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BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
3 Months Ended
Dec. 27, 2025
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The consolidated condensed balance sheet as of September 27, 2025, which has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 27, 2025 (“Form 10-K”), and the unaudited interim consolidated condensed financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Accordingly, certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted. All adjustments of a normal, recurring nature that, in the opinion of management are necessary for a fair presentation for the periods presented, have been reflected as required by Article 10 of Regulation S-X. These consolidated condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Form 10-K.
PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION — The consolidated condensed financial statements include the accounts of Ark Restaurants Corp. and all of its wholly-owned subsidiaries, partnerships and other entities in which it has a controlling interest, collectively herein referred to as the “Company”.
USE OF ESTIMATES — The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates are used for, but are not limited to: (i) projected cash flows related to asset impairments, including intangibles, (ii) income tax valuation allowances for deferred tax assets, (iii) allowances for potential credit losses on receivables, (iv) assumptions regarding discount rates related to lease accounting, (v) the useful lives and recoverability of our long-lived assets, such as fixed assets and intangibles, (vi) fair values of financial instruments, (vii) share-based compensation, (viii) estimates made in connection with acquisition purchase price allocations, (ix) uncertain tax positions, and (x) determining when investment impairments are other-than-temporary. The Company’s accounting estimates require the use of judgment as future events and the effect of these events cannot be predicted with certainty. The accounting estimates may change as new events occur, as more experience is acquired and as more information is obtained. The Company evaluates and updates assumptions and estimates on an ongoing basis and may use outside experts to assist in the Company’s evaluation, as considered necessary. Because of the uncertainty in such estimates, actual results may differ from these estimates. The results of operations for the 13 weeks ended December 27, 2025 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for any other interim period or for the year ending October 3, 2026.
NON-CONTROLLING INTERESTS Non-controlling interests represent capital contributions from, distributions to and income and loss attributable to the shareholders of less than wholly-owned and consolidated entities.
SEASONALITY — The Company has substantial fixed costs that do not decline proportionally with sales. Although our business is highly seasonal, our broader geographical reach mitigates some of this risk. For instance, the second quarter of our fiscal year, consisting of the non-holiday portion of the cold weather season in New York and Washington D.C. (January, February and March), is the poorest performing quarter; however, this is partially offset by our locations in Florida as they experience increased results in the winter months. We generally achieve our best results during the warmer weather, attributable to our extensive outdoor dining availability, particularly at Bryant Park in New York and Sequoia in Washington, D.C. (our largest restaurants) and our outdoor cafes. However, even during summer months these facilities can be adversely affected by unusually cool or rainy weather conditions. Our facilities in Las Vegas are indoors and generally operate on a more consistent basis throughout the year, although in recent years the summer months have seen lower traffic.
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS — Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, deposits with banks and highly-liquid investments generally with original maturities of three months or less. Outstanding checks in excess of account balances, typically vendor payments, payroll and other contractual obligations disbursed after the last day of a reporting period are reported as a current liability in the accompanying consolidated condensed balance sheets.
CONCENTRATIONS OF CREDIT RISK — Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents and accounts receivable. The Company reduces credit risk by placing its cash and cash equivalents with major financial institutions with high credit ratings. At times, such amounts may exceed federally insured limits. Accounts receivable is primarily comprised of normal business receivables, such as credit card receivables, that are
collected in a short period of time and other receivables from hotel operators where the Company has a location and are recorded upon satisfaction of the performance obligation. The Company reviews the collectability of its receivables on an ongoing basis, and has not provided for an allowance as it believes all of the counterparties will be able to meet their obligations. The concentration of credit risk with respect to accounts receivable is generally limited due to the short payment terms extended by the Company and the number of customers comprising the Company’s customer base.
As of December 27, 2025 and September 27, 2025, the Company had accounts receivable balances due from one hotel operator totaling 32% and 29% of total accounts receivable, respectively.
For the 13-week period ended December 27, 2025, the Company made purchases from one vendor that accounted for 10% of total purchases. For the 13-week period ended December 28, 2024, the Company made purchases from one vendor that accounted for 11% of total purchases.
As of December 27, 2025, all debt outstanding is with one lender (see Note 7 – Notes Payable).
LONG-LIVED AND RIGHT-OF-USE ASSETS — Long-lived assets, such as property, plant and equipment, purchased intangibles subject to amortization, and right-of-use assets ("ROU assets") are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. In the evaluation of the fair value and future benefits of long-lived assets, the Company performs an analysis of the anticipated undiscounted future net cash flows of the related long-lived assets. If the carrying value of the related asset exceeds the undiscounted cash flows, the carrying value is reduced to its fair value. Various factors including estimated future sales growth and estimated profit margins are included in this analysis.
The Company considers a triggering event related to long-lived assets or ROU assets in a net asset position to have occurred related to a specific restaurant if the restaurant’s cash flows for the last 12 months are less than a minimum threshold or if consistent levels of undiscounted cash flows for the remaining lease period are less than the carrying value of the restaurant’s assets. Additionally, the Company considers a triggering event related to ROU assets to have occurred related to a specific lease if the location has been subleased and future estimated sublease income is less than current lease payments. If the Company concludes that the carrying value of certain long-lived and ROU assets will not be recovered based on expected undiscounted future cash flows, an impairment loss is recorded to reduce the long-lived or ROU assets to their estimated fair value. The fair value is measured on a nonrecurring basis using unobservable (Level 3) inputs. There is uncertainty in the projected undiscounted future cash flows used in the Company's impairment review analysis, which requires the use of estimates and assumptions. If actual performance does not achieve the projections, or if the assumptions used change in the future, the Company may be required to recognize impairment charges in future periods, and such charges could be material.
Based on the results of this analysis, no impairment charges were recognized related to long-lived assets and ROU assets during the 13 weeks ended December 27, 2025 and December 28, 2024. Given the inherent uncertainty in projecting results of operations, the Company will continue to monitor the recoverability of the carrying value of the assets of several restaurants on an ongoing basis. If expected performance is not realized, further impairment charges may be recognized in future periods, and such charges could be material.
TRADEMARKS — Trademarks are not amortized, but are subject to impairment analysis. We assess the potential impairment of trademarks annually (at the end of our fourth quarter) and on an interim basis whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. If we determine through the impairment review process that trademarks are impaired, we record an impairment charge in our consolidated condensed statements of income.
Our impairment analysis for trademarks consists of a comparison of the fair value to the carrying value of the assets. This comparison is made based on a review of historical, current and forecasted sales and profit levels, as well as a review of any factors that may indicate potential impairment. During the 13 weeks ended December 27, 2025 and December 28, 2024, the Company did not record any impairment charges related to its trademarks.
REVENUE RECOGNITION — We recognize revenue upon the satisfaction of our performance obligation by transferring control over a product or service to a restaurant guest or other customer. Revenues from restaurant operations are presented net of discounts, coupons, employee meals and complimentary meals and recognized when food, beverage and retail products are sold. Sales tax collected from customers is excluded from sales and the obligation is included in sales tax payable until the taxes are remitted to the appropriate taxing authorities. Catering service revenue is generated through contracts with customers whereby the customer agrees to pay a contract rate for the service. Revenues from catered events are recognized in income upon satisfaction of the performance obligation (the date the event is held) and all customer payments, including nonrefundable upfront deposits, are deferred as a contract liability until such time. We recognized $5,248,000 and $5,906,000 in catering services revenue for the 13-week periods ended December 27, 2025 and December 28, 2024, respectively. Unearned revenue, which is included in accrued
expenses and other current liabilities on the consolidated condensed balance sheets, as of December 27, 2025 and September 27, 2025 was $2,096,000 and $4,265,000, respectively.
Revenues from gift cards are deferred and recognized upon redemption. Deferrals are not reduced for potential non-use as we generally have a legal obligation to remit the value of unredeemed gift cards to the relevant jurisdictions in which they are sold. As of December 27, 2025 and September 27, 2025, the total liability for gift cards in the amounts of approximately $523,000 and $438,000, respectively, are included in accrued expenses and other current liabilities in the consolidated condensed balance sheets.
Other revenues include merchandise sales, rental income, property management fees and other rentals.
LEASES — We determine if an arrangement contains a lease at inception. An arrangement contains a lease if it implicitly or explicitly identifies an asset to be used and conveys the right to control the use of the identified asset in exchange for consideration. As a lessee, we include operating leases in Operating lease ROU assets and Operating lease liabilities in our consolidated condensed balance sheets. ROU assets represent our right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities are recognized upon commencement of the lease based on the present value of the lease payments over the lease term. As most of our leases do not provide an implicit interest rate, we use our incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at commencement date to determine the present value of lease payments. Our lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease.  Options are included when it is reasonably certain that we will exercise that option. Lease expense for lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Amendments or modifications to lease terms are accounted for as variable lease payments. Leases with a lease term of 12 months or less are accounted for using the practical expedient which allows for straight-line rent expense over the remaining term of the lease. 
SEGMENT REPORTING — As of December 27, 2025, the Company owned and operated 16 restaurants and bars, 12 fast food concepts and catering operations, exclusively in the United States, that have similar economic characteristics, nature of products and services, class of customers and distribution methods. The Company believes it meets the criteria for aggregating its operating components into a single operating segment in accordance with applicable accounting guidance.
RECENTLY ADOPTED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS — On September 27, 2025, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures (“ASU 2023-07”). The amendments in this update are intended to improve reportable segment disclosure requirements primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses. The disclosures required by ASU 2023-07 can be found in Note 12 - Segment Information of these consolidated financial statements.
RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS — In December 2025, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the "FASB") issued ASU 2025-11, Narrow-Scope Improvements (Topic 270): Interim Reporting. This update makes targeted, narrow-scope improvements to the interim reporting guidance in Topic 270 to clarify application and improve consistency in practice. The amendments do not change the underlying principles of interim reporting. The amendments in this ASU are effective for interim reporting periods within annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2027. Early adoption is permitted. The Company expects to adopt this guidance in the first quarter of fiscal 2029. The Company is currently evaluating the effects of this pronouncement on its consolidated financial statements and does not expect the adoption of this ASU to have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements.
In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU No. 2024-03, Income Statement—Reporting Comprehensive Income—Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (“ASU 2024-03”), to expand expense disclosures by requiring disaggregated disclosure of certain income statement expense line items, including those that contain purchases of inventory, employee compensation, depreciation and amortization. ASU 2024-03 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2026, or our fiscal year 2028, and subsequent interim periods, with early adoption permitted. The amendments should be applied prospectively, but retrospective application is permitted. We are currently assessing the impact of the requirements on our consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures (“ASU 2023-09”), which enhances transparency about income tax information through improvements to income tax disclosures primarily related to the rate reconciliation and income taxes paid and to improve the effectiveness of income tax disclosures. ASU 2023-09 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, which is for fiscal year 2026 and interim periods beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2027, with early adoption permitted. The amendments may be applied prospectively or retrospectively with early adoption permitted. We are currently assessing the impact of the requirements on our consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
In October 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-06, Disclosure Improvements: Codification Amendment in Response to the SEC’s Disclosure Update and Simplification Initiative. The ASU incorporates several disclosure and presentation requirements currently residing in the SEC Regulations S-X and S-K. The amendments will be applied prospectively and are effective when the SEC removes the related requirements from Regulations S-X or S-K. Any amendments the SEC does not remove by June 30, 2027 will not be effective. As we are currently subject to these SEC requirements, this ASU is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements or related disclosures.
No other new accounting pronouncements issued or effective as of December 27, 2025 have had or are expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.