Koo Koo Roo Layoffs Planned After Buyout

Family Restaurants Inc., Irvine-based owner of El Torito and Chi-Chi’s restaurant chains, said it completed its acquisition of Koo Koo Roo Inc. and plans to lay off 41 of the 50 employees at the chain’s headquarters in Santa Monica. The combined company, Koo Koo Roo Enterprises Inc. in Irvine, doesn’t plan to close any of its 313 restaurants, a spokesman said. Koo Koo Roo shareholders approved the deal Friday. Kevin Relyea, chief executive of privately held Family Restaurants, becomes chairman and chief executive of the combined operation. Restaurant industry veteran Gayle A. DeBrosse becomes president of the Koo Koo Roo restaurant division. The stock will trade Monday on the Nasdaq market under the symbol KKRE. On Friday, Koo Koo Roo shares, trading under the old symbol KKRO, closed at $1.13, off 3 cents.