Kona Grill Openings Lag

SCOTTSDALE, AZ-Construction delays have pushed back the openings of two new Kona Grill restaurants, one in Illinois and one in Texas, prompting the chain to reduce its financial forecast. At another Texas location, nearby construction has hindered visibility at a new restaurant, resulting in disappointing sales.

The company, which explained the delays in a conference call with financial analysts on Thursday, says that restaurant openings in Oakbrook, IL and Houston have been pushed back because landlords at the two new locations will not be able to turn over the premises to Kona as originally scheduled. Kona says the slipped schedules are entirely the result of construction delays.

“Once the properties are turned over to us, we have an impeccable record” of opening on schedule, Kona president and CEO Donald Dempsey said as he opened the conference call Thursday. Dempsey said that the delays were “due to circumstances beyond our control.”