Quarterlytics / Consumer Cyclical / Restaurants / Ark Restaurants

Ark Restaurants

arkr · NASDAQ Consumer Cyclical
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Ticker arkr
Exchange NASDAQ
Sector Consumer Cyclical
Industry Restaurants
Employees 1001-5000
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FY2002 Annual Report · Ark Restaurants
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Ark 
Restaurants 
Corp. 

2002 ANNUAL REPORT 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
THE COMPANY 

Ark Restaurants Corp. (the “Registrant” or the “Company”) is a New York corporation formed in 
1983.    Through  its  subsidiaries,  it  owns  and  operates  26  restaurants  and  bars,  12  fast  food  concepts, 
catering  operations,  and  wholesale  and  retail  bakeries.    Initially  its  facilities  were  located  only  in  New 
York  City.    At  this  time,  12  of  the  restaurants  are  located  in  New  York  City,  four  are  located  in 
Washington, D.C., nine are located in Las Vegas, Nevada, and one is located in Islamorada, Florida.  The 
Company’s  Las  Vegas  operations  include  three  restaurants  within  the  New  York-New  York  Hotel  & 
Casino Resort, and operation of the resort’s room service, banquet facilities, employee dining room and 
eight  food  court  operations.    The  Company  also  owns  and  operates  two  restaurants,  two  bars  and  four 
food  court  facilities  at  the  Venetian  Casino  Resort,  one  restaurant  at  the  Neonopolis  Center  at  Fremont 
Street, and one restaurant within the Forum Shops at Caesar’s Shopping Center.  

The Company will provide without charge a copy of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-
K for the fiscal year ended September 28, 2002, including financial statements and schedules thereto, to 
each  of  the  Company’s  shareholders  of  record  on  February  7,  2003  and  each  beneficial  holder  on  that 
date, upon receipt of a written request therefor mailed to the Company’s offices, 85 Fifth Avenue, New 
York, New York 10003, attention: Treasurer. 

2 

 
 
 
 
 
 
February 7, 2003 

Dear Shareholder: 

Your company performed quite well this past year.  For the full fiscal year ended September 28, 
2002, total revenues were $115.5 million versus $127.4 million for the prior fiscal year.  Net income for 
the  year  was  $4.2  million  compared  to  a  net  loss  of  $6.8  million  and  EBITDA  was  $11.9  million 
compared to a negative EBITDA of $2 million in the prior fiscal year.  The principal reason for the net 
loss and negative EBITDA in fiscal 2001 was a $10 million impairment charge associated with the write 
down of the company’s restaurant and food court operations at Desert Passage, the retail complex at the 
Aladdin Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.  We no longer operate this facility.  The decline in revenues in 
fiscal  2002  was  primarily  due  to  a  decrease  in  same  store  sales.    We  were  adversely  affected  by  the 
terrorist attacks on September 11th, the residual affects on tourism and the sluggish economy.  Also, The 
Grill Room, our restaurant located at 2 World Financial Center, an office building complex adjacent to the 
World Trade Center site, was closed this past year because of damages sustained on September 11th.  We 
reopened this operation in December 2002. 

Most notable this past year was the company’s ability to deleverage.  We reduced long-term debt from 
$23.9 million as of the end of the last fiscal year to $15.8 million as of the end of this fiscal year.  Debt 
reduction  is  a  primary  goal  of  the  company.    We  believe  that  this  is  a  time  to  be  conservative  and 
optimize cash flow from current operations.  We are not currently committed to any major projects.  We 
may  take  advantage  of  opportunities  considered  favorable  when  they  occur,  depending  upon  the 
availability of financing and other relevant factors.  This year management at our restaurants worked very 
hard to achieve lower operating expenses as we all adjusted to lower revenue prospects.  The Company’s 
results  speak  well  to  their  efforts.    We  primarily  operate  in  New  York  City,  Washington  D.C.  and  Las 
Vegas,  Nevada.    Current  sales  activity  in  New  York  and  Washington  is  depressed  and  we  believe  that 
current  sales  activity  in  these  two  markets  remain  below  their  potential.    We  believe  that  with  lower 
operating  expenses  in  place,  we  will  be  in  a  good  position  to  expand  our  EBITDA  significantly  as  the 
economy, tourism and corporate business recover.   

The Las Vegas market remains highly resilient and has mostly recovered.  We are quite excited about our 
prospects for the coming year in Las Vegas.  We recently amended our lease to provide for an expansion 
of 85 new seats at Gallagher’s Steak House at New York-New York Hotel and Casino where we presently 
own three restaurants, eight fast food operations and provide banquet and room service.  This expansion 
should be a significant revenue driver for us.  There is presently more demand for Gallagher’s than seats 
available (the restaurant does in excess of  $45,000 per annum per seat).  These 85 additional seats will be 
available as the new 1.7 million square foot convention center at Mandalay Bay Hotel, just south of New 
York-New York, becomes operational.  The convention center should increase traffic at Gallagher’s and 
benefit our other food operations at the hotel.  The Venetian Hotel and Casino is adding over 1,000 luxury 
suites that come on line in May.  We operate two restaurants, two bars and four fast food locations at the 
Venetian.  We will add another fast food operation, Jody Maroni’s, this year.  Revenues should expand 
from  the  increased  population  staying  at  this  resort.    And  finally,  the  Stage  Deli  at  the  Forum  Shops 
continues to experience double-digit increases in comparative sales.  For these reasons we expect that this 
will be a very good year for us in Las Vegas. 

The  New  York  City  and  Washington  D.C.  markets  have  proved  difficult  for  us  in  the  last  year.    The 
September 11th tragedy certainly explains the decline in tourism to these cities, but the sluggish economy 
had a greater impact on our revenues.  We had negative comparative sales in both markets.  Also, prices 
paid  for  and  the  amount  of  corporate  and  social  events  are  under  pressure.    Presently,  we  see  no 

3 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
indications of a recovery.  We are responding by reviewing our products and services to make sure quality 
and price points represent strong value.  At Lutéce in New York we have gone as far as to reduce prices in 
order to broaden our audience appeal.  At the same time we are hammering away at our cost structure. 

At  the  time  we  reported  year-end  results,  we  indicated  that  we  expected  a  small  first  quarter  loss  for 
December 2003.  This stands in contrast to the reported profits of the December 2002 quarter.  There are 
several reasons for this loss.  Primarily, business in New York City and Washington D.C. was very poor 
in the 2003 first quarter.  Comparative sales were negative during this period.  In the 2002 first quarter the 
terrorist attacks caused  such uncertainty that we dramatically reduced payrolls, received temporary rent 
concessions  from  landlords  and  received  discounts  from  purveyors.    These  forms  of  relief  were 
unavailable  to  us  in  the  2003  first  quarter.    Payrolls  ran  higher,  although  still  well  below  those  of  two 
years  ago,  and  we  were  not  able  to  secure  concessions  in  rent  from  landlords  or  discounts  from  our 
purveyors as we did in the 2002 first quarter.   

We believe that we are good managers of our restaurants.  Our employees are dedicated and committed to 
excellence.  They have proven that they can adjust to extraordinary circumstances.  We will continue our 
efforts  to  increase  shareholder  value  by  reviewing  and  refining  our  business  in  New  York  and 
Washington D.C., while putting our capital to work in Las Vegas, our most vibrant market. 

Sincerely,  

Michael Weinstein, President 

4 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ARK RESTAURANTS CORP. 

CORPORATE OFFICE 
Michael Weinstein, President and Chief Executive Officer 
Robert Towers, Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Treasurer 
Robert Stewart, Chief Financial Officer  
Vincent Pascal, Senior Vice President-Operations and Secretary 
Paul Gordon, Senior Vice President-Director of Las Vegas Operations 
Walter Rauscher, Vice President – Corporate Sales & Catering 
Nancy Alvarez, Controller 
Kathryn Green, Controller-Las Vegas Operations 
Marilyn Guy, Director of Human Resources 
Colleen Hennigan, Director of Operations-Washington Division 
John Oldweiler, Director of Purchasing 
Jennifer Sutton, Director of Operations and Financial Analysis 
Joe Vasquez, Director of Facilities Management 
Etty Scaglia, Director of Tour & Travel Sales 
Jasmyn Sharrock, Director of Marketing 

ASSOCIATE 
Andre Soltner, Lutéce 

CORPORATE EXECUTIVE CHEF 
Bill Peet 

EXECUTIVE CHEFS 
Bill Peet, New York 
Chun Liao, Washington D.C. 
Damien McEvoy, Las Vegas 

RESTAURANT GENERAL MANAGERS – NEW YORK 
Liz Caro, The Grill Room 
Anne Duffell, America 
David Fèau, Lutéce 
Jessica Fernandez, Columbus Bakery I, II & III 
Kelly Gallo, Ernie’s 
Bridgeen Hale, Metropolitan Café 
Halbert Hernandez, Canyon Road Grill 
Jennifer Jordan, El Rio Grande 
Debra Lomurno, Sequoia  
Donna Simms, Bryant Park Grill 
Ridgley Trufant, Red 
Ana Zaldarriaga, Gonzalez y Gonzalez 
Brian Ziffin, Jack Rose 

RESTAURANT GENERAL MANAGERS – WASHINGTON D.C. 
Kyle Carnegie, Sequoia  
Bender Ganiao, Thunder Grill 
Matt Mitchell, America  & Center Café 

5 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
RESTAURANT MANAGERS – LAS VEGAS 
RafaelGarcia, The Saloon 
Charles Gerbino, Las Vegas Employee Dining Facility 
Chris Grant, Gallagher’s  
Gus Fuzman, Village Streets 
John Hausdorf, Las Vegas Room Service 
Joe Lopez, Tsunami Grill 
Mary Masa, Gonzalez y Gonzalez 
Paul O’Hearn, America  
John Page, Las Vegas Catering 
David Simmons, Stage Deli 
Robert Smythe, Lutéce 

RESTAURANTS MANAGERS – FLORIDA 
John Maloughney, Lor-e-lei 

RESTAURANT CHEFS – NEW YORK 
Henry Chung, Jack Rose 
Armando Cortes, The Grill Room 
David Fèau, Lutéce  
Rosalio Fuentes, Metropolitan Café 
Carlos Garcia, Sequoia  
Santiago Moran, Red 
Virgilio Ortega, Columbus Bakery 
Salvador Pascual, Ernie’s 
Fermin Ramirez, El Rio Grande 
Ruperto Ramirez, Canyon Road Grill 
Edward Simmons, America 
Mariano Veliz, Gonzalez y Gonzalez 
Gadi Weinreich, Bryant Park Grill 

RESTAURANT CHEFS – WASHINGTON D.C. 
Oscar Campos, Thunder Grill 
Michael Foo, America & Center Cafe 
Chun Liao, Sequoia 

RESTAURANT CHEFS – LAS VEGAS 
David Abraczinskas, Stage Deli 
Arvy Dumbrys, America 
Florence Duff, Tsunami Grill 
Pedro Gonzalez, Vico’s Burritos 
Luigi Guiga, Gallagher’s 
Hector Hernadez, Banquet 
Michael Martin, The Saloon 
Jorge Lopez, Lutéce 
John Miller, Las Vegas Employee Dining Facility 
Sergio Salazar, Gonzalez y Gonzalez 

RESTAURANT CHEFS – FLORIDA 
David Mansen, Lor-e-lei 

6 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA 

The  following  table  sets  forth  certain  financial  data  for  the  fiscal  years  ended  in  1998  through 
2002.    This  information  should  be  read  in  conjunction  with  the  Company’s  Consolidated  Financial 
Statements and the notes thereto beginning at page F-1. 

(in thousands, except per share data)
Years Ended

September 28,
2002

September 29,
2001
(a)

September 30,
2000
(b)

October 2,
1999

October 3,
1998

OPERATING DATA:

  Total revenue

$  

115,480

$  

127,536

$  

119,866

$  

111,804

$  

118,698

  Cost and expenses

(109,183)

(135,591)

(123,729)

(104,836)

(110,949)

  Operating income (loss)

  Other income (expense), net

  Income (loss) before provision for 
    income taxes and cumulative 
    effect of accounting change

  Provision (benefit) for income taxes

  Income (loss) before cumulative 
    effect on accounting change

  Cumulative effect of accounting 
   charge, net

NET INCOME (LOSS)

NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE:

6,297

(649)

5,648

1,419

4,229

-     

4,229

(8,055)

(2,135)

(10,190)

(3,342)

(3,863)

(1,577)

(5,440)

(1,906)

968

103

7,071

2,576

7,749

(69)

7,680

3,068

(6,848)

(3,534)

4,495

4,612

-     

(6,848)

189

(3,723)

-     

4,495

-     

4,612

  Basic

  Diluted

$        

1.33

$       

(2.15)

$       

(1.17)

$        

1.30

$        

1.21

$        

1.32

$       

(2.15)

$       

(1.17)

$        

1.29

$        

1.20

  Weighted average number of shares

  Basic

  Diluted

BALANCE SHEET DATA 
  (end of period):

  Total assets

  Working capital (deficit)

  Long-term debt

  Shareholders’ equity

  Shareholders’ equity per share

  Facilities in operations, end of year, 
    including managed

3,181

3,206

47,960

(7,990)

9,547

21,446

6.74

3,181

3,181

53,091

(6,569)

21,700

17,173

5.40

3,186

3,186

3,461

3,476

3,826

3,852

66,297

(5,640)

24,447

24,065

7.55

46,709

43,505

(3,714)

(1,260)

6,683

4,405

28,843

28,521

8.33

7.45

41

47

49

42

42

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MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF 

FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS 

Accounting period 

The Company's fiscal year ends on the Saturday nearest September 30.  The fiscal years ended 

September 28, 2002, September 29, 2001 and September 30, 2000 each included 52 weeks.   

Revenues 

Total  revenues  at  restaurants  owned  by  the  Company  decreased  by  9.4%  from  fiscal  2001  to 
fiscal  2002  and  increased  by  6.4%  from  fiscal  2000  to  fiscal  2001.    Of  the  $12,056,000  decrease  in 
revenues from fiscal 2001 to fiscal 2002, $3,282,000 is attributable to the year long closure of the Grill 
Room  restaurant  located  in  2  World  Financial  Center,  an  office  building  adjacent  to  the  World  Trade 
Center site.  This restaurant was damaged in the September 11, 2001 attack and reopened in early fiscal 
2003.  A $256,000 increase in sales is attributable to the opening of the Saloon at the Neonopolis Center 
in downtown Las Vegas.   

Same  store  sales  decreased  6.7%  or  $8,262,000,  on  a  Company-wide  basis  from  fiscal  2001  to 
fiscal 2002.  The decrease in same store sales was 3.3% in Las Vegas, 8.1% in New York and 13.7% in 
Washington D.C.  Such decreases were principally due to a decrease in customer counts.  The change in 
menu  prices  did  not  significantly  affect  revenues.    The  Company  believes  its  fiscal  2002  revenues 
compared to fiscal 2001 were adversely effected by the terrorist attacks on September 11th, the residual 
effects on tourism and the sluggish economy.  While Las Vegas has rebounded considerably in the past 
year, New York and Washington continue to experience soft sales.   

During  the  fourth  quarter  of  2002  the  Company  abandoned  its  restaurant  and  food  court 
operations at the Desert Passage, the retail complex at the Aladdin Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.  A one-
time pretax charge of $10,045,000 was taken in fiscal 2001 as a result of Company’s determination that 
such operations had become significantly impaired.  During fiscal 2002 sales decreased 42.9% compared 
to  fiscal  2001,  resulting  in  the  Company’s  decision  to  abandon  these  operations.    If  this  decrease  is 
excluded  from  same  store  Las  Vegas  sales,  the  Company’s  remaining  operations  in  Las  Vegas 
experienced a sales increase of $190,000 during fiscal 2002. 

Of the $7,670,000 increase in revenues from fiscal 2000 to fiscal 2001, $9,370,000 is attributable 
to sales at operations which were either opened in fiscal 2001, or did not operate for the full comparable 
period  the  previous  year  (The  Venetian  concepts  –  Lutece,  Tsunami,  and  four  food  court  outlets,  the 
Aladdin  concepts  –  Fat  Anthony’s  and  the  Alakazam  Food  Court,  and  Jack  Rose  in  New  York).  
Revenues were negatively affected by $963,000 due to the closure of a restaurant, America in McLean, 
Virginia.  Same store sales decreased by 0.6% or $612,000 from fiscal 2000 to fiscal 2001. 

Other  operating  income,  which  consists  of  the  sale  of  merchandise  at  various  restaurants  and 
management  fee  income,  was  $373,000  in  fiscal  2002,  $529,000  in  fiscal  2001  and  $654,000  in  fiscal 
2000. 

Costs and Expenses 

Food and beverage cost of sales as a percentage of total revenue was 24.9% in fiscal 2002, 25.5% 

in fiscal 2001 and 25.9% in fiscal 2000.  

8 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Total costs and expenses decreased by $26,408,000, 19.5% from fiscal 2001 to fiscal 2002.  The 
main  reasons  for  this  decrease  in  total  costs  and  expenses  include  the  reduction  in  payroll  expenses  of 
$7,673,000  from  fiscal  2001  to  fiscal  2002  as  a  result  of  the  Company’s  response  to  the  events  of 
September  11,  2001  and  the  continued  weakened  economy.    Food  and  beverage  costs  decreased 
$3,755,000 resulting from the decrease in food and beverage sales of $11,900,000.  Additionally, during 
fiscal  2001,  total  costs  and  expenses  were  adversely  affected  by  an  asset  impairment  charge  of 
$10,045,000 associated with the write down of the Company’s Desert Passage restaurant and food court 
operations.  Total costs and expenses were also impacted in fiscal 2001 by a charge of $935,000 due to 
the  cancellation  of  a  development  project.    During  fiscal  2000  total  costs  and  expenses  were  adversely 
affected  by  an  impairment  charge  of  $811,000  associated  with  the  anticipated  sale  of  a  restaurant 
(America in McLean, Virginia), expenses of $280,000 from the sale of a managed restaurant (Arlo) and a 
$1,300,000  charge  associated  with  a  wage  and  hour  lawsuit.  Also  during  fiscal  2000,  the  Company 
withdrew  from  a  project,  in  which  the  Company  had  a  50%  interest,  to  develop  and  construct  four 
restaurants  at  a  large  theatre  development  in  Southfield,  Michigan.  Charges  of  $4,988,000  were  taken 
from the write-off of advances for construction costs and working capital needs on the project. 

Payroll expenses as a percentage of total revenues decreased to 32.4% for fiscal 2002 compared 
to 35.4% for fiscal 2001 and 35.9% for fiscal 2000.  Payroll expense was $37,412,000, $45,085,000 and 
$43,063,000  in  fiscal  2002,  2001  and  2000,  respectively.    The  Company  aggressively  adapted  its  cost 
structure  in  response  to  lower  sales  expectations  following  September  11th  and  continues  to  review  its 
cost structure and make adjustments where appropriate.  Head count stood at 1,959 as of year end 2002 
compared to 2,070 and 2,460 at year-end 2001 and 2000 respectively.  Severance pay to key personnel 
was approximately $250,000 during fiscal 2002. 

No  pre-opening  expenses  and  early  operating  losses  were  incurred  during  fiscal  2002  as  the 
Company  received  a  construction  and  operating  allowance  from  the  landlord  for  the  Saloon  at  the 
Neonopolis Center at Freemont Street in downtown Las Vegas, the one restaurant opened in fiscal 2002.  
The  Company  incurred  pre-opening  and  early  operating  losses  at  newly  opened  restaurants  of 
approximately $100,000 in fiscal 2001 and $2,393,000 in fiscal 2000. The fiscal 2000 expenses and losses 
were  from  opening  restaurants  and  food  court  operations  within  two  Las  Vegas  casinos  (Lutece  and 
Tsunami in the Venetian along with four food court outlets; and Fat Anthony’s and the food court outlets 
in the Aladdin).  The Company also converted B. Smith’s New York, an existing restaurant in New York 
City, to Jack Rose.  The Company typically incurs significant pre-opening expenses in connection with its 
new restaurants which are expensed as incurred.  Furthermore, it is not uncommon that such restaurants 
experience operating losses during the early months of operation.   

General and administrative expenses, as a percentage of total revenue, were 5.7% in fiscal 2002, 
5.5%  in  fiscal  2001  and  5.9%  in  fiscal  2000.    General  and  administrative  expenses  were  adversely 
impacted  by  a  $370,000  increase  in  casualty  insurance  costs  during  fiscal  2002.    General  and 
administrative  expenses  in  fiscal  2001  were  impacted  by  $400,000  in  legal  expenses  incurred  in 
connection  with  a  potential  transaction.    During  fiscal  2000,  general  and  administrative  expenses  were 
impacted due to costs associated with the expansion of the Company’s corporate sales department, travel 
expenditures associated with the new openings in Las Vegas and legal expenditures from the wage and 
hour lawsuit.  

The Company managed one restaurant owned by others (El Rio Grande) at September 28, 2002 
and September 29, 2001 while the Company managed four restaurants owned by others (El Rio Grande in 
Manhattan,  and  the  Marketplace  Cafe,  the  Marketplace  Grill,  and  the  Brewskeller  Pub  in  Boston, 
Massachusetts)  at  September  30,  2000.    Sales  of  these  restaurant  facilities,  which  are  not  included  in 
consolidated  sales,  were  $2,973,000  in  fiscal  2002,  $4,380,000  in  fiscal  2001  and  $8,867,000  in  fiscal 
2000. The decrease in sales of managed operations is principally due to the expiration of the management 

9 

 
 
 
agreement for the three Boston restaurants.  The management agreement expired on December 31, 2000 
and was not renewed.  The contribution of these restaurants to management fee income was $0 in fiscal 
2002, $134,000 in fiscal 2001 and $278,000 in fiscal 2000. 

Interest  expense  was  $1,212,000  in  fiscal  2002,  $2,446,000  in  fiscal  2001  and  $2,007,000  in 
fiscal  2000.    The  significant  decrease  from  fiscal  2001  to  fiscal  2002  is  due  to  lower  outstanding 
borrowings on the Company’s credit facility and the benefit from rate decreases in the prime-borrowing 
rate.  Interest income was $133,000 in fiscal 2002, $150,000 in fiscal 2001 and $172,000 in fiscal 2000.  
Other income, which generally consists of purchasing service fees and other income at various restaurants 
was $430,000, $161,000 and $258,000 for fiscal 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively. 

Income Taxes 

The provision for income taxes reflects Federal income taxes calculated on a consolidated basis 
and  state  and  local  income  taxes  calculated  by  each  New  York  subsidiary  on  a  non-consolidated  basis.  
Most  of  the  restaurants  owned  or  managed  by  the  Company  are  owned  or  managed  by  a  separate 
subsidiary. 

For state and local income tax purposes, the losses incurred by a subsidiary may only be used to 
offset that subsidiary's income, with the exception of the restaurants operating in the District of Columbia.  
Accordingly, the Company's overall effective tax rate has varied depending on the level of losses incurred 
at individual subsidiaries.  Due to losses incurred in both fiscal 2001 and fiscal 2000 and the carry back of 
such  losses,  the  Company  realized  an  overall  tax  benefit  of  32.8%  and  of  35%  of  such  losses  in  fiscal 
2001 and fiscal 2000, respectively.  During fiscal 2002 the Company abandoned its restaurant and food 
court operations at the Desert Passage, the retail complex at the Aladdin Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.  
In  fiscal  2002,  the  Company  was  able  to  utilize  the  deferred  tax  asset  created  in  fiscal  2001,  by  the 
impairment of these operations.  The Company’s effective tax rate for fiscal 2002 was 25.1%. 

The Company's overall effective tax rate in the future will be affected by factors such as the level 
of losses incurred at the Company's New York facilities, which cannot be consolidated for state and local 
tax purposes, pre-tax income earned outside of New York City and the utilization of state and local net 
operating loss carry forwards.  Nevada has no state income tax and other states in which the Company 
operates have income tax rates substantially lower in comparison to New York.  In order to utilize more 
effectively tax loss carry forwards at restaurants that were unprofitable, the Company has merged certain 
profitable subsidiaries with certain loss subsidiaries. 

The  Revenue  Reconciliation  Act  of  1993  provides  tax  credits  to  the  Company  for  FICA  taxes 
paid by the Company on tip income of restaurant service personnel.  The net benefit to the Company was 
$741,000 in fiscal 2002, $489,000 in fiscal 2001 and $503,000 in fiscal 2000. 

During fiscal 2002, the Company and the Internal Revenue Service finalized the adjustments to 
the  Company’s  Federal  income  tax  returns  for  fiscal  years  1995  through  1998.    The  settlement  did  not 
have a material effect on the Company’s financial condition.  

Liquidity and Sources of Capital 

The  Company's  primary  source  of  capital  has  been  cash  provided  by  operations  and  funds 
available from its main bank, Bank Leumi USA.  The Company from time to time also utilizes equipment 
financing in connection with the construction of a restaurant and seller financing in connection with the 
acquisition  of  a  restaurant.    The  Company  utilizes  capital  primarily  to  fund  the  cost  of  developing  and 

10 

 
 
 
 
 
opening  new  restaurants,  acquiring  existing  restaurants  owned  by  others  and  remodeling  existing 
restaurants owned by the Company. 

The  net  cash  used  in  investing  activities  in  fiscal  2002  ($153,000)  was  primarily  used  for  the 
replacement of fixed assets at existing restaurants.  The net cash used in investing activities in fiscal 2001 
($1,891,000)  and  in  fiscal  2000  ($25,244,000)  was  principally  used  for  the  Company's  continued 
investment  in  fixed  assets  associated  with  constructing  new  restaurants.    In  fiscal  2001  the  Company 
opened two bars at the Venetian in Las Vegas, Nevada (V-Bar and Venus).  In fiscal 2000 the Company 
opened two restaurants and four food court outlets in the Venetian (Lutece, Tsunami and the food court 
outlets), and the Company opened one restaurant and six food court outlets in the Aladdin in Las Vegas, 
Nevada (Fat Anthony’s and the Alakazam Food Court).   

The net cash used in financing activities in fiscal 2002 ($8,072,000) and fiscal 2001 ($5,618,000) 
was principally due to repayments of long-term debt on the Company’s main credit facility in excess of 
borrowings on such facility.  The net cash provided from financing activities in fiscal 2000 ($20,661,000) 
was principally from borrowings on the Company’s Revolving Credit Facility.   

The Company had a working capital deficit of $7,990,000 at September 28, 2002 as compared to 
a working capital deficit of $6,569,000 at September 29, 2001.  The restaurant business does not require 
the  maintenance  of  significant  inventories  or  receivables;  thus  the  Company  is  able  to  operate  with 
negative working capital. 

The  Company’s  Revolving  Credit  and  Term  Loan  Facility  (the  “Facility”)  with  its  main  bank, 
Bank Leumi USA, included a $26,000,000 credit line to finance the development and construction of new 
restaurants and for working capital purposes at the Company’s existing restaurants.  The commitment also 
included  a  $1,000,000  Letter  of  Credit  Facility  for  use  at  the  Company’s  restaurants  in  lieu  of  lease 
security deposits.  On July 1, 2002, the Facility converted into a term loan in the amount of $17,890,000 
payable in 36 monthly installments of approximately $497,000.  The loans bear interest at the prime rate 
plus ½% and at September 28, 2002 and September 29, 2001, the interest rate on the outstanding loans 
was 5.25% and 6.5%, respectively.  The Company generally is required to pay commissions of 1½% per 
annum on outstanding letters of credit. 

The agreement contains certain financial covenants such as minimum cash flow in relation to the 
Company’s  debt  service  requirements,  ratio  of  debt  to  equity,  and  the  maintenance  of  minimum 
shareholders’  equity.    At September  29,  2001,  the Company  was  not  in  compliance  with several  of  the 
requirements of the agreement principally due to the impairment charges incurred in connection with its 
restaurant and food service operations  at the Aladdin in Las Vegas, Nevada.   The Company received a 
waiver from the bank to cure the non-compliance.  In December 2001, the covenants were amended for 
forthcoming periods.  The Company violated a covenant related to a limitation on employee loans during 
the year ended September 28, 2002.  The Company received a waiver for such covenant with which it was 
not in compliance at September 28, 2002 through December 30, 2002. 

Pursuant  to  an  equipment  financing  facility  with  its  main  bank,  the  Company  borrowed 
$2,851,000  in  January  1997  at  an  interest  rate  of  8.75%  to  refinance  the  purchase  of  various  restaurant 
equipment at the New York-New York Hotel & Casino Resort.  The note, which was payable in 60 equal 
monthly installments through January 2002, is secured by such restaurant equipment.  At September 28, 
2002 the Company had completely paid down this facility.   

In April 2000, the Company borrowed $1,570,000 from its main bank at an interest rate of 8.8% 
to refinance the purchase of various restaurant equipment at the Venetian. The note which is payable in 60 

11 

 
 
 
equal monthly installments through May 2005, is secured by such restaurant equipment.  At September 
28, 2002 the Company had $922,000 outstanding on this facility. 

The  Company  entered  into  a  sale  and  leaseback  agreement  with  GE  Capital  for  $1,652,000  in 
November  2000  to  refinance  the  purchase  of  various  restaurant  equipment  at  its  food  and  beverage 
facilities in a hotel and casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.  The lease bears interest at 8.65% per annum and is 
payable in 48 equal monthly installments of $31,785 until maturity in November 2004 at which time the 
Company has an option to purchase the equipment for $519,440.  Alternatively, the Company can extend 
the lease for an additional 12 months at the same monthly payment until maturity in November 2005 and 
repurchase the equipment at such time for $165,242.  

The Company originally accounted for this agreement as an operating lease and did not record the 
assets or the lease liability in the financial statements.  During the year ended September 29, 2001, the 
Company  recorded  the  entire  amount  payable  under  the  lease  as  a  liability  of  $1,600,000  based  on  the 
anticipated  abandonment  of  the  Aladdin  operations.    In  2002,  the  operations  at  the  Aladdin  were 
abandoned  and  at  September  28,  2002,  $1,253,000  remains  in  accrued  expenses  and  other  current 
liabilities representing future operating lease payments. 

Restaurant Expansion 

In fiscal 2002 the Company opened one restaurant at the Neonopolis Center at Freemont Street in 
downtown Las Vegas, Nevada (The Saloon).  The Company opened two bars (V-Bar and Venus) at the 
Venetian  in  Las  Vegas,  Nevada  in  fiscal  2001.    In  fiscal  2000,  the  Company  opened  two  restaurants 
(Tsunami and Lutece) along with four  food court outlets at the Venetian. 

Critical Accounting Policies 

The  preparation  of  financial  statements  requires  the  application  of  certain  accounting  policies, 
which may require the Company to make estimates and assumptions of future events.  In the process of 
preparing its consolidated financial statements, the Company estimates the appropriate carrying value of 
certain assets and liabilities, which are  not readily apparent from other sources.  The primary estimates 
underlying  the  Company’s  financial  statements  include  allowances  for  potential  bad  debts  on  accounts 
and notes receivable, the useful lives and recoverability of its assets, such as property and intangibles, fair 
values of financial instruments, the realizable value of its tax assets and other matters.  Management bases 
its estimates on certain assumptions, which they believe are reasonable in the circumstances, and actual 
results  could  differ  from  those  estimates.    Although  management  does  not  believe  that  any  change  in 
those assumptions in the near term would have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial 
position  or  the  results  of  operation,  differences  in  actual  results  could  be  material  to  the  financial 
statements.   

The  Company’s  significant  accounting  policies  are  more  fully  described  in  Note  1  to  the 

Company's financials.  Below are listed certain policies that management believes are critical. 

Fixed Assets - The Company annually assesses any impairment in value of long-lived assets and 
certain identifiable intangibles to be held and used.  The Company evaluates the possibility of impairment 
by comparing anticipated undiscounted cash flows to the carrying amount of the related long-lived assets.  
If such cash flows are less than carrying value the Company then reduces the asset to its fair value.  Fair 
value  is  generally  calculated  using  discounted  cash  flows.    Various  factors  such  as  sales  growth  and 
operating margins and proceeds from a sale are part of this analysis.  Future results could differ from the 
Company’s projections with a resulting adjustment to income in such period. 

12 

 
 
 
 
Deferred  Income  Tax  Valuation  Allowance  –  The  Company  provides  such  allowance  due  to 
uncertainty that some of the deferred tax amounts may not be realized. Certain items, such as state and 
local tax loss carry forwards, are dependent on future earnings or the availability of tax strategies.  Future 
results  could  require  an  increase  or  decrease  in  the  valuation  allowance  and  a  resulting  adjustment  to 
income in such period. 

Recent Developments 

The  Financial  Accounting  Standards  Board  has  recently  issued  the  following  accounting 

pronouncements: 

SFAS  No.  142,  Goodwill  and  Other  Intangible  Assets,  addresses  financial  accounting  and 
reporting  for  acquired  goodwill  and  other  intangible  assets.    Under  SFAS  No.  142,  goodwill  and  some 
intangible  assets  will  no  longer  be  amortized,  but  rather  reviewed  for  impairment  on  a  periodic  basis. 
Impairment losses for goodwill and certain intangible assets that arise due to the initial application of this 
Statement are to be reported as resulting from a change in accounting principle.  The provisions of SFAS 
No. 142 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2001 and are applied at the beginning 
of  the  Company’s  fiscal  year.    The  Company  will  adopt  this  standard  in  the  first  quarter  of  fiscal  year 
2003.    The  Company  is  in  the  process  of  evaluating  the  financial  statement  impact  from  adopting  this 
standard.  The Company had approximately $3,400,000 of unamortized goodwill at September 28, 2002.  
Amortization expense for the year ended September 28, 2002 was $364,000.  

SFAS  No.  144,  Accounting  for  the  Impairment  or  Disposal  of  Long-Lived  Assets,  supercedes 
existing  accounting  literature  dealing  with  impairment  and  disposal  of  long-lived  assets,  including 
discontinued operations.  It addresses financial accounting and reporting for the impairment of long-lived 
assets  and  for  long-lived  assets  to  be  disposed  of  and  expands  current  reporting  for  discontinued 
operations to include disposals of a “component” of an entity that has been disposed of or is classified as 
held  for  sale.    The  Company  will  adopt  this  standard  in  the  first  quarter  of  fiscal  year  2003.    The 
Company  does  not  expect  the  adoption  of  this  standard  to  have  a  material  impact  on  the  Company’s 
financial position or results of operations; however, the Company will be required to separate the results 
of closed restaurants as discontinued operations in the future. 

SFAS No. 146, Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities, was issued in 
July  2002.    SFAS  No.  146  replaces  current  accounting  literature  and  requires  the  recognition  of  costs 
associated with exit or disposal activities when they are incurred rather than at the date of commitment to 
an exit or disposal plan.  The provisions of the Statement are effective for exit or disposal activities that 
are initiated after December 31, 2002.  The Company does not anticipate the adoption of this statement 
will have a material effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations. 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk 

The  Company  is  exposed  to  market  risk  from  changes  in  interest  rates  with  respect  to  its 
outstanding  credit  agreement  with  its  main  bank,  Bank  Leumi  USA.    Outstanding  loans  under  the 
agreement bear interest at prime plus one-half percent, and such loans were converted on July 1, 2002 to a 
term  loan  payable  over  three  years.    Based  upon  a  $14,908,000  (the  outstanding  balance  at 
September 28, 2002)  term  loan  and  a  100  basis  point  change  in  interest  rates,  interest  expense  would 
change by $149,000 in the one year period beginning on September 29, 2002. 

13 

 
 
 
 
 
MARKET INFORMATION 

The Company’s Common Stock, $.01 par value, is traded in the over-the-counter market on the 
Nasdaq  National  Market  under  the  symbol  “ARKR.”    The  high  and  low  sale  prices  for  the  Common 
Stock from October 1, 2000 through September 28, 2002 are as follows: 

Calendar 2000 

Fourth Quarter 

Calendar 2001 

First Quarter 
Second Quarter 
Third Quarter 
Fourth Quarter 

Calendar 2002 

First Quarter 
Second Quarter 
Third Quarter 

Dividends 

High 

$ 8.50 

Low 

$ 5.31 

7.75 
10.37 
10.10 
10.00 

8.00 
8.15 
8.49 

5.06 
6.00 
5.90 
6.75 

6.10 
6.41 
6.60 

The  Company  has  not  paid  any  cash  dividends  since  its  inception  and  does  not  intend  to  pay 

dividends in the foreseeable future.  

Number Of Shareholders 

As of February 7, 2003, there were 70 holders of record of the Company’s Common Stock. 

14 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT  

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Ark Restaurants Corp. 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Ark Restaurants Corp. and 
subsidiaries  (the  “Company”)  as  of  September  28,  2002  and  September  29,  2001,  and  the  related 
consolidated statements of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three fiscal 
years in the period ended September 28, 2002.  These financial statements are the responsibility of the 
Company’s  management.    Our  responsibility  is  to  express  an  opinion  on  these  financial  statements 
based on our audits. 

We  conducted  our  audits  in  accordance  with  auditing  standards  generally  accepted  in  the 
United  States  of  America.    Those  standards  require  that  we  plan  and  perform  the  audit  to  obtain 
reasonable  assurance  about  whether  the  financial  statements  are  free  of  material  misstatement.    An 
audit  includes  examining,  on  a  test  basis,  evidence  supporting  the  amounts  and  disclosures  in  the 
financial  statements.    An  audit  also  includes  assessing  the  accounting  principles  used  and  significant 
estimates made by management as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.  We 
believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. 

In  our  opinion,  such  consolidated  financial  statements  present  fairly,  in  all  material  respects, 
the  financial  position  of  Ark  Restaurants  Corp.  and  subsidiaries  as  of  September  28,  2002  and 
September 29, 2001, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three fiscal 
years  in  the  period  ended  September  28,  2002,  in  conformity  with  accounting  principles  generally 
accepted in the United States of America. 

December 13, 2002 

F-1 

 
 
 
 
 
 
ARK RESTAURANTS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In Thousands)

September 28, September 29,

2002

2001

ASSETS

CURRENT ASSETS:
  Cash and cash equivalents
  Accounts receivable
  Employee receivables (net of reserves of $45 and $0 respectively)
  Current portion of long-term receivables (Note 3)
  Inventories 
  Deferred income taxes (Note 12)
  Prepaid expenses and other current assets
  Refundable and prepaid income taxes

           Total current assets

LONG-TERM RECEIVABLES (Note 3)

FIXED ASSETS - At cost:
  Leasehold improvements
  Furniture, fixtures and equipment
  Leasehold improvements in progress

  Less accumulated depreciation and amortization

INTANGIBLE ASSETS - Net (Note 4)

DEFERRED INCOME TAXES (Note 12)

OTHER ASSETS (Note 5)

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

CURRENT LIABILITIES:
  Accounts payable - trade
  Accrued expenses and other current liabilities (Note 6)
  Current maturities of long-term debt (Note 7)

           Total current liabilities

LONG-TERM DEBT - Net of current maturities (Note 7)

OPERATING LEASE DEFERRED CREDIT (Notes 1 and 8)

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 8)

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (Notes 7, 9 and 10):
  Common stock, par value $.01 per share - authorized, 10,000
    shares; issued, 5,249 
  Additional paid-in capital
  Retained earnings

  Less stock options receivables
  Less treasury stock, 2,068 shares

           Total shareholders’ equity

$      

819
2,000
1,045
164
1,925
293
779
957

7,982

904

33,542
28,320
-     

61,862

31,602

30,260

3,782

4,255

777

$      

-     
1,501
788
203
2,110
278
655
1,119

6,654

1,082

33,699
27,972
93

61,764

27,035

34,729

4,175

6,056

395

$ 

47,960

$ 

53,091

$   

3,332
6,356
6,284

15,972

9,547

995

-     

52
14,743
15,718

30,513

716
8,351

21,446

$   

4,232
6,744
2,247

13,223

21,700

995

-     

52
14,743
11,489

26,284

760
8,351

17,173

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

$ 

47,960

$ 

53,091

F-2 

 
 
 
     
     
     
        
        
        
     
     
        
        
        
        
        
     
     
     
 
           
        
     
 
           
 
           
   
   
   
   
        
          
 
           
 
           
           
   
   
 
           
 
           
   
   
 
           
 
           
           
   
   
 
           
     
     
 
           
     
     
 
           
        
        
 
           
 
           
           
 
           
 
           
 
           
 
           
 
        
 
        
 
           
 
           
 
           
 
           
     
     
     
     
 
           
 
           
   
   
 
           
     
   
 
           
        
        
        
        
 
           
 
           
          
          
   
   
   
   
 
           
           
   
   
        
        
     
     
 
           
 
           
   
   
 
           
 
           
           
 
ARK RESTAURANTS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)

Years Ended

Septem ber 28, Septem ber 29, Septem ber 30,
2001

2000

2002

REVENUES:
  Food and beverage sales
  Other income

           TOTAL REVENUES

COST AND EXPENSES:
  Food and beverage cost of sales
  Payroll expenses
  Occupancy expenses
  Other operating costs and expenses
  General and administrative expenses
  Depreciation and amortization
  Asset impairement (Note 2)
  Joint venture losses

OPERATING INCOM E (LOSS)

OTHER (INCOM E) EXPENSE:
  Interest expense (Note 7)
  Interest income
  Other income (Note 13)

INCOM E (LOSS) BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOM E TAXES

PROVISION (BENEFIT) FOR INCOM E TAXES (Note 12)

INCOM E (LOSS) BEFORE CUM ULATIVE EFFECT 
  OF ACCOUNTING CHANGE

CUM ULATIVE EFFECT OF ACCOUNTING CHANGE, Net

$ 

115,107
373

$ 

127,007
529

$ 

119,212
654

115,480

127,536

119,866

28,794
37,412
17,306
13,951
6,548
5,172
-     
-     

32,549
45,085
18,320
16,499
7,005
5,938
10,045
150

31,016
43,063
15,310
16,545
7,111
4,885
811
4,988

109,183

135,591

123,729

6,297

(8,055)

(3,863)

1,212
(133)
(430)

649

5,648

1,419

4,229

-     

2,446
(150)
(161)

2,135

(10,190)

(3,342)

2,007
(172)
(258)

1,577

(5,440)

(1,906)

(6,848)

(3,534)

-     

189

NET INCOM E (LOSS)

$     

4,229

$    

(6,848)

$    

(3,723)

NET INCOM E (LOSS) PER SHARE - BASIC:

INCOM E (LOSS) BEFORE CUM ULATIVE EFFECT  
  OF ACCOUNTING CHANGE

$       

1.33

$      

(2.15)

$      

(1.11)

CUM ULATIVE EFFECT OF ACCOUNTING CHANGE

-     

-     

(0.06)

NET INCOM E (LOSS)

$       

1.33

$      

(2.15)

$      

(1.17)

NET INCOM E (LOSS) PER SHARE - DILUTED:

INCOM E (LOSS) BEFORE CUM ULATIVE EFFECT  
  OF ACCOUNTING CHANGE

$       

1.32

$      

(2.15)

$      

(1.11)

CUM ULATIVE EFFECT OF ACCOUNTING CHANGE

-     

-     

(0.06)

NET INCOM E  (LOSS)

$       

1.32

$      

(2.15)

$      

(1.17)

WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUM BER OF SHARES - BASIC

WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUM BER OF SHARES - DILUTED

3,181

3,206

3,181

3,181

3,186

3,186

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

F-3 

 
 
 
          
          
          
   
   
   
 
             
 
             
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
       
       
       
       
       
       
          
     
          
          
          
       
           
   
   
   
 
             
 
             
       
      
      
 
             
 
             
       
       
       
         
         
         
         
         
         
           
          
       
       
       
    
      
 
             
       
      
      
       
      
      
          
          
          
          
          
        
          
          
        
       
       
       
 
             
 
             
       
       
       
 
ARK RESTAURANT CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In Thousands)

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income (loss)
  Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net  
    cash provided by operating activities:
    Depreciation and amortization of fixed assets
    Amortization of intangibles
    Gain on sale of restaurants
    Write-off of joint venture advances and investments
    Impairment of assets held for sale
    Write-off of accounts and notes receivable
    Operating lease deferred credit
    Deferred income taxes
    Changes in assets and liabilities:
      Accounts receivable and employee receivables
      Inventories
      Prepaid expenses and other 
        current assets
      Refundable and prepaid
         income taxes
      Other assets
      Accounts payable trade
      Accrued income taxes
      Accrued expenses  
        and other current liabilities

           Net cash provided by operating activities

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
  Additions to fixed assets
  Proceeds from the disposal of fixed assets
  Advances to joint venture
  Issuance of demand notes and long-term receivables
  Payments received on long-term receivables

           Net cash used in investing activities

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
  Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt
  Principal payment on long-term debt
  Exercise of stock options
  Payment (borrowings) under stock options receivables 
  Principal payment on capital lease obligations
  Purchase of treasury stock

           Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

NET INCREASE  (DECREASE) IN CASH  AND 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, 
  BEGINNING OF PERIOD

September 28,
2002

Years Ended
September 29,
2001

September 30,
2000

$   

4,229

$ 

(6,848)

$ 

(3,723)

4,779
393
(105)
-     
-     
165
-     
1,786

(756)
185

(124)

162
(382)
(900)
-     

(388)

9,044

(704)
394
-     
(125)
282

(153)

1,500
(9,616)
-     
44
-     
-     

(8,072)

819

-     

5,479
459
(209)
1,086
10,045
209
(218)
(3,107)

1,037
23

(308)

189
(502)
(1,061)
-     

538

6,812

(3,014)
-     
-     
(98)
1,221

(1,891)

4,400
(9,974)
-     
(41)
-     
(3)

(5,618)

(697)

697

4,334
551
(88)
4,988
811
280
(109)
(1,670)

(1,202)
(217)

(11)

(1,307)
(450)
1,476
(186)

1,469

4,946

(22,263)
-     
(3,297)
(94)
410

(25,244)

25,020
(3,155)
344
(49)
(149)
(1,350)

20,661

363

334

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD

$      

819

$     

-     

$      

697

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:
  Cash payments for:
    Interest

$   

1,271

$   

2,446

$   

2,245

    Income taxes

$      

187

$      

852

$   

1,113

F-4 

 
 
 
 
           
 
           
 
           
     
     
     
        
        
        
      
      
        
       
     
     
       
   
        
        
        
        
       
      
      
     
   
   
 
           
      
     
   
        
          
      
      
      
        
        
        
   
      
      
      
      
   
     
       
       
      
      
        
     
     
     
     
 
           
 
           
 
           
      
   
 
        
       
       
       
       
   
      
        
        
        
     
        
 
           
 
           
      
   
 
 
           
 
           
 
           
 
           
     
     
   
   
   
   
       
       
        
          
        
        
       
       
      
       
          
   
 
           
 
           
   
   
   
 
           
 
           
        
      
        
       
        
        
 
           
 
           
 
           
 
           
 
           
 
           
 
           
 
           
 
           
 
ARK  REST AURANT S C O RP. AND  SUB SID IARIES

CO NSO LIDAT ED ST AT EM ENT S O F SHAREHO LDERS’ EQ UIT Y
YEARS ENDED SEPT EM BER 28, 2002, SEPT EM BER 29, 2001 AND SEPT EM BER 30, 2000
(In T housands)

Com m on Stock
Shares Am ount

Additional
Paid-In
Capital

Retained
Earnings

Treasury
Stock

Stock
Options
Receivable

Total
Shareholders’
Equity

BA LA NCE, OCTOBER 3, 1999

5,208

$    

52

$   

14,399

$    

22,060

$  

(6,998)

$     

(670)

$  

28,843

  Exercis e o f s to ck o p tio n s
  Pu rch as e o f treas u ry  s to ck
  Tax b en efit o n  exercis e o f o p tio n s
  Net b o rro win g s  o f s to ck o p tio n  receiv ab les
  Net lo s s

41
-     
-     
-     
-     

BA LA NCE, SEPTEM BER 30, 2000

5,249

  Pu rch as e o f treas u ry  s to ck
  Net b o rro win g s  o f s to ck o p tio n  receiv ab les
  Net lo s s

-     
-     
-     

BA LA NCE, SEPTEM BER 29, 2001

5,249

  Net p ay men t o n  s to ck o p tio n s  receiv ab les
  Net in co me

-     
-     

-     
-     
-     
-     
-     

52

-     
-     
-     

52

-     
-     

328
-     
16
-     
-     

-     
-     
-     
-     
(3,723)

-     
(1,350)
-     
-     
-     

14,743

18,337

(8,348)

-     
-     
-     

-     
-     
(6,848)

(3)
-     
-     

14,743

11,489

(8,351)

-     
-     

-     
4,229

-     
-     

-     
-     
-     
(49)
-     

(719)

-     
(41)
-     

(760)

44
-     

328
(1,350)
16
(49)
(3,723)

24,065

(3)
(41)
(6,848)

17,173

44
4,229

BA LA NCE, SEPTEM BER 28, 2002

5,249

$    

52

$   

14,743

$    

15,718

$  

(8,351)

$     

(716)

$  

21,446

See n o tes  to  co n s o lid ated  fin an cial s tatemen ts .

F-5 

 
 
 
 
      
   
          
          
        
        
         
    
   
         
          
    
        
     
    
   
            
          
        
        
           
    
   
         
          
        
         
          
    
   
         
      
        
        
     
 
      
     
      
    
       
    
    
   
         
          
           
        
            
    
   
         
          
        
         
          
    
   
         
      
        
        
     
 
      
     
      
    
       
    
    
   
         
          
        
          
           
    
   
         
        
        
        
      
 
 
ARK RESTAURANTS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 28, 2002, SEPTEMBER 29, 2001 AND SEPTEMBER 30, 2000  

1.  BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES 

Ark Restaurants Corp. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) own and operates 26 restaurants, 12 fast food 
concepts, catering operations and wholesale and retail bakeries.  Twelve restaurants are located in New York City, 
nine in Las Vegas, Nevada, four in Washington, D.C., and one in Islamorada, Florida.  The Las Vegas operations 
include three restaurants within the New York-New York Hotel & Casino Resort and operation of the Resort’s room 
service, banquet facilities, employee dining room and eight food court concepts.  Four restaurants and bars are 
within the Venetian Casino Resort as well as four food court concepts; one restaurant is within the Forum Shops at 
Caesar’s Shopping Center and one restaurant is in downtown Las Vegas at the Neonopolis Center. 

Accounting Period - The Company’s fiscal year ends on the Saturday nearest September 30.  The fiscal years 

ended September 28, 2002, September 29, 2001, and September 30, 2000, included 52 weeks. 

Significant Estimates - In the process of preparing its consolidated financial statements, the Company 
estimates the appropriate carrying value of certain assets and liabilities which are not readily apparent from other 
sources.  The primary estimates underlying the Company’s financial statements include allowances for potential bad 
debts on accounts and notes receivable, the useful lives and recoverability of its assets, such as property and 
intangibles, fair values of financial instruments, the realizable value of its tax assets and other matters.  Management 
bases its estimates on certain assumptions, which they believe are reasonable in the circumstances, and while actual 
results could differ from those estimates, management does not believe that any change in those assumptions in the 
near term would have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position or the results of operations. 

Principles of Consolidation - The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and 

its wholly owned subsidiaries.  All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in 
consolidation.  Investments in affiliated companies where the Company is able to exercise significant influence over 
operating and financial policies even though the Company holds 50% or less of the voting stock, are accounted for 
under the equity method. 

Cash Equivalents - Cash equivalents include instruments with original maturities of three months or less. 

Accounts Receivable – Accounts receivable generally represent normal business receivables such as credit 
card receivables that are paid off in a short period of time.  See Notes 16 and 17 for a discussion of related party 
receivables. 

Inventories - Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out) or market, and consist of food and 

beverages, merchandise for sale and other supplies. 

Fixed Assets - Leasehold improvements and furniture, fixtures and equipment are stated at cost.  Depreciation 

of furniture, fixtures and equipment (including equipment under capital leases) is computed using the straight-line 
method over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets (seven years).  Amortization of improvements to 
leased properties is computed using the straight-line method based upon the initial term of the applicable lease or the 
estimated useful life of the improvements, whichever is less, and ranges from 5 to 35 years.  

The Company includes in leasehold improvements in progress restaurants that are under construction. Once the 

projects have been completed the Company will begin amortizing the assets.   Start-up costs incurred during the 
construction period of restaurants, including rental of premises, training and payroll, are expensed as incurred. 

F-6 

 
 
 
The Company annually assesses impairment in value of long-lived assets and certain identifiable intangibles to 
be held and used.  For the year ended September 28, 2002, no impairment charges were deemed necessary.  For the 
year ended September 29, 2001, an impairment charge of $10,045,000 was incurred on the Company’s restaurant 
operations at Desert Passage, the retail complex at the Aladdin Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada (Note 2).   

In January 2001, the Company closed its America restaurant in Tyson’s Corner, McLean, Virginia.  The 
Company’s efforts to sell this restaurant had been unsuccessful.  The Company continuously assessed the carrying 
value of this restaurant in accordance with SFAS No. 121, Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets To 
Be Disposed Of, and determined that the restaurant’s value was impaired based upon the future undiscounted 
anticipated cash flows.  Accordingly, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $811,000 during the year 
ended September 30, 2000, to write off the net book value of the furniture, fixtures and equipment which were 
deemed to have no disposal value.  For the years ended September 29, 2001 and September 30, 2000, the restaurant 
had a pre-tax loss of $30,000 and $1,475,000 respectively. 

Intangible and Other Assets - Costs associated with acquiring leases and subleases, principally purchased 

leasehold rights, have been capitalized and are being amortized on the straight-line method based upon the initial 
terms of the applicable lease agreements, which range from 10 to 21 years. 

Goodwill recorded in connection with the acquisition of shares of the Company’s common stock from a former 

shareholder, as discussed in Note 4, is being amortized over a period of 40 years.  Goodwill arising from restaurant 
acquisitions is being amortized over periods ranging from 10 to 15 years. 

The Company adopted in the quarter ended January 1, 2000, Statement of Position 98-5, Reporting on the 
Costs of Start-Up Activities, which requires costs of start-up activities and organization costs to be expensed as 
incurred.  The Company had previously capitalized organization costs and then amortized such costs over five years.  
The Company had net deferred organization expenses of $300,000 in intangible assets as of October 2, 1999 and the 
write-off of such amount ($189,000 after taxes) is reported in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2000 as a 
cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle. 

Covenants not to compete arising from restaurant acquisitions are amortized over the contractual period of five 

years. 

Certain legal and bank commitment fees incurred in connection with the Company’s Revolving Credit and 
Term Loan Facility, as discussed in Note 7, were capitalized as deferred financing fees and are being amortized over 
four years, the term of the facility. 

Operating Lease Deferred Credit - Several of the Company’s operating leases contain predetermined increases 

in the rentals payable during the term of such leases.  For these leases, the aggregate rental expense over the lease 
term is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.  The excess of the expense charged to operations in 
any year and amounts payable under the leases during that year are recorded as a deferred credit.  The deferred 
credit subsequently reverses over the lease term (Note 8). 

Occupancy Expenses - Occupancy expenses include rent, rent taxes, real estate taxes, insurance and utility 

costs. 

Income Per Share of Common Stock - Net income per share is computed in accordance with Statement of 

Financial Accounting Standard (“SFAS”) No. 128, Earnings Per Share, and is calculated on the basis of the 
weighted average number of common shares outstanding during each period plus the additional dilutive effect of 
common stock equivalents.  Common stock equivalents consist of dilutive stock options.  

Stock Options - The Company accounts for its stock options granted to employees under the intrinsic value-

based method for employee stock-based compensation and provides pro forma disclosure of net income and 
earnings per share as if the accounting provision of SFAS No.123 had been adopted.  The Company generally does 
not grant options to outsiders. 

F-7 

 
 
 
Future Impact of Recently Issued Accounting Standards - SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible 
Assets, addresses financial accounting and reporting for acquired goodwill and other intangible assets.  Under SFAS 
No. 142, goodwill and some intangible assets will no longer be amortized, but rather reviewed for impairment on a 
periodic basis. Impairment losses for goodwill and certain intangible assets that arise due to the initial application of 
this Statement are to be reported as resulting from a change in accounting principle.  The provisions of SFAS No. 
142 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2001 and are applied at the beginning of the 
Company’s fiscal year.  The Company will adopt this standard in the first quarter of fiscal year 2003.  The Company 
is in the process of evaluating the financial statement impact from adopting this standard.  The Company had 
approximately $3,400,000 of unamortized goodwill at September 28, 2002.  Amortization expense for the year 
ended September 28, 2002 was $364,000.     

SFAS No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, supercedes existing 

accounting literature dealing with impairment and disposal of long-lived assets, including discontinued operations.  
It addresses financial accounting and reporting for the impairment of long-lived assets and for long-lived assets to be 
disposed of and expands current reporting for discontinued operations to include disposals of a “component” of an 
entity that has been disposed of or is classified as held for sale.  The Company will adopt this standard in the first 
quarter of fiscal year 2003.  The Company does not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material impact on 
the Company’s financial position or results of operations; however, the Company will be required to separate the 
results of closed restaurants as discontinued operations in the future. 

SFAS No. 146, Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities, was issued in July 2002.  
SFAS No. 146 replaces current accounting literature and requires the recognition of costs associated with exit or 
disposal activities when they are incurred rather than at the date of commitment to an exit or disposal plan.  The 
provisions of the Statement are effective for exit or disposal activities that are initiated after December 31, 2002.  
The Company does not anticipate the adoption of this statement will have a material effect on the Company’s 
financial position or results of operations. 

Reclassifications - Certain reclassifications of prior year balances have been made to conform with current 
year presentation.  Stock option receivables of $716,000 at September 28, 2002 and $760,000 at September 29, 2001 
are classified as a reduction to shareholders’ equity in the current year and were classified in accounts receivable in 
the prior year. 

2.  EFFECTS OF THE SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 TERRORIST ATTACKS 

The terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington D.C. on 
September 11, 2001 have had a material adverse effect on the Company’s revenue.  As a result of the attacks, one 
Company restaurant, The Grill Room, experienced some damage.  The Grill Room, located at 2 World Financial 
Center which is adjacent to the World Trade Center and which was substantially damaged, was closed for all of 
fiscal 2002.  The Grill Room reopened in early December 2002.  The Company has recorded $450,000 as a 
reduction of other operating costs and expenses for the year ended September 28, 2002 for partial insurance 
recoveries of certain out of pocket costs and business interruption losses incurred.  Additional recoveries are 
expected in the future as the assessment of the damages is finalized with the insurance carrier. 

The Company believes that its restaurant and food court operations at Desert Passage which adjoins the 

Aladdin Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada (the “Aladdin”) were significantly impaired by the events of 
September 11th.  The restaurant and food court operations experienced severe sales declines in the aftermath of 
September 11th and the Aladdin declared bankruptcy on September 28, 2001.  The Company determined that an 
impairment analysis under SFAS No. 121 needed to be performed.  

F-8 

 
 
 
Based upon the sum of the future undiscounted cash flows related to the Company’s long-lived assets at the 

Aladdin, the Company determined that impairment had occurred.  To estimate the fair value of such long-lived 
assets, for determining the impairment amount, the Company used the expected present value of the future cash 
flows.  The Company projected continuing negative operating cash flow for the foreseeable future with no value for 
subletting or assigning the lease for the premises.  Therefore, the Company determined that there was no value to 
such long-lived assets.  The Company had an investment of $8,445,000 in leasehold improvements, and furniture, 
fixtures and equipment.  The Company believes that these assets would have nominal, if any, value upon disposal.  
In addition, the estimated future payments under the lease for kitchen equipment at the location totaled $1,600,000.  
The Company recorded in the fiscal year ended September 29, 2001 an impairment charge of $8,445,000 for the net 
book value of the assets and recorded an additional $1,600,000 of expense and liability for the future lease 
payments, of which $1,253,000 remains in accrued in other current liabilities at September 28, 2002.  In September 
2002, the Company abandoned its restaurant and food court operations at the Aladdin. 

3.  LONG-TERM RECEIVABLES 

Long-term receivables consist of the following: 

Note receivable, due March 2001 (a)

Note receivable secured by fixed assets and lease at a 
  restaurant sold by the Company, at 8% interest; due in
  monthly installments through December 2006 (b)
Note receivable secured by fixed assets and lease at a 
  restaurant sold by the Company, at 7.5% interest; due in
  monthly installments commencing May 2000 
  through December 2008 (c)

Note receivable secured by fixed assets and lease at a 
  restaurant sold by the Company, at 10.0% interest; due in
  monthly installments through April 2004 (d)
Note receivable secured by fixed assets and lease at a 
  restaurant at 7.0% interest; due in monthly installments
  through December 2007 (e)

Others

Less current portion

(In Thousands)
September 28,  September 29,

2002

$  

-     

2001

$  

-     

337

401

606

687

-     

-     

125
-     

1,068

164

$   

904

176
21

1,285

203

$ 
1,082

(a) 

In March 2000, the Company withdrew from a partnership that was formed to develop 
and construct four restaurants at a large theatre development in Southfield, Michigan.  
The Company was issued a $1,000,000 note in consideration of its working capital 
advances to the project.  The Company collected $850,000 in March 2001 and recorded a 
charge of $150,000 on the uncollected balance. 

(b) 

In December 1996, the Company sold a restaurant for $900,000.  Cash of $50,000 was 
received on sale and the balance is due in installments through December 2006. 

F-9 

 
 
 
     
     
 
       
 
       
     
     
    
    
     
     
    
       
           
  
  
     
     
           
 
(c) 

In October 1997, the Company sold a restaurant for $1,750,000, of which $200,000 was 
paid in cash and the balance is due in monthly installments under the terms of two notes 
bearing interest at a rate of 7.5%.  One note, with an initial principal balance of $400,000, 
was being paid in 24 monthly installments of $19,000 through April 2000.  The second 
note, with an initial principal balance of $1,150,000, will be paid in 104 monthly 
installments of $15,000 commencing May 2000 and ending December 2008.  At 
December 2008, the then outstanding balance of $519,000 matures. 

The Company recognized a gain on sale of approximately $0, $221,000, and $88,000 in 
the fiscal years ended September 28, 2002, September 29, 2001, and September 30, 2000, 
respectively.  Additional deferred gains totaling $585,000 at September 28, 2002 could be 
recognized in future periods as the notes are collected.  The Company deferred 
recognizing this additional gain and recorded an allowance for possible uncollectible note 
against the outstanding note.  This uncertainty is based on the significant length of time 
of this note (over 10 years) and the substantial balance, which matures in December 2008 
($519,000). 

(d) 

(e) 

In December 1998, the Company sold a restaurant for $500,000, of which $250,000 was 
paid in cash and a note financed the balance of $250,000.  The note was due in monthly 
installments of $6,000, inclusive of interest at 10%, from May 1999 through April 2004.  
The buyer defaulted on the note during the fiscal year ended September 29, 2001 and 
subsequently filed for bankruptcy.  The Company recovered $12,000 and wrote off the 
remaining balance of $209,000 in the year ended September 29, 2001. 

In June 2000, the Company sold this restaurant for $438,000.  Cash of $188,000 was 
received on sale and the balance was due in installments through June 2006.  In February 
2001, the buyer defaulted and the Company took possession of this restaurant and sold it 
to another party in June 2002.  The total price was $270,000, cash of $145,000 was 
received on sale and the balance is due in installments through December 2007. 

The Company recognized a gain on the sale of this restaurant of $105,000, the net of 
funds received from the buyer and the outstanding $165,000 note which was written 
down on the default. 

The carrying value of the Company’s long-term receivables approximates its current aggregate fair value. 

4. 

INTANGIBLE ASSETS 

Intangible assets consist of the following: 

Goodwill (a)
Purchased leasehold rights (b)
Noncompete agreements and other

Less accumulated amortization

(In Thousands)

September 28,
2002

September 29,
2001

$ 

6,223
751
790

7,764
3,982

$ 

3,782

$ 

6,223
751
790

7,764
3,589

$ 

4,175

F-10 

 
 
 
 
      
      
      
      
 
         
 
         
           
   
   
   
   
 
         
 
         
           
 
(a) 

In August 1985, certain subsidiaries of the Company acquired approximately one-third of 

the then outstanding shares of common stock (965,000 shares) from a former officer and 
director of the Company for a purchase price of $3,000,000.  The consolidated balance sheets 
reflect the allocation of $2,946,000 to goodwill. 

(b) 

Purchased leasehold rights arise from acquiring leases and subleases of various 

restaurants. 

5.  OTHER ASSETS 

Other assets consist of the following: 

Deposits
Deferred financing fees
Investments in and advances to affiliates (a)
Landlord receivable (b)

(In Thousands)

September 28,
2002

September 29,
2001

$    

335
42
   -
400

$    

277
97
21
   -

$    

777

$    

395

(a)  The Company, through a wholly-owned subsidiary, became a general partner with a 19% 
interest in a partnership which acquired on July 1, 1987 an existing Mexican food 
restaurant, El Rio Grande, in New York City.  Several related parties also participate as 
limited partners in the partnership.  The Company’s equity in earnings of the limited 
partnership was $0, $32,000 and $15,000 for the years ended September 28, 2002, 
September 29, 2001 and September 30, 2000, respectively. 

The Company also manages El Rio Grande through another wholly-owned subsidiary on 
behalf of the partnership.  Management fee income relating to these services was $30,000, 
$181,000 and $162,000 for the years ended September 28, 2002, September 29, 2001 and 
September 30, 2000, respectively (Note 11). 

The Company, through a wholly-owned subsidiary, was a partner with a 50% interest in a 
partnership to construct and develop four restaurants at a large theatre development in 
Southfield, Michigan.  In March 2000, the Company withdrew from the partnership and 
incurred losses totaling $4,988,000 on this project from the write-off of advances for 
construction costs and working capital needs on the project.  

For the year ended September 29, 2001, the Company recorded a write off in other operating 
expenses of $935,000 on the cancellation of a development project.   

(b)  This balance represents certain costs paid on behalf of a landlord, that under an agreement 
with the landlord will be used as a future offset to contingent rent payments for certain Las 
Vegas restaurants. 

F-11 

 
 
 
        
        
        
      
 
 
 
 
6.  ACCRUED EXPENSES AND OTHER CURRENT LIABILITIES 

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities consist of the following: 

Sales tax payable
Accrued wages and payroll related costs
Customer advance deposits
Accrued and other liabilities
Impairment accrual (a)

(In Thousands)

September 28,
2002

September 29,
2001

$     

673
1,508
924
1,998
1,253

$  

6,356

$     

669
931
961
2,583
1,600

$  

6,744

(a)  During the year ended September 29, 2001, the Company recorded the entire amount payable 

under an operating lease for restaurant equipment for the Aladdin operations as a liability of 
$1,600,000 based on their anticipated abandonment.  In 2002, the operations at the Aladdin 
were abandoned (see Note 2). 

7.  LONG-TERM DEBT 

Long-term debt consists of the following: 

(In Thousands)

September 28,
2002

September 29,
2001

Revolving Credit and Term Loan Facility with interest at the 
  prime rate, plus 1/2%, payable on June 30, 2002 (a)

$ 
14,908

$ 
22,500

Notes issued in connection with refinancing of restaurant
  equipment, at 8.75%, payable in monthly installments through
  January 2002 (b)

Notes issued in connection with refinancing of restaurant
  equipment, at 8.80%, payable in monthly installments through
  May 2005 (c)

Less current maturities

-     

231

923

15,831

6,284

1,216

23,947

2,247

$  

9,547

$ 
21,700

(a) 

The Company’s Revolving Credit and Term Loan Facility (the “Facility”) with its main 
bank (Bank Leumi USA), as amended in November 2001, December 2001 and April 2002, 
included a $26,000,000 credit line to finance the development and construction of new 
restaurants and for working capital purposes at the Company’s existing restaurants.  On July 
1, 2002, the Facility converted into a term loan in the amount of $17,890,000 payable in 36 
monthly installments of approximately $497,000.  The loan bears interest at ½% above the 

F-12 

 
 
 
    
       
       
       
    
    
    
    
           
 
 
 
         
 
         
 
         
 
         
 
         
 
         
      
       
 
 
         
 
         
 
         
 
         
 
         
 
         
       
    
 
         
 
         
  
  
           
 
         
 
         
    
    
 
         
 
         
           
 
bank’s prime rate and at September 28, 2002 and September 29, 2001, the interest rate on 
outstanding loans was 5.25% and 6.5% respectively.  The Facility also includes a $1,000,000 
Letter of Credit Facility for use in lieu of lease security deposits.  The Company generally is 
required to pay commissions of 1½% per annum on outstanding letters of credit.  

The Company’s subsidiaries each guaranteed the obligations of the Company under the 
foregoing facilities and granted security interests in their respective assets as collateral for 
such guarantees.  In addition, the Company pledged stock of such subsidiaries as security for 
obligations of the Company under such facilities. 

The agreement includes restrictions relating to, among other things, indebtedness for 
borrowed money, capital expenditures, mergers, sale of assets, dividends and liens on the 
property of the Company.  The agreement also contains financial covenants such as 
minimum cash flow in relation to the Company’s debt service requirements, ratio of debt to 
equity, and the maintenance of minimum shareholders’ equity. The Company violated a 
covenant related to a limitation on employee loans during the year ended September 28, 
2002.  The Company received a waiver from the bank for the covenant it was not in 
compliance with, for September 28, 2002 through December 30, 2002. 

(b) 

In January 1997, the Company borrowed from its main bank, $2,851,000 to refinance the 

purchase of various restaurant equipment at its food and beverage facilities in a hotel and 
casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.  The notes bore interest at 8.75% per annum and were payable 
in 60 equal monthly installments of $58,833 inclusive of interest, until they matured in 
January 2002.  The Company granted the bank a security interest in such restaurant 
equipment.  In connection with such financing, the Company granted the bank the right to 
purchase 35,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at the exercise price of $11.625 per 
share through December 2002.  The fair value of the warrants was estimated at the date of 
grant, credited to additional paid-in capital and is being amortized over the life of the 
warrant.  As of September 28, 2002, there were no exercises on any of the warrants. 

(c) 

In April 2000, the Company borrowed from its main bank $1,570,000 to refinance the 
purchase of various restaurant equipment at its food and beverage facilities in a hotel and 
casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.  The notes bear interest at 8.80% per annum and are payable in 
60 equal monthly installments of $32,439 inclusive of interest, until maturity in May 2005. 

Required principal payments on long-term debt, with the conversion of eligible borrowings described in (a) 

above are as follows: 

Year

2003
2004
2005

(In Thousands)
Amount

$  

6,284
6,313
3,234

$ 
15,831

During the fiscal years ended September 28, 2002, September 29, 2001 and September 30, 2000, interest 
expense was $1,212,000, $2,446,000 and $2,245,000, respectively, of which $238,000 was capitalized during the 
fiscal year ended September 30, 2000.   

F-13 

 
 
 
 
 
    
    
 
The carrying value of the Company’s long-term debt approximates its current aggregate fair value. 

8.  COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES 

Leases - The Company leases its restaurants, bar facilities, and administrative headquarters through its 

subsidiaries under terms expiring at various dates through 2029.  Most of the leases provide for the payment of base 
rents plus real estate taxes, insurance and other expenses and, in certain instances, for the payment of a percentage of 
the restaurants’ sales in excess of stipulated amounts at such facility. 

As of September 28, 2002, future minimum lease payments, net of sublease rentals, under noncancelable leases 

are as follows: 

Year

2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
Thereafter

Total minimum payments

(In thousands)
Operating
Leases

$  

7,821
7,310
6,568
6,568
3,716
11,075

$ 
43,058

In connection with the leases included in the table above, the Company obtained and delivered irrevocable 

letters of credit in the aggregate amount of $889,000 as security deposits under such leases. 

Rent expense was $12,001,000, $12,756,000 and $10,783,000 during the fiscal years ended September 28, 
2002, September 29, 2001 and September 30, 2000, respectively.  Rent expense for the fiscal years ended September 
29, 2001 and September 30, 2000 includes approximately $218,000 and $109,000 of operating lease deferred 
credits, representing the difference between rent expense recognized on a straight-line basis and actual amounts 
currently payable.  There was no effect for operating lease deferred credits for the year ended September 28, 2002.  
Contingent rentals, included in rent expense, were $3,198,000, $3,236,000 and $3,470,000 for the fiscal years ended 
September 28, 2002, September 29, 2001 and September 30, 2000, respectively. 

Legal Proceedings - In the ordinary course of its business, the Company is a party to various lawsuits arising 

from accidents at its restaurants and workmen’s compensation claims, which are generally handled by the 
Company’s insurance carriers. 

The employment by the Company of management personnel, waiters, waitresses and kitchen staff at a number 

of different restaurants has resulted in the institution, from time to time, of litigation alleging violation by the 
Company of employment discrimination laws.  The Company does not believe that any of such suits will have a 
materially adverse effect upon the Company, its financial condition or operations. 

A lawsuit was commenced against the Company in October 1997 in the District Court for the Southern District 

of New York by 44 present and former employees alleging various violations of Federal wage and hour laws.  The 
complaint sought an injunction against further violations of the labor laws and payment of unpaid minimum wages, 
overtime and other allegedly required amounts, liquidated damages, penalties and attorney’s fees.  The lawsuit was 
settled for approximately $1,245,000 in May 2001.  Based upon settlement discussion in the fourth quarter of fiscal 
2000, the Company recorded a charge of $1,300,000 at that time. 

Several unfair labor practice charges were filed against the Company in 1997 with the National Labor 

Relations Board (“NLRB”) with respect to the Company’s Las Vegas subsidiary.  The charges were heard in 

F-14 

 
 
 
    
    
    
    
  
 
October 1997.  At issue was whether the Company unlawfully terminated nine employees and disciplined six other 
employees allegedly in retaliation for their union activities.  An Administrative Law Judge found that six employees 
were terminated unlawfully and three were discharged for valid reasons and four employees were disciplined 
lawfully and two employees unlawfully.  On appeal, the NLRB found that the Company lawfully disciplined five 
employees and unlawfully disciplined one employee.  The Company is appealing the adverse rulings of the NLRB 
to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.  The Company does not believe that an adverse outcome in this proceeding 
will have a material adverse effect upon the Company’s financial condition or operations. 

9.  COMMON STOCK REPURCHASE PLAN 

In August 1998, the Company authorized the repurchase of up to 500,000 shares of the Company’s outstanding 

common stock.  In April 1999, the Company authorized the repurchase of an additional 300,000 shares of the 
Company’s outstanding common stock.  For the years ended September 29, 2001 and September 30, 2000, the 
Company repurchased 400 and 141,000 shares at a total cost of $3,000 and $1,350,000, respectively.  For the year 
ended September 28, 2002, there were no repurchases of common stock. 

10.  STOCK OPTIONS 

On October 15, 1985, the Company adopted a Stock Option Plan (the “Plan”) pursuant to which the Company 

reserved for issuance an aggregate of 175,000 shares of common stock.  In May 1991 and March 1994, the 
Company amended such Plan to increase the number of shares issuable under the Plan to 350,000 and 448,000, 
respectively.  In March 1996, the Company adopted a second plan and reserved for issuance an additional 135,000 
shares.  Subsequent amendments in March 1997, February 1999 and March 2001 increased the number of shares 
included under the plan to 270,000, 470,000 and 650,000, respectively.  Options granted under the Plans to key 
employees are exercisable at prices at least equal to the fair market value of such stock on the dates the options were 
granted.  The options expire five years after the date of grant and are generally exercisable as to 25% of the shares 
commencing on the first anniversary of the date of grant and as to an additional 25% commencing on each of the 
second, third and fourth anniversaries of the date of grant. 

Additional information follows: 

2002

2001

2000

Weighted
Average   
Exercise
Price

Shares

Weighted
Average    
Exercise
Price

Shares

Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price

Shares

Outstanding, beginning of year

330,000

$   

10.72

343,000

$  

10.76

488,000

$  

10.65

Options:
  Granted
  Exercised
  Canceled or expired

Outstanding, end of year (a)

240,000
-     
(177,500)

392,500

6.30

10.24

7.91

10,000
-     
(23,000)

7.50

9.89

-     
(41,000)
(104,000)

330,000

10.72

343,000

-     
8.00
11.32

10.76

Exercise price, outstanding options $6.30 - 10.00

$7.50 - $12.00

$9.50 - $12.00

Weighted average years

3.06 Years

Shares available for future grant

371,000

1.65 Years

320,000

2.62 Years

127,000

Options exercisable (a)

168,000

10.00

229,000

11.15

157,000

11.24

(a) 

Options become exercisable at various times until expiration dates ranging from 

December 2003 through December 2006. 

Statement of Financial Accountings Standards No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation (“SFAS 
No. 123”), requires the Company to disclose pro forma net income and pro forma earnings per share information for 

F-15 

 
 
 
    
   
     
 
              
 
             
 
          
 
              
 
             
 
          
    
       
     
      
            
       
           
          
      
      
   
     
    
      
    
    
 
              
 
             
    
       
   
    
     
    
 
              
 
             
 
              
 
             
 
              
 
             
    
   
     
 
              
 
             
    
     
   
    
     
    
 
employee stock option grants to employees as if the fair-value method defined in SFAS No. 123 had been applied.  
The Company utilized the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to quantify the pro forma effects on net income and 
earnings per share of the options granted and outstanding for fiscal 2002 and fiscal 2001.  There were no options 
granted during fiscal 2000. 

The weighted-average assumptions which were used for fiscal 2002 and fiscal 2001 included risk free interest 
rates of 4.25% and 5.5% and volatility of 35% and 45%, respectively.  An expected life of four years for both years 
was used.  No annual dividend yield was assumed for either fiscal 2002 or fiscal 2001.  The weighted average grant 
date fair value of options granted and outstanding during fiscal 2002 and fiscal 2001 was $2.05 and $2.87 
respectively.   

The pro forma impact was as follows: 

(in Thousands, Except per Share Amounts)
Years Ended
September 28, September 29, September 30,
2001

2000

2002

Net income (loss) as reported
Net income (loss) - pro forma

Earnings per share as reported - basic
Earnings per share as reported - diluted

Earnings per share pro forma - basic
Earnings per share pro forma - diluted

$  

4,229
4,088

$    

1.33
1.32

$    

1.29
1.28

$ 

(6,848)
(7,053)

$   

(2.15)
(2.15)

$   

(2.22)
(2.22)

$ 

(3,723)
(3,957)

$   

(1.11)
(1.11)

$   

(1.18)
(1.18)

The exercise of nonqualified stock options in the fiscal year 2000, resulted in an income tax benefit of $16,000, 

which was credited to additional paid-in capital.  The income tax benefit results from the difference between the 
market price on the exercise date and the option price. 

11.  MANAGEMENT FEE INCOME 

As of September 28, 2002, the Company provides management services to one restaurant owned by an outside 

party.  In accordance with the contractual arrangements, the Company earns management fees based on operating 
profits as defined by the agreement. 

Restaurants managed had sales of $2,973,000, $4,380,000 and $8,867,000 during the management periods 

within the years ended September 28, 2002, September 29, 2001 and September 30, 2000, respectively, which are 
not included in consolidated net sales of the Company. 

12.  INCOME TAXES 

The provision for income taxes reflects Federal income taxes calculated on a consolidated basis and state and 
local income taxes calculated by each subsidiary on a nonconsolidated basis.  For New York State and City income 
tax purposes, the losses incurred by a subsidiary may only be used to offset that subsidiary’s income. 

F-16 

 
 
 
    
   
   
 
         
      
    
    
      
    
    
 
The provision (benefit) for income taxes consists of the following: 

(In Thousands)
Years Ended

September 28, September 29, September 30,
2001

2000

2002

Current provision (benefit):
  Federal
  State and local

Deferred provision (benefit):
  Federal
  State and local

$ 

(2,151)
872

$ 

(1,008)
773

$ 

(1,129)
782

(1,279)

(235)

(347)

2,784
(86)

2,698

(3,022)
(85)

(3,107)

(1,286)
(273)

(1,559)

$  

1,419

$ 

(3,342)

$ 

(1,906)

The provision for income taxes differs from the amount computed by applying the Federal statutory rate due to 

the following: 

 (In Thousands)
Years Ended

September 28, September 29, September 30,
2001

2000

2002

Provision (benefit) for Federal 
  income taxes (34%)

State and local income taxes net of Federal 
  tax benefit

Amortization of goodwill

Tax credits

Other

$  

1,920

$ 

(3,465)

$ 

(1,849)

575

26

(755)

(347)

454

26

(489)

132

336

25

(503)

85

$  

1,419

$ 

(3,342)

$ 

(1,906)

F-17 

 
 
 
       
       
       
 
         
 
         
           
   
     
     
 
         
 
         
 
         
 
         
    
   
   
       
       
     
 
         
 
         
           
    
   
   
 
         
 
         
           
 
 
         
 
         
 
         
 
         
       
       
       
 
         
 
         
        
        
        
 
         
 
         
     
     
     
 
         
 
         
     
       
        
    
 
         
 
         
 
Deferred tax assets or liabilities are established for:  (a) temporary differences between the carrying amounts of 

assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes, and (b) 
operating loss carryforwards.  The tax effects of items comprising the Company’s net deferred tax asset are as 
follows: 

Deferred tax assets (liabilities):
  Operating loss carryforwards
  Operating lease deferred credits
  Carryforward tax credits
  Depreciation and amortization
  Deferred gains
  Valuation allowance
  Inventory
  Asset impairment

September 28, 
2002

September 29, 
2001

$ 

1,721
461
5,641
(1,829)
(146)
(1,031)
(269)
-     

$ 

4,548

$ 

1,539
430
4,105
(2,019)
(195)
(941)
-     
3,415

$ 

6,334

A valuation allowance for deferred taxes is required if, based on the evidence, it is more likely than not that 
some of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.  The Company believes that uncertainty exists with respect to 
future realization of certain operating loss carryforwards and operating lease deferred credits.  Therefore, the 
Company provided a valuation allowance of $1,031,000 at September 28, 2002 and $941,000 at September 29, 
2001.  The Company has state operating loss carryforwards of $23,219,000 and local operating loss carryforwards of 
$18,359,000, which expire in the years 2003 through 2016. 

During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2000, the Company and the Internal Revenue Service finalized the 

adjustments to the Company’s Federal income tax returns for the fiscal years ended September 28, 1991 through 
October 1, 1994.  During the fiscal year ended September 28, 2002, the Company and the Internal Revenue Service 
finalized the adjustments to the Company’s federal income tax returns for the fiscal years ended September 30, 1995 
through October 3, 1998.  The final adjustments, in both settlements, primarily relate to:  (i) legal and accounting 
expenses incurred in connection with new or acquired restaurants that the Internal Revenue Service asserts should 
have been capitalized and amortized rather than currently expensed and (ii) travel and meal expenses for which the 
Internal Revenue Service asserts the Company did not comply with certain record keeping requirements or the 
Internal Revenue Code.  These settlements did not have a material effect on the Company’s financial condition.   

13.  OTHER INCOME 

Other income consists of the following: 

(In Thousands)
Years Ended
September 28, September 29, September 30,
2001

2000

2002

Purchasing service fees
Other

$ 

123
307

$ 

430

$ 

106
55

$ 

161

$   

65
193

$ 

258

F-18 

 
 
 
      
      
   
   
  
  
    
    
  
    
    
     
     
   
 
        
 
        
           
 
   
     
   
           
 
14.  INCOME PER SHARE OF COMMON STOCK 

A reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of the basic and diluted per share computations for the 
fiscal year ended September 28, 2002 follows.  For the years ended September 29, 2001 and September 30, 2000, 
there were no dilutive stock options and warrants. 

Year ended September 28, 2002:
  Basic EPS
  Stock options and warrants

  Diluted EPS

(In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

Income
(Numerator)

Shares
(Denominator)

Per-Share
Amount

$ 

4,229
-     

$ 

4,229

3,181
25

3,206

1.33
$ 
(0.01)

$ 

1.32

For the years ended September 28, 2002, September 29, 2001, and September 30, 2000, shares  of 
34,000, 330,000 and 343,000, respectively, were not included in the computation of diluted EPS 
because to do so would have been antidilutive. 

15.  QUARTERLY INFORMATION (UNAUDITED) 

The following table sets forth certain quarterly operating data. 

(In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)
Fiscal Quarters Ended

December 31,
2001

March 29,
2002

June 29,
2002

September 28,
2002

2002

Food and Beverage Sales

$ 
25,781

$ 
26,149

$ 
33,261

$ 
29,916

Net income (loss)

974

(189)

1,836

1,608

Net income (loss) per share
  basic 

Net income (loss) per share
  diluted

$    

0.31

$   

(0.06)

$    

0.58

$    

0.51

$    

0.31

$   

(0.06)

$    

0.57

$    

0.50

F-19 

 
 
 
  
     
       
  
  
 
       
     
    
    
 
(In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Fiscal Quarters Ended
June 30,
March 31,
2001
2001

December 30,
2000

September 29,
2001

2001

Food and beverage sales

$ 
30,815

$ 
28,417

$ 
36,805

$ 
30,970

Net income (loss)

225

(1,000)

1,958

(8,031)

Net income (loss) per share
  basic and diluted

$      

.07

$    

(.31)

$      

.62

$   

(2.52)

January 1,
2000

Fiscal Quarters Ended
April 1,
2000

July 1,
2000

September 30,
2000

2000

Food and beverage sales

$ 

26,957

$ 

25,765

$ 

33,810

$ 

32,680

Cumulative effect of accounting change

(189)

-     

-     

Net income (loss)

91

(4,972)

1,770

-     

(612)

Net income (loss) per share -
  basic and diluted

$     

0.03

$   

(1.56)

$     

0.56

$   

(0.19)

16.  STOCK OPTION RECEIVABLES 

Stock option receivables include amounts due from officers and directors totaling $716,000 and $760,000 at 

September 28, 2002 and September 29, 2001, respectively.  Such amounts which are due from the exercise of stock 
options in accordance with the Company’s Stock Option Plan are payable on demand with interest at ½% above 
prime (5.25% at September 28, 2002). 

17.  RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS 

Mr. Donald D. Shack, a director of the Company, is a member of the firm Shack Siegel Katz Flaherty & 
Goodman P.C., general counsel to the Company.  The Company incurred $353,000, $436,000, and $324,000 in legal 
fees to such firm during the years ended September 28, 2002, September 29, 2001, and September 30, 2000, 
respectively. 

F-20 

 
 
 
 
         
 
         
 
         
 
         
       
   
    
   
 
         
 
         
 
         
 
         
 
      
      
      
      
         
    
     
      
 
Receivables due from officers and employees, excluding stock option receivables, totaled $897,000 at 

September 28, 2002 compared to $501,000 at September 29, 2001.  Other employee loans totaled $148,000 at 
September 28, 2002 compared to $287,000 at September 29, 2001.  Such loans bear interest at the minimum 
statutory rate (2.13% at September 28, 2002). 

18.  SUBSEQUENT EVENT (UNAUDITED) 

In October 2002, the Company sold some furniture, fixtures and equipment related to the Aladdin operations 
for $240,000.  The Company recognized a gain of $240,000, in fiscal 2003, on the transaction since all of the fixed 
assets for the Aladdin operations had been written off during the ended September 28, 2002. 

* * * * * *  

F-21 

 
 
 
 
CORPORATE INFORMATION 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

Ernest Bogen 
Chairman 

Michael Weinstein 
President and Chief Executive Officer 

Robert Towers 
Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Treasurer 

Vincent Pascal 
Senior Vice President – Operations and Secretary 

Paul Gordon 
Senior Vice President – Director of Las Vegas Operations 

Donald D. Shack 
Attorney, Shack Siegel Katz & Flaherty P.C. 

Jay Galin 
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, G+G Retail, Inc. 

Bruce Lewin 
Member, Continental Hosts, Ltd. 

EXECUTIVE OFFICE 

AUDITORS 

85 Fifth Avenue 
New York, N.Y. 10003 
(212) 206-8800 

Deloitte & Touche 
Two World Financial Center 
New York, N.Y. 10281 

TRANSFER AGENT 

GENERAL COUNSEL 

Continental Stock Transfer & 
Trust Company 
2 Broadway 
New York, N.Y. 10001 

Shack Siegel Katz & Flaherty P.C. 
530 Fifth Avenue 
New York, N.Y. 10036 

15 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ark Restaurants Corp. 
85 FIFTH AVENUE 
NEW YORK, N.Y. 10003-3019 
(212) 206-8800 

16