran out of money because of the economy and management problems which left him as the restaurant manager at one point.

In January, Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidation papers were filed but this week Finley canceled the bankruptcy because he is close to a deal to have someone else take over the restaurant and pay back wages. Finley is a World Series champion and five-time Gold Glove Award winner who opened the restaurant with a team of investors. It overlooks the polo fields at El Camino Real and Via de la Valle in Del Mar. The restaurant served pricey Italian fare but also had a bar with a nightclub atmosphere. It once featured dancing girls dressed as angels, a nod to one of Finley's former teams (he played a brief season for the Angels in 2005).

UPDATE: A picture of Chuck Finley was mistakenly used in an earlier version of this story, we regret the error.

Gallery: Celebrity Restaurants

Tags: del mar, DelMar, restaurants, san diego, SanDiego, steve finley, SteveFinley

Filed under: Dining, Sports, Celebrity Design

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

GVA Coach Feb 22nd 2010 7:09AM

Chuck Finley?

jack Feb 22nd 2010 11:05AM

The bankruptcy laws suck. They screw the persons owed money.
Thank you congress!!!

chicobombico Feb 22nd 2010 2:57PM

If they were not broke they would not be filing bankruptcy. You cannot get money from a person or business who has none.

Nick Feb 22nd 2010 12:51PM

Deidre, Please learn how to write. This is one of the worst written articles I have ever read. Most of it makes absolutely no sense

mlom1207 Feb 22nd 2010 3:30PM

mmmhmm

Steve Feb 22nd 2010 2:32PM

Anyone notice that the picture is not of Steve Finley?

kachina321 Feb 22nd 2010 2:58PM

SOME OF THESE SPORTS FIGURES THINK THAT PEOPLE WILL COME TO THEIR REST. JUST BECAUSE OF THEIR NAME. (WRONG) IT TAKES TONS OF WORK AND REALLY GOOD FOOD TO MAKE IT IN TODAYS WORLD. I HAVE A BROTHER IN LAW WHO HAS OPENED 5 STAR RETURANTS FROM PALM SPRINGS,LAS VEGAS AND NEWPORT BEACH.
YES, FOR WHAT HE DOES HE MAKES 6 FIGURES. HE NOT ONLY OPENS THEM HE DESIGNS THE PLACE AND THE MENU. THEN HE HAS TO TRAIN THE STAFF TO HIS LIKING. BECAUSE OF THE MONEY HE MAKES THE OWNERS THINK THEY CAN NOW GET RID OF HIM SINCE THE REST. IS UP AND RUNNING. THIS TAKES ABOUT 3 YEARS OR SO. THEN THEY LET HIM GO AND BEFORE THE YEAR IS UP, THE PLACE GOES BELLY UP.
ALL THE PEOPLE THAT COME IN ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR HIM OR ASKING WHERE HE IS. I HAVE SEEN THIS FOR OVER 20 YEARS. IT IS A SHAME THAT BIG BIS. IS PENNY WISE AND DOLLAR FOOLISH.

kachina321 Feb 22nd 2010 2:59PM

IN FACT IF YOU WATCH THE WACKO'S FROM ORANGE COUNTY. YOU WILL SEE HIM AT THE RED ROCK CASINO. IN A PLACE CALLED T BONES.
HE IS THE ONE IN THE BLACK SUIT ANSWERING THE LADIES QUESTIONS.
SO THAT IN ITSELF SHOULD SAY SOMETHING FOR HIM AND THE REST.

jack Feb 22nd 2010 3:42PM

I wish you were right but you are not!
They keep the cars, house, pensions, etc.
Everyone could pay you something, no matter how little.
I ge the shaft from my contractor so I know. Went to bankruptcy and he gets to keep more than I have.

Hattie Crabtree Feb 23rd 2010 8:06AM

What else is new?Calif is broke and has always been expensive.

randyt2828 Feb 23rd 2010 8:06AM

definitely Chuck Finley, pitcher for the angels, not Steve Finley, center fielder for many teams including Diamondbacks and Padres. Get your facts straight Deidre

douglof25 Feb 23rd 2010 9:05AM

Ok First of all Steve Finley played less then a season for the Angels at the end of his career. That is Chuck Finley pictured. Another reason the press cant be trusted. If this person knows so much about the situation, you would think they could figure out who is who

MarkDesigns Feb 23rd 2010 10:07AM

Last time I checked Steve Finley won gold gloves and a world series, not Chuck Finley. Deidre, please get your facts straight before submitting your article. A grammar check wouldn't hurt either....

Scott Douglas Feb 23rd 2010 10:21AM

The Picture is Chuck Finley...if you are going to write an article, you should know what the heck you are talking about.....
Why does AOL who could afford the best writers all over the world continue to post scriibling from people who have no idea what they speak of?

mjmiller4u Feb 23rd 2010 10:31AM

So, is it Steve Finley or Chuck Finley?

L.C. Chapman III Mar 12th 2010 4:35PM

HEY AMERICA!!!!!!!! Bankruptcy favors the banks that's why they call it bankruptcy!!!! The lawyers, courts and even the judges always win!!! Business bankruptcy is like cherry picking. These so-called court and legal professionals can legally rob you and make it look like it was your fault. Been there, done that!!!!

GOD BLESS THE AMERICAN WORKING AND MIDDLE CLASS!!!!!!

Lamar C. Chapman III
Solo Fides (Only by Faith)
Crown-of-Life Recipient 10-24-2004