BOSTON – The Ground Round restaurant chain has closed its 60 chain-owned stores, but most of its independently owned franchises, including those in Bangor, Augusta and Auburn will remain open.

The stores were closed abruptly last Friday night.

In Maine, a Ground Round in South Portland closed after the general manager received a call telling him to lock the doors.

The Bangor, Augusta and Auburn restaurants remain open because they are not corporate-owned eateries, according to Michael Leonard, general manager at Bangor.

“We’re privately owned and restaurants that are privately owned are not in trouble with the banks like the corporate Ground Round restaurants were,” Leonard said.