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VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2017
Variable interest entity not primary beneficiary abstract |
Variable interest entity disclosure [Text Block] | (15) VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES A variable interest holder is considered to be the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity (“VIE”) if it has the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance and has the obligation to absorb losses of, or the right to receive benefits from, the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE. Once an entity is determined to be a VIE, the primary beneficiary is required to consolidate the entity. We have an installment agreement with one of our franchisees as the result of refranchising our Lincoln, Nebraska restaurant. This franchisee is a VIE; however, the owners of the franchise operations are the primary beneficiaries of the entities; therefore, the franchise operations are not required to be consolidated in our consolidated financial statements. On August 11, 2015, we consummated the sale of our Greenwood, Indiana restaurant. In conjunction with that agreement, we entered into a lease assignment agreement with the purchaser and landlord, releasing us of our obligations except in the event of default by the purchasers. As of December 31, 2017, the amount of the future lease payments for which we would be liable in the event of a default are approximately $106,000. An accrual related to a future obligation was not considered necessary as of December 31, 2017. This franchisee is a VIE; however, the owners of the franchise operations are the primary beneficiaries of the entities; therefore, the franchise operations are not required to be consolidated in our consolidated financial statements. On March 1, 2016, we consummated the sale of our Chicago, Illinois-area restaurants. In conjunction with that agreement, we entered into lease assignment agreements with the respective purchasers and two of the landlords, releasing us from our obligations except in the event of default by the purchasers. In 2017, the franchisee closed the restaurants and ceased to pay the lease payments. As of December 31, 2017, the remaining future minimum lease payments for which we are responsible totaled $1.5 million and we had recorded lease reserves totaling $1.0 million. See Note 13 “Asset Impairment, Estimated Lease Termination and Other Closing Costs.” This franchisee is a VIE; however, the owners of the franchise operations are the primary beneficiaries of the entities; therefore, the franchise operations are not required to be consolidated in our consolidated financial statements. On November 1, 2017, we sold our Frederick, Maryland restaurant. Pursuant to the terms of the Frederick Agreement, we remained the primary obligor of the lease. As of December 31, 2017, the amount of future lease payments for which we would be liable in the event of a default are approximately $756,000. An accrual related to the future lease obligation was not considered necessary as of December 31, 2017. See Note 11 “Discontinued Operations.”

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- Definition The entire disclosure for a variable interest entity (VIE), including but not limited to, judgments and assumptions in determining whether to consolidate and in identifying the primary beneficiary, gain (loss) recognized on the initial consolidation of the VIE, terms of arrangements, amounts and classification of the VIE's assets and liabilities, and the entity's maximum exposure to loss. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 810 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2197479 + Details
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- References No definition available. + Details
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