Rick Walsh, Darden's senior vice president of corporaterelations, confirms the speculation. "We do have the property undercontract and we'll be closing soon," Walsh tells GlobeSt.com. Theprice won't be disclosed until the deal is done.Darden hasn'tannounced whether it will convert King Henry's to a seafood orbarbecue/steak house or will be stepping onto new turf by tryingits hand as a themed restaurant operator.

On Stage Entertainment Inc., a Las Vegas-based entertainmentoperator, placed King Henry's and another attraction, Wild Bill's,on the selling block in the second quarter after the assets hadrolled up three consecutive years of bottom-line bleeding. In itsoverall operations, On Stage Entertainment lost $8.2 million in thefirst quarter ended March 31, 2000.

Both properties are 14 years old and had a combined payroll of234 employees. King Henry's and Wild Bill's in north Osceola Countyare about 10 miles from Walt Disney World and 20 miles fromDowntown Orlando.