J. Alexanders (JAX) 10-Q 9 Jun 20 2020 Q1 Quarterly report Financial data

Document and Entity Information

Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2020	Jun. 08, 2020
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Mar. 29, 2020
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Transition Report	false
Entity Registrant Name	J. Alexander's Holdings, Inc.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	TN
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Small Business	true
Entity Emerging Growth Company	true
Entity Central Index Key	0001617227
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity File Number	1-37473
Entity Tax Identification Number	47-1608715
Entity Address, Address Line One	3401 West End Avenue
Entity Address, Address Line Two	Suite 260
Entity Address, Address Line Three	P.O. Box 24300
Entity Address, City or Town	Nashville
Entity Address, State or Province	TN
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	37202
City Area Code	615
Local Phone Number	269-1900
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-29
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Ex Transition Period	true
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		15,011,676
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, $0.001 par value
Trading Symbol	JAX
Security Exchange Name	NYSE

Condensed Consolidated Balance

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 29, 2020	Dec. 29, 2019
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 24,818	$ 8,803
Accounts and other receivables	1,530	2,035
Inventories	2,708	3,095
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	1,597	4,159
Total current assets	30,653	18,092
Other assets	5,661	5,698
Property and equipment, at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization of $66,496 and $64,967 as of March 29, 2020 and December 29, 2019, respectively	106,868	109,303
Right-of-use lease assets, net	74,241	70,277
Goodwill		15,737
Tradename and other indefinite-lived assets	25,648	25,648
Deferred income taxes, net	4,230	2,918
Deferred charges, less accumulated amortization of $358 and $343 as of March 29, 2020 and December 29, 2019, respectively	224	239
Total assets	247,525	247,912
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	4,697	6,353
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	8,831	9,389
Unearned revenue	2,989	4,111
Current portion of long-term debt	5,250	7,056
Current portion of lease liabilities	4,546	4,317
Total current liabilities	26,313	31,226
Long-term debt, net of portion classified as current and deferred loan costs	20,411	2,845
Long-term lease liabilities	80,182	75,883
Deferred compensation obligations	6,968	7,103
Other long-term liabilities	123	138
Total liabilities	133,997	117,195
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock, par value $0.001 per share: authorized 30,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 15,011,676 shares as of March 29, 2020 and December 29, 2019, respectively	15	15
Preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share: authorized 10,000,000 shares; no shares issued and outstanding as of March 29, 2020 or December 29, 2019
Additional paid-in capital	104,511	104,056
Retained earnings	7,444	25,088
Total stockholders' equity attributable to J. Alexander's Holdings, Inc.	111,970	129,159
Non-controlling interests	1,558	1,558
Total stockholders' equity	113,528	130,717
Commitments and contingencies
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 247,525	$ 247,912

Condensed Consolidated Balanc_2

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 29, 2020	Dec. 29, 2019
Statement Of Financial Position [Abstract]
Property and equipment, at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization	$ 66,496	$ 64,967
Deferred charges, accumulated amortization	$ 358	$ 343
Common stock, par value	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Common stock, shares authorized	30,000,000	30,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	15,011,676	15,011,676
Common stock, shares outstanding	15,011,676	15,011,676
Preferred stock, par value	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Preferred stock, shares authorized	10,000,000	10,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued	0	0
Preferred stock, shares outstanding	0	0

Condensed Consolidated Statemen

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive (Loss) Income (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 56,972	$ 64,734
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales	18,567	20,528
Restaurant labor and related costs	20,338	19,550
Depreciation and amortization of restaurant property and equipment	3,094	2,929
Other operating expenses	11,954	12,684
Total restaurant operating expenses	53,953	55,691
Transaction expenses	689	0
General and administrative expenses	4,740	4,756
Goodwill impairment charge	15,737
Long-lived asset impairment charges and restaurant closing costs	689
Pre-opening expenses	19	21
Total operating expenses	75,827	60,468
Operating (loss) income	(18,855)	4,266
Other (expense) income:
Interest expense	(116)	(186)
Other, net	(8)	66
Total other expense	(124)	(120)
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes	(18,979)	4,146
Income tax benefit (expense)	1,387	(239)
Loss from discontinued operations, net	(52)	(59)
Net (loss) income	$ (17,644)	$ 3,848
Basic (loss) earnings per share:
(Loss) income from continuing operations, net of tax	$ (1.20)	$ 0.27
Loss from discontinued operations, net	0	0
Basic (loss) earnings per share	(1.20)	0.26
Diluted (loss) earnings per share:
(Loss) income from continuing operations, net of tax	(1.20)	0.27
Loss from discontinued operations, net	0	0
Diluted (loss) earnings per share	$ (1.20)	$ 0.26
Weighted-average common shares outstanding:
Basic	14,695	14,695
Diluted	14,695	14,695
Comprehensive (loss) income	$ (17,644)	$ 3,848

Condensed Consolidated Statem_2

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Additional Paid-in CapitalCommon Class B Units	Retained Earnings	Non-controlling Interests	Non-controlling InterestsCommon Class B Units
Balances at Dec. 30, 2018	$ 121,659	$ 15	$ 96,272		$ 17,528	$ 7,844
Balance, shares at Dec. 30, 2018		14,695,176
Cumulative effect of change in accounting policy (Note 10)	(1,257)				(1,257)
Share-based compensation	296		296
Cancellation of subsidiary Class B Units (Note 2 (g))				$ 6,286			$ (6,286)
Net income (loss)	3,848				3,848
Balances at Mar. 31, 2019	124,546	$ 15	102,854		20,119	1,558
Balance, shares at Mar. 31, 2019		14,695,176
Balances at Dec. 29, 2019	130,717	$ 15	104,056		25,088	1,558
Balance, shares at Dec. 29, 2019		15,011,676
Share-based compensation	455		455
Net income (loss)	(17,644)				(17,644)
Balances at Mar. 29, 2020	$ 113,528	$ 15	$ 104,511		$ 7,444	$ 1,558
Balance, shares at Mar. 29, 2020		15,011,676

Condensed Consolidated Statem_3

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net (loss) income	$ (17,644)	$ 3,848
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment	3,146	2,993
Share-based compensation expense	455	296
Asset impairment charges	16,426
Deferred income taxes	(1,312)	(453)
Other, net	71	59
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts and other receivables	505	(139)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	2,562	979
Accounts payable	(1,685)	(755)
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	(558)	(6,325)
Lease right-of-use assets and liabilities	564	881
Other assets and liabilities, net	(700)	(515)
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,830	869
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment	(1,416)	(1,614)
Other investing activities	(149)	(90)
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,565)	(1,704)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from borrowing under debt agreement	17,000
Payments on long-term debt	(1,250)	(1,250)
Other financing activities		(6)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	15,750	(1,256)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	16,015	(2,091)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	8,803	8,783
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	24,818	6,692
Supplemental disclosures:
Property and equipment obligations accrued at beginning of period	1,116	819
Property and equipment obligations accrued at end of period	1,145	869
Cash paid for interest	93	171
Cash paid for income taxes	$ 30	$ 27

Organization and Business

Organization and Business	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2020
Organization And Business [Abstract]
Organization and Business	Note 1 – Organization and Business J. Alexander’s Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) was incorporated on August 15, 2014 in the state of Tennessee and is a holding company which is the sole managing member of and owns all of the outstanding Class A Units of J. Alexander’s Holdings, LLC, the parent company of all of the Company’s operating subsidiaries. The Company is a publicly-traded company, with its stock listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “JAX.” The Company, through J. Alexander’s Holdings, LLC and its subsidiaries, owns and operates full service, upscale restaurants including J. Alexander’s, Redlands Grill, Overland Park Grill, Merus Grill and Stoney River Steakhouse and Grill (“Stoney River”). At both March 29, 2020 and December 29, 2019, the Company operated 47 restaurants in 16 states. The Company’s restaurants are concentrated primarily in the East, Southeast, and Midwest regions of the United States. The Company does not have any restaurants operating under franchise agreements.

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2020
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	Note 2 – Basis of Presentation (a) Interim Financial Statements The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and the instructions to Form 10-Q and rules of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnote disclosures required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the quarter ended March 29, 2020 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the fiscal year ending January 3, 2021. For further information, refer to the Consolidated Financial Statements and footnotes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2019, filed with the SEC on March 13, 2020, and amended on April 17, 2020 (the “2019 Annual Report”). Total comprehensive (loss) income is comprised solely of net (loss) income for all periods presented. There have been no material changes in our significant accounting policies, other than those described in Note 2(k) – Inventory Method Change, Note 4 – Income Taxes and Note 7 – Recent Accounting Pronouncements, as compared to the significant accounting policies described in our 2019 Annual Report. (b) Effects of COVID-19 On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization (“WHO”) announced a global health emergency due to the global spread of a new strain of coronavirus ("COVID-19") and the related risks to the international community. On March 11, 2020, the WHO classified the COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic, and on March 13, 2020 the United States declared the pandemic a National Public Health Emergency. In response, many states and jurisdictions in which the Company operates restaurants issued stay-at-home orders and other measures, including the closure of all in-restaurant dining, aimed at slowing the spread of the virus beginning in March 2020. Many of these measures have remained in place in various forms through the date of this report. These measures resulted in the closure of the Company’s dining rooms and a shift to an off-premise operations platform only until late April 2020 when certain states began to allow for partial reopening of dining rooms. As a result of the government-mandated restrictions and related public concerns, the Company’s revenues, results operations and cash flows were negatively impacted in the first quarter of 2020 due to significant reductions in guest counts. The Company has taken measures to increase its off-premise sales during the COVID-19 pandemic, including investing in its online ordering platform partnership with ChowNow, introducing curbside service, menu innovation which includes family-style meals and butcher-shop sales of cook-at-home, hand-cut steaks and whole loins, and increasing digital marketing and email campaigns to drive guest awareness. In addition to the decline in restaurant sales, the Company has also incurred approximately $2,175 of costs directly related to the COVID-19 pandemic in the three months ended March 29, 2020, which consists primarily of continuing benefits and payments to furloughed restaurant employees for emergency sick leave and related payroll taxes and inventory waste. Additionally, the Company has continued to incur expenses related to the ongoing operations of the restaurants as well as monthly rent and occupancy-related costs during the period that its restaurants have been temporarily closed or operating with limited capacity or on an off-premise basis only. The Company has implemented measures to reduce its costs and limit its cash outflows during the COVID-19 pandemic, including temporary reductions in staffing levels and related furloughs of restaurant-level hourly employees, deferral or cancellation of significant capital expenditure projects, engaging in ongoing negotiations with vendors and landlords regarding deferral or abatement of rental and other contractual obligations and the deferral of tax payments where allowed, any or all of which could become significant. The disruption in operations and reduction in restaurant sales have also led the Company to consider the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the recoverability of its assets, including property and equipment, right-of-use assets for operating leases, goodwill and intangible assets, and others. Such impairment analyses resulted in the Company recording impairment charges totaling $16,426 for the quarter ended March 29, 2020, and are discussed further in Note 2(m) below. T he ultimate severity and longevity of the COVID-19 pandemic is unknown, and therefore, To preserve financial flexibility, the Company drew the remaining $17,000 of available capacity (at the time of the draw) under its revolving credit facilities in March 2020. During April 2020, the Company also entered into deferral letter agreements with its lender to postpone principal and interest payments on its outstanding indebtedness for a period of 90 days. Additionally, the Company entered into a modification agreement in April 2020 to defer the maturity of, and interest payments under one of its term loans to September 2021. Additionally, in June 2020, the Company entered into a modification agreement with its lender to increase the borrowing capacity under its revolving line of credit by an additional $15,000. Also, in May 2020, the Company obtained a waiver letter from its lender that waived existing financial covenants and instituted new financial covenants, which the Company expects to be in compliance with, through the period ending July 4, 2021. See Notes 2(l) and 11 below for further information. The full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve as of the date of this report. Given the uncertainty surrounding the global economy and governmental restrictions on our operations, the Company cannot reasonably predict when its restaurants will be able to return to normal dining room operations. Due to the rapid development and fluidity of this situation, the Company cannot determine the ultimate impact that the COVID-19 pandemic will have on its consolidated financial condition, liquidity and future results of operations, and therefore any prediction as to the ultimate material adverse impact on the Company’s consolidated financial condition, liquidity, and future results of operations is uncertain. The Company does expect that its results of operations, cash flows and liquidity will be negatively affected by the pandemic in the second quarter of 2020. (c) Principles of Consolidation The unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company as well as the accounts of its majority-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany profits, transactions, and balances between the Company and its subsidiaries have been eliminated. It is the Company’s policy to reclassify prior year amounts to conform to the current year’s presentation for comparative purposes, if such a reclassification is warranted. The Company is a holding company with no direct operations and that holds as its sole asset an equity interest in J. Alexander’s Holdings, LLC and, as a result, relies on J. Alexander’s Holdings, LLC to provide it with funds necessary to meet its financial obligations. ( d ) Fiscal Year The Company’s fiscal year ends on the Sunday closest to December 31, and each quarter typically consists of 13 weeks. The quarters ended March 29, 2020 and March 31, 2019 each included 13 weeks of operations, respectively. Fiscal years 2020 and 2019 include 53 and 52 weeks of operations, respectively. ( e ) Discontinued Operations and Restaurant Closure The Company remains party to a lease agreement for a location that was closed in 2013 and is accounted for as a discontinued operation. The $52 and $59 losses from discontinued operations included in the quarters ended March 29, 2020 and March 31, 2019, respectively, consist solely of exit and disposal costs for this location. ( f ) Transaction Expenses Transaction expenses totaled $689 and $0 for the quarters ended March 29, 2020 and March 31, 2019, respectively. Expenses incurred in 2020 include legal fees, other professional fees and consulting fees related to the ongoing evaluation of strategic alternatives. During the first quarter of 2020, the Company announced that given the uncertainties in the business community, the restaurant industry and the financial markets as a result of COVID-19, the ongoing review of strategic alternatives by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) will not be completed until these uncertainties are resolved. ( g ) (Loss) Earnings per Share Basic (loss) earnings per share of common stock is computed by dividing net (loss) income by the weighted average number of shares outstanding for the reporting period. Diluted (loss) earnings per share of common stock is computed similarly to basic (loss) earnings per share except the weighted average shares outstanding are increased to include potential shares outstanding resulting from share-based compensation awards and additional shares from the assumed exercise of any common stock equivalents, if dilutive. In periods of net loss, no potential common shares are included in the diluted shares outstanding as the effect is anti-dilutive. J. Alexander’s Holdings, LLC Class B Units are considered common stock equivalents for this purpose. The number of additional shares of common stock related to these common stock equivalents is calculated using the if-converted method, if dilutive. The number of additional shares of common stock related to stock option awards and unvested restricted share awards subject to only a service condition is calculated using the treasury stock method, if dilutive. Unvested restricted share awards that are subject to a performance condition are regarded as contingently issuable common shares and are included in the denominator of the diluted (loss) earnings per share calculation using the treasury stock method as of the beginning of the period in which the performance condition has been satisfied, if dilutive. Refer to Note 3 – (Loss) Earnings per Share for the basic and diluted (loss) earnings per share calculations and additional discussion. ( h ) Non-controlling Interests Non-controlling interests presented on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets represent the portion of net assets of the Company attributable to the non-controlling J. Alexander’s Holdings, LLC Class B Unit holders. As of each March 29, 2020 and December 29, 2019, the non-controlling interests presented on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets were $1,558. On February 28, 2019, in conjunction with the termination agreement (“Termination Agreement”) entered into in November 2018 between J. Alexander’s Holdings, LLC and Black Knight Advisory Services, LLC (“Black Knight”), the 1,500,024 Class B Units held by Black Knight were cancelled and forfeited for no consideration. Therefore, the Black Knight non‑controlling interest associated with their Class B Unit share-based compensation expense was reclassified to additional paid-in capital in the first quarter of 2019, and as of March 29, 2020 and December 29, 2019, non-controlling interests consist solely of the non-cash compensation expense relative to the Class B Units held by management. The Hypothetical Liquidation at Book Value method was used as of each of March 29, 2020 and March 31, 2019 to determine allocations of non-controlling interests in respect of vested grants consistent with the terms of the Second Amended and Restated LLC Agreement of J. Alexander’s Holdings, LLC, and pursuant to those calculations, no allocation of net (loss) income was made to non-controlling interests for either of the quarters ended March 29, 2020 or March 31, 2019. ( i ) Use of Estimates Management has made certain estimates and assumptions relating to the reporting of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the periods presented to prepare these unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with GAAP. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include those related to the accounting for gift card breakage, determination of uncertain tax positions and the valuation allowance relative to deferred tax assets, if any, estimates of useful lives of property and equipment and leasehold improvements, the carrying amount of goodwill and intangible assets, fair market valuations, determination of lease terms, and accounting for impairment losses, contingencies, and litigation. Actual results could differ from these estimates. ( j ) Share Repurchase Program On November 1, 2018, the Company’s Board authorized a share repurchase program which replaced the previous share repurchase program that expired on October 29, 2018, and allows for the repurchase of shares up to an aggregate purchase price of $15,000 over the three-year period ending November 1, 2021. Any share repurchases under the current program are expected to be made solely from cash on hand and available operating cash flow. Repurchases will be made in accordance with applicable securities laws and may be made from time to time in the open market. The timing, prices and amount of repurchases will depend upon prevailing market prices, general economic and market conditions and other considerations. The repurchase program does not obligate the Company to acquire any particular amount of stock. There was no common stock repurchase activity under the program during the first quarter of 2020. (k) Inventory Method Change The Company recently completed the implementation of a new inventory management system. In connection with this implementation, the Company changed its method of accounting for inventory from the lower of cost (first-in, first-out) or net realizable value method utilized by its legacy system to the lower of cost or net realizable value method, with cost being determined using an average cost method, effective December 30, 2019 (the first day of the current fiscal year). The Company believes this change in accounting principle is preferable, as it will result in greater precision in the costing of inventories. In addition, the average cost method better aligns with the functionality of the new inventory management system. The Company determined that the effects of adopting the average cost method were not material to its Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. Prior to the conversion to the new inventory management system, the Company was not able to determine the impact of the change to the average cost method. Therefore, it did not retroactively apply the change to periods prior to fiscal year 2020. (l) The Company is party to the Second Amended and Restated Loan Agreement, dated May 20, 2015, by and between J. Alexander’s, LLC and Pinnacle Bank, as amended (the “Loan Agreement”). As of March 29, 2020, the Loan Agreement consists of the following loans: (i) a $5,000 term loan that matures on September 3, 2021 (the “Mortgage Loan”), (ii) a $20,000 development line of credit that matures on September 3, 2021 (the “Development Line of Credit”), (iii) a $10,000 term loan that was originally scheduled to mature on May 3, 2020 (the “Term Loan”) (original maturity date has been modified as discussed in Note 11 – Subsequent Events), and (iv) a $1,000 revolving line of credit that matures on September 3, 2021 (the “Revolving Line of Credit”). As previously disclosed in the Company’s Form 8-K filed on March 24, 2020, during the first quarter of 2020, the Company announced it drew down the remaining $17,000 of available capacity (at the time of the draw) under the Development Line of Credit and the Revolving Line of Credit (the “Credit Draw”). Following the Credit Draw, a total of approximately $25,722 was outstanding under the Loan Agreement, including a total of $21,000 outstanding under the Development Line of Credit and the Revolving Line of Credit. Pursuant to the terms of the Loan Agreement, the borrowings under the Loan Agreement bear interest at 30-day LIBOR plus a sliding interest rate scale determined by a maximum adjusted debt to EBITDAR ratio (following the Credit Draw, prospectively set at 30-day LIBOR plus 2.10% as of March 29, 2020). The Credit Draw was undertaken as a precautionary measure to provide increased liquidity and preserve financial flexibility in light of current disruption and uncertainty resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The proceeds from the Credit Draw will be available to be used for general corporate purposes, including working capital. See Note 11 below for further information regarding additional changes to the Company’s Loan Agreement subsequent to March 29, 2020. (m) In light of the recent decline in the market price of the Company’s common stock, the impact of mandated dining room closures on financial results, the expected reduction in economic activity in the near term, and the general economic and market volatility, the Company determined that these factors constituted an interim triggering event as of March 29, 2020, and performed impairment analyses with regard to its indefinite-lived intangible assets, property and equipment (including its right-of-use assets for operating leases) and goodwill. As a result, the Company recorded asset impairment charges totaling $16,426 in the first quarter of 2020. The Company performed a quantitative goodwill impairment test as of the balance sheet date utilizing a market approach which included observable market prices associated with the Company’s common stock price in determining a fair value for the Company and its reporting units. As a result of this test, the Company determined that the J. Alexander’s / Grill reporting unit’s carrying value exceeded its fair value as of March 29, 2020 to such an extent that the full write-off of goodwill in the first quarter of 2020 in the amount of $15,737 was appropriate. The effect of this conclusion is presented as a component of “Goodwill impairment charge” on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive (Loss) Income. Additionally, the Company recorded a fixed asset impairment charge of $689 to state the assets at its Lyndhurst Grill location in Cleveland, Ohio, at their fair value as of March 29, 2020, which is presented as “Long-lived asset impairment charges and restaurant closing costs” on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive (Loss) Income. During the second quarter of 2020, the Company made the decision to permanently close this location after a review of its projected and historical financial performance. This location was also required to be temporarily closed in mid‑March due to COVID-19-related traffic limitations unique to that specific restaurant which further impacted operating results. The Company also performed a quantitative impairment analysis relative to its indefinite-lived intangible assets as of March 29, 2020 and determined that the fair value of these assets substantially exceeded their carrying values and no impairment existed as of March 29, 2020.

Earnings (Loss) per Share

Earnings (Loss) per Share	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2020
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Earnings (Loss) per Share	Note 3 – Earnings (Loss) per Share The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted (loss) earnings per share: Quarter Ended (Dollars and shares in thousands, except per share amounts) March 29, March 31, 2020 2019 Numerator: (Loss) income from continuing operations, net of tax $ (17,592 ) $ 3,907 Loss from discontinued operations, net (52 ) (59 ) Net (loss) income $ (17,644 ) $ 3,848 Denominator: Weighted average shares (denominator for basic (loss) earnings per share) 14,695 14,695 Effect of dilutive securities - - Adjusted weighted average shares and assumed conversions (denominator for diluted (loss) earnings per share) 14,695 14,695 Basic (loss) earnings per share: (Loss) income from continuing operations, net of tax $ (1.20 ) $ 0.27 Loss from discontinued operations, net (0.00 ) (0.00 ) Basic (loss) earnings per share $ (1.20 ) $ 0.26 Diluted (loss) earnings per share: (Loss) income from continuing operations, net of tax $ (1.20 ) $ 0.27 Loss from discontinued operations, net (0.00 ) (0.00 ) Diluted (loss) earnings per share $ (1.20 ) $ 0.26 Note: Per share amounts may not sum due to rounding. Basic (loss) earnings per share of common stock is computed by dividing net (loss) income by the weighted average number of shares outstanding for the reporting period. Diluted (loss) earnings per share of common stock gives effect during the reporting period to all dilutive potential shares outstanding resulting from share-based compensation awards and additional shares from the assumed exercise of any common stock equivalents, if dilutive. We incurred a net loss for the quarter ended March 29, 2020, and therefore diluted shares outstanding equaled basic shares outstanding for the first quarter of 2020. The J. Alexander’s Holdings, LLC Class B Units are considered common stock equivalents, and the number of additional shares of common stock related to these Class B Units is calculated using the if-converted method. The 833,346 Class B Units associated with management’s profits interest awards are considered to be antidilutive as of and for the quarter ended March 31, 2019 and, therefore, have been excluded from the diluted (loss) earnings per share calculations. The number of additional shares of common stock related to stock option awards is calculated using the treasury stock method, if dilutive. There were 1,495,750 stock option awards outstanding as of March 29, 2020 and March 31, 2019. These awards were considered antidilutive and, therefore, are excluded from the diluted (loss) earnings per share calculation for the quarter ended March 31, 2019. As of March 29, 2020, there were 264,000 and 52,500 restricted share awards and performance share awards outstanding, respectively. The performance condition associated with the performance share awards had not been met as of March 29, 2020. As noted above, the Company recorded a net loss for the quarter ended March 29, 2020. As such, none of these outstanding awards were considered dilutive for the first quarter of 2020. No such awards were outstanding as of March 31, 2019.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2020
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	Note 4 – Income Taxes On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) was enacted into law. The CARES Act is a tax and spending package intended to provide economic relief to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act includes several significant income and other business tax provisions that, among other things, would eliminate the taxable income limit for certain net operating losses (“NOLs”) and allow businesses to carry back NOLs arising in 2018, 2019, and 2020 to the five prior tax years, loosen the business interest limitation under section 163(j), and fix the qualified improvement property (“QIP”) regulations in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Additionally, the CARES Act provides for non-income tax-related relief such as refundable employee retention tax credits and the deferral of the employer-paid portion of social security taxes. As a result of the CARES Act, the Company estimates that it will be able to obtain a tax refund from the carryback of NOLs expected to be generated in fiscal 2020, and it is currently in the process of quantifying the estimated total amount of that carryback. The Company also intends to take advantage of the deferral offered for the employer-paid portion of social security taxes and the refundable employee retention tax credits. The Company continues to evaluate the various provisions of the CARES Act and their impact on its effective tax rate and its financial statements as a whole, but the Company does anticipate the impact for the full fiscal year 2020 could be significant. The interim tax provision for the quarter ended March 29, 2020 was prepared on an actual effective tax rate basis for the quarter rather than on an estimated annual effective rate basis due to the fact that the Company has determined that a reliable estimate of the annual effective tax rate cannot be made as of the end of the first quarter. The Company recognized an income tax benefit of $1,387 for the quarter ended March 29, 2020, which includes $106 of current benefit related to the carryback of calculated NOLs for the first quarter of 2020 to prior years as allowed under the CARES Act. The actual net effective tax rate for the first quarter of 2020 was 7.3% compared to 5.8% for the quarter ended March 31, 2019. The factors that caused the net effective tax rate to vary from the federal statutory rate of 21% for the three-month period ended March 29, 2020 primarily related to the impact of the nondeductible book goodwill impairment charge recorded during the quarter, partially offset by the Federal Insurance Contribution Act (“FICA”) tip credit, state income taxes, the anticipated carryback of the NOLs generated during the quarter to prior years, including the impact of the correction of the QIP regulations on the anticipated carryback, and other items. For the three-month period ended March 31, 2019, the factors that caused the net effective tax rate to vary from the federal statutory rate included the impact of the FICA tip credit and other credits, partially offset by state income taxes and certain non-deductible expenses. The Company regularly assesses the need for a valuation allowance related to its deferred tax assets, which includes consideration of both positive and negative evidence related to the likelihood of realization of such deferred tax assets to determine, based on the weight of the available evidence, whether it is more-likely-than-not that some or all of its deferred tax assets will not be realized. In its assessment, the Company considers recent financial operating results, projected future taxable income, the reversal of existing taxable differences, and tax planning strategies. The Company has evaluated the need for valuation allowances as of the quarter ended March 29, 2020 and has determined that a valuation allowance of $256 was necessary relative to certain state net operating losses and other deferred tax assets which are not expected to be realized. Management also determined at March 29, 2020 that it is more likely than not that the results of future operations and reversal of deferred tax liabilities will generate sufficient taxable income to realize the remaining deferred tax assets not covered by this valuation allowance. The Company will continue to assess the likelihood of the realization of its deferred tax assets, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and related economic uncertainty, and the valuation allowance will be adjusted accordingly in future periods if required.

Commitment and Contingencies

Commitment and Contingencies	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2020
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies	Note 5 – Commitments and Contingencies (a) Contingent Leases As a result of the disposition of the Company’s predecessor’s Wendy’s operations in 1996, subsidiaries of the Company may remain secondarily liable for certain real property leases with remaining terms of one to five years. The total estimated amount of lease payments remaining on these five leases at March 29, 2020 was approximately $955. In connection with the sale of the Company’s predecessor’s Mrs. Winner’s Chicken & Biscuit restaurant operations in 1989 and certain previous dispositions, subsidiaries of the Company also may remain secondarily liable for one real property lease. The total estimated amount of lease payments remaining on this lease at March 29, 2020 was approximately $326. There have been no payments by subsidiaries of the Company of such contingent liabilities in the history of the Company. Management believes any significant loss is remote. (b) Tax Contingencies The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to real property, personal property, business, franchise, income, withholding, unemployment, unclaimed property, sales and use taxes in various jurisdictions within the United States and are regularly under audit by tax authorities. This is believed to be common for the restaurant industry. Management believes the ultimate disposition of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position or results of operations of the Company. (c) Litigation Contingencies The Company and its subsidiaries are defendants from time to time in various claims or legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business, including claims relating to workers’ compensation matters, labor-related claims, discrimination and similar matters, claims resulting from guest accidents while visiting a restaurant, claims relating to lease and contractual obligations, federal and state tax matters, and claims from guests or employees alleging illness, injury or other food quality, health or operational concerns, and injury or wrongful death under “dram shop” laws that allow a person to sue the Company and its subsidiaries based on any injury caused by an intoxicated person who was wrongfully served alcoholic beverages at one of the Company’s restaurants. Management does not believe that any of the legal proceedings pending against the Company and its subsidiaries as of the date of this report will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s liquidity, consolidated results of operations or financial condition. The Company may incur liabilities, receive benefits, settle disputes, sustain judgments, or accrue expenses relating to legal proceedings in a particular fiscal year, which may adversely affect its consolidated results of operations, or on occasion, receive settlements that favorably affect its consolidated results of operations.

Fair Value Measurements

Fair Value Measurements	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2020
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair Value Measurements	Note 6 – Fair Value Measurements As of each of March 29, 2020 and December 29, 2019, the fair value of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, inventory, accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities approximated their carrying value due to their short-term nature. The carrying amounts of the long-term debt approximate fair value as interest rates and negotiated terms and conditions are consistent with current market rates because of the close proximity of recent refinancing transactions to the dates of these unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Level 2). The Company utilizes the following fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs into valuation techniques used to measure fair value. Accordingly, the Company uses valuation techniques which maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when determining fair value. The three levels of the hierarchy are as follows: Level 1 Defined as observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 Defined as observable inputs other than Level 1 prices. These include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in an active market, quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in markets that are not active or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities. Level 3 Defined as unobservable inputs for which little or no market data exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk. Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis As discussed in Note 2(m) above, during the first quarter of fiscal year 2020, primarily due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company determined that a triggering event had occurred requiring an impairment evaluation of its long-lived assets, indefinite-lived intangible assets and goodwill. As a result of these analyses, the Company recorded a $689 impairment charge related to the long-lived assets at one restaurant location that management determined would be permanently closed (the Lyndhurst Grill location) and a $15,737 impairment charge related to the Company’s recorded goodwill. The impairment charges were measured based on the amounts by which the carrying values of the assets exceeded their relative fair values. No impairment was recorded for indefinite‑lived intangible assets as their fair values were determined to substantially exceed their carrying values. Fair values for goodwill and long-lived assets that were impaired during the first quarter of 2020 were estimated utilizing a market approach, and fair value estimates for indefinite-lived intangibles were determined based on an income approach. Fair value estimates utilized market participant assumptions reflecting all available information as of the balance sheet date. The fair value associated with the impaired long-lived assets at the Company’s Lyndhurst Grill location as of March 29, 2020 was approximately $1,245 (Level 2), and the fair value of goodwill as of March 29, 2020 was $0 (Level 3). There were no non-financial assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis as of December 29, 2019. The ultimate severity and longevity of the COVID-19 pandemic is unknown, and therefore, it is possible that additional impairments could be identified in future periods, and such amounts could be material. Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis The following tables present the Company’s financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of the dates indicated: March 29, 2020 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Cash and cash equivalents * $ 3 $ - $ - U.S. government obligations * 203 - - Corporate bonds * 2,298 - - Mutual and money market funds 855 - - Cash surrender value - life insurance * - 2,257 - Total $ 3,359 $ 2,257 $ - December 29, 2019 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Cash and cash equivalents * $ 71 $ - $ - U.S. government obligations * 300 - - Corporate bonds * 2,195 - - Mutual and money market funds 833 - - Cash surrender value - life insurance * - 2,253 - Total $ 3,399 $ 2,253 $ - * - As held in the Trust (as defined below). Cash and cash equivalents are classified as Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy as they represent cash held in a rabbi trust established under a retirement benefit arrangement with certain of our current and former officers (the “Trust”). Cash held in the Trust is invested through an overnight repurchase agreement the investments of which may include U.S. Treasury securities, such as corporate bonds or Treasury bills, and other agencies of the U.S. government. Such investments are valued using quoted market prices in active markets. U.S. government obligations held in the Trust include U.S. Treasury Bonds. These bonds as well as the corporate bonds listed above are classified as Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy given their readily available quoted prices in active markets. At March 29, 2020 and December 29, 2019, the Company held investments in mutual and money market funds classified as trading securities that were also held in a rabbi trust as of March 29, 2020 (the “409a Trust”) to support its future obligations to participants of its nonqualified deferred compensation plan, which are carried at fair value based on quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1). Cash surrender value - life insurance is classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. The value of each policy was determined by MassMutual Financial Group, an A-rated insurance company, which provides the value of these policies to the Company on a regular basis. There were no transfers between the levels listed above during either of the reporting periods. Unrealized gains or losses on investments held in either the Trust or the 409a Trust are presented as a component of “Other, net” on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive (Loss) Income. The assets of both the Trust and the 409a Trust disclosed above are presented as a component of “Other assets” on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Recent Accounting Pronouncement

Recent Accounting Pronouncements	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2020
Accounting Changes And Error Corrections [Abstract]
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	Note 7 – Recent Accounting Pronouncements In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848)

Related Party Transactions

Related Party Transactions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2020
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
Related Party Transactions	Note 8 – Related Party Transactions On September 28, 2015, J. Alexander’s Holdings, LLC entered into a management consulting agreement (“Management Consulting Agreement”) with Black Knight, pursuant to which Black Knight provided corporate and strategic advisory services to J. Alexander’s Holdings, LLC. On November 30, 2018 (“Termination Date”), the Company terminated the Management Consulting Agreement by entering into the Termination Agreement. Under the Management Consulting Agreement, J. Alexander’s Holdings, LLC issued Black Knight 1,500,024 non-voting Class B Units and was required to pay Black Knight an annual fee equal to 3% of the Company’s Adjusted EBITDA for each fiscal year during the term of the Management Consulting Agreement and to reimburse Black Knight for its direct out-of-pocket costs incurred for management services provided to J. Alexander’s Holdings, LLC. Under the Management Consulting Agreement, “Adjusted EBITDA” meant the Company’s net income before interest expense, income tax (expense) benefit, depreciation and amortization, and adding asset impairment charges and restaurant closing costs, loss on disposals of fixed assets, transaction and integration costs, non-cash compensation, loss from discontinued operations, gain on debt extinguishment, pre-opening costs and certain unusual items. As a result of the Termination Agreement, in the first quarter of 2019, the Company paid approximately $705 to Black Knight which represented the pro-rata portion of its consulting fees earned during 2018 through the Termination Date. Additionally, the early termination of the Management Consulting Agreement by J. Alexander’s Holdings, LLC required the cash payment of $4,560 to Black Knight as a termination fee which the Company paid on January 31, 2019 using cash on hand. Under the terms of the Termination Agreement, Black Knight had 90 days from the Termination Date to exercise its right to convert the value of the Class B units it was granted under the Management Consulting Agreement above the applicable hurdle rate to the Company’s common stock. Since Black Knight did not exercise its conversion rights within the 90-day period, the Class B Units were cancelled and forfeited for no consideration on February 28, 2019.

Revenue

Revenue	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2020
Revenue From Contract With Customer [Abstract]
Revenue	Note 9 – Revenue The following table presents the Company’s revenues disaggregated by revenue source for the periods presented: Quarter Ended March 29, March 31, 2020 2019 Restaurant $ 56,744 $ 64,497 Gift card breakage 228 237 Net sales $ 56,972 $ 64,734 The Company recognized revenue associated with gift cards redeemed by guests of $1,434 and $1,515 during the quarters ended March 29, 2020 and March 31, 2019, respectively. Further, of the amounts that were redeemed during the three-month periods ended March 29, 2020 and March 31, 2019, $1,263 and $1,313, respectively, were recorded within unearned revenue at the beginning of each the respective fiscal years. Unearned revenue increased by $541 and $612 during the quarters ended March 29, 2020 and March 31, 2019, respectively, as a result of gift cards sold.

Leases

Leases	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2020
Leases [Abstract]
Leases	Note 10 – Leases The Company adopted ASC Topic 842, Leases Exit or Disposal Obligations During the first quarter of 2020, the Company took possession of the new restaurant location slated to open in San Antonio, Texas during the fourth quarter of 2020. As a result, the Company recorded a ROU asset in exchange for a new lease liability of $5,206. Further, the Company entered into a lease for a new restaurant location in Madison, Alabama, which it anticipates will open during fiscal year 2021 but for which it has not yet taken possession. Each of these leases include a lease term, including option periods, of 30 years. The Company modified an existing lease related to its Stoney River Annapolis location during the first quarter of 2020, which included changes to the length of the lease’s option periods. However, the total number of years between the two option periods remained the same, and the modification did not extend the total lease period beyond that which was agreed upon in the original lease. While base rental payments remained unchanged, the breakpoint and percentages applicable to percentage rental payments were modified should the restaurant’s sales exceed such thresholds. The amendment also provided for a lease incentive payment of $527 contingent upon certain conditions which were met by the Company and recorded as a reduction to the ROU asset during the first quarter of 2020. As a result of the modification, the Company updated the incremental borrowing rate associated with the lease as of the date of the modification. The cash paid during the first quarter of 2020 for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities totaled $2,219. Maturities of lease liabilities by fiscal year for the Company’s operating leases are as follows: March 29, 2020 2020 (1) $ 6,756 2021 9,377 2022 9,537 2023 9,562 2024 9,237 2025 and thereafter 92,521 Total minimum lease payments 136,990 Less: Imputed interest (2) 52,262 Present value of lease liabilities $ 84,728 (1) Excluding the 13 weeks ended March 29, 2020 (2) Amount necessary to reduce net minimum lease payments to present value calculated using our incremental borrowing rates, which are consistent with the lease terms at adoption date (for those leases in existence as of the adoption date of Topic 842) or lease inception (for those leases entered into after the adoption date).

Subsequent Events

Subsequent Events	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2020
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent Events	Note 11 – Subsequent Events Paycheck Protection Program Loans On April 10, 2020 and April 15, 2020 respectively, J. Alexander’s, LLC and Stoney River Management Company, LLC, each an indirect subsidiary of the Company, were each granted loans from Pinnacle Bank in the aggregate amounts of $10,000 and $5,100 pursuant to the Paycheck Protection Program under the CARES Act, which was enacted March 27, 2020. On April 29, 2020, the Company repaid both the $10,000 and the $5,100 loans in full. Loan Agreement On April 15, 2020, the Company entered into a modification agreement impacting the Term Loan, which defers the two remaining principal payments totaling $555 until the Term Loan’s new maturity date which was modified to be September 3, 2021. On September 3, 2021, this principal amount will be paid in full in addition to interest accrued during the relevant period. With respect to interest payments in the interim, the Term Loan was modified to defer such payments until July 3, 2020 at which point monthly interest payments will resume through the September 3, 2021 maturity date. Similar to the Term Loan, the Company also negotiated for the deferral of principal and interest payments related to the Mortgage Loan. The three principal payments otherwise due in April, May and June 2020 totaling $417 will now be paid when the loan matures on September 3, 2021 and interest payments will resume on July 3, 2020. The Company also reached an agreement with its lender in April 2020 to defer interest payments on its Development Line of Credit and Revolving Line of Credit for the months of April, May and June 2020, and interest payments will resume on July 3, 2020. On June 5, 2020, the Company entered into a Third Amended and Restated Loan Agreement with Pinnacle Bank (the “Third Amended and Restated Loan Agreement”) which amended its Revolving Line of Credit to expand its capacity from $1,000 to a total of $16,000 by adding an accordion feature for the additional $15,000, with the additional capacity being available for general corporate purposes, including working capital and letters of credit. This amendment also required the Company to pledge the previously unencumbered five owned properties as collateral to the lender. The additional capacity is available for borrowing by the Company in amounts up to and including $5,000 per fiscal month beginning in the eighth fiscal month of 2020, with any amounts not borrowed during any particular period to be carried over to subsequent periods. Any advances on the expanded Line of Credit are contingent on the Company achieving certain levels of revenue on a trailing three-fiscal-month basis. The Third Amended and Restated Loan Agreement was filed in its entirety as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 9, 2020. Borrowings under the Revolving Line of Credit under the Third Amended and Restated Loan Agreement bear interest at a rate of LIBOR plus 2.5%, with a floor for LIBOR of 1.5%, and will be payable quarterly beginning on September 3, 2020. All outstanding principal and interest under the Revolving Line of Credit will be due and payable on the maturity date of September 3, 2021. The Company disclosed in a Form 8-K filed on May 8, 2020 that, effective May 6, 2020, the Company entered into a waiver with Pinnacle Bank, which waived financial covenant compliance for existing financial covenants under the Loan Agreement beginning May 7, 2020 through the period ending July 4, 2021 (the “Waiver Period”), and implemented two new financial covenants. The Third Amended and Restated Loan Agreement also contains these new financial covenants that the Company is required to comply with during the Waiver Period (the “New Financial Covenants”). The New Financial Covenants require (i) minimum revenue of (a) at least $99,800 for the Company’s fiscal year ending January 3, 2021, (b) at least $118,400 on a four quarter trailing basis by April 4, 2021, and (c) at least $166,800 on a four quarter trailing basis by July 4, 2021, and (ii) a maximum adjusted debt to tangible net worth ratio of 0.80 or less, measured quarterly beginning September 27, 2020. In accordance with the Third Amended and Restated Loan Agreement, upon the expiration of the Waiver Period, the New Financial Covenants will terminate and the financial covenants revert back to (i) a fixed coverage charge ratio of not less than 1.25 to 1.0 and (ii) a maximum adjusted debt to EBITDAR ratio of not more than 4.0 to 1.0, consistent with the historical financial covenants in the Loan Agreement prior to the Company obtaining the waiver. The Company projects to be in compliance with these New Financial Covenants through the Waiver Period. For additional information on the former financial covenants under the terms and conditions of the Loan Agreement, please see “Part II, Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 10 – Debt” in the Company’s 2019 Annual Report. Restaurant Closure As discussed above in Note 2(m), the Company made the decision to permanently close its Lyndhurst Grill location on May 1, 2020 after a review of its projected and historical financial performance. Further, subsequent to quarter-end, the Company received an offer by a third party to purchase the land and building which was used in determining the fair value of the assets at this location of approximately $1,245. An impairment charge of $689 to reduce the book value of the associated assets to their fair values was recorded during the first quarter of 2020. All other costs associated with closing this restaurant will be recorded during the second quarter of 2020 and are expected to approximate $140.

Basis of Presentation (Policies

Basis of Presentation (Policies)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2020
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Interim Financial Statements	(a) Interim Financial Statements The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and the instructions to Form 10-Q and rules of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnote disclosures required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the quarter ended March 29, 2020 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the fiscal year ending January 3, 2021. For further information, refer to the Consolidated Financial Statements and footnotes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2019, filed with the SEC on March 13, 2020, and amended on April 17, 2020 (the “2019 Annual Report”). Total comprehensive (loss) income is comprised solely of net (loss) income for all periods presented. There have been no material changes in our significant accounting policies, other than those described in Note 2(k) – Inventory Method Change, Note 4 – Income Taxes and Note 7 – Recent Accounting Pronouncements, as compared to the significant accounting policies described in our 2019 Annual Report.
Effects of COVID-19	(b) Effects of COVID-19 On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization (“WHO”) announced a global health emergency due to the global spread of a new strain of coronavirus ("COVID-19") and the related risks to the international community. On March 11, 2020, the WHO classified the COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic, and on March 13, 2020 the United States declared the pandemic a National Public Health Emergency. In response, many states and jurisdictions in which the Company operates restaurants issued stay-at-home orders and other measures, including the closure of all in-restaurant dining, aimed at slowing the spread of the virus beginning in March 2020. Many of these measures have remained in place in various forms through the date of this report. These measures resulted in the closure of the Company’s dining rooms and a shift to an off-premise operations platform only until late April 2020 when certain states began to allow for partial reopening of dining rooms. As a result of the government-mandated restrictions and related public concerns, the Company’s revenues, results operations and cash flows were negatively impacted in the first quarter of 2020 due to significant reductions in guest counts. The Company has taken measures to increase its off-premise sales during the COVID-19 pandemic, including investing in its online ordering platform partnership with ChowNow, introducing curbside service, menu innovation which includes family-style meals and butcher-shop sales of cook-at-home, hand-cut steaks and whole loins, and increasing digital marketing and email campaigns to drive guest awareness. In addition to the decline in restaurant sales, the Company has also incurred approximately $2,175 of costs directly related to the COVID-19 pandemic in the three months ended March 29, 2020, which consists primarily of continuing benefits and payments to furloughed restaurant employees for emergency sick leave and related payroll taxes and inventory waste. Additionally, the Company has continued to incur expenses related to the ongoing operations of the restaurants as well as monthly rent and occupancy-related costs during the period that its restaurants have been temporarily closed or operating with limited capacity or on an off-premise basis only. The Company has implemented measures to reduce its costs and limit its cash outflows during the COVID-19 pandemic, including temporary reductions in staffing levels and related furloughs of restaurant-level hourly employees, deferral or cancellation of significant capital expenditure projects, engaging in ongoing negotiations with vendors and landlords regarding deferral or abatement of rental and other contractual obligations and the deferral of tax payments where allowed, any or all of which could become significant. The disruption in operations and reduction in restaurant sales have also led the Company to consider the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the recoverability of its assets, including property and equipment, right-of-use assets for operating leases, goodwill and intangible assets, and others. Such impairment analyses resulted in the Company recording impairment charges totaling $16,426 for the quarter ended March 29, 2020, and are discussed further in Note 2(m) below. T he ultimate severity and longevity of the COVID-19 pandemic is unknown, and therefore, To preserve financial flexibility, the Company drew the remaining $17,000 of available capacity (at the time of the draw) under its revolving credit facilities in March 2020. During April 2020, the Company also entered into deferral letter agreements with its lender to postpone principal and interest payments on its outstanding indebtedness for a period of 90 days. Additionally, the Company entered into a modification agreement in April 2020 to defer the maturity of, and interest payments under one of its term loans to September 2021. Additionally, in June 2020, the Company entered into a modification agreement with its lender to increase the borrowing capacity under its revolving line of credit by an additional $15,000. Also, in May 2020, the Company obtained a waiver letter from its lender that waived existing financial covenants and instituted new financial covenants, which the Company expects to be in compliance with, through the period ending July 4, 2021. See Notes 2(l) and 11 below for further information. The full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve as of the date of this report. Given the uncertainty surrounding the global economy and governmental restrictions on our operations, the Company cannot reasonably predict when its restaurants will be able to return to normal dining room operations. Due to the rapid development and fluidity of this situation, the Company cannot determine the ultimate impact that the COVID-19 pandemic will have on its consolidated financial condition, liquidity and future results of operations, and therefore any prediction as to the ultimate material adverse impact on the Company’s consolidated financial condition, liquidity, and future results of operations is uncertain. The Company does expect that its results of operations, cash flows and liquidity will be negatively affected by the pandemic in the second quarter of 2020.
Principles of Consolidation	(c) Principles of Consolidation The unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company as well as the accounts of its majority-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany profits, transactions, and balances between the Company and its subsidiaries have been eliminated. It is the Company’s policy to reclassify prior year amounts to conform to the current year’s presentation for comparative purposes, if such a reclassification is warranted. The Company is a holding company with no direct operations and that holds as its sole asset an equity interest in J. Alexander’s Holdings, LLC and, as a result, relies on J. Alexander’s Holdings, LLC to provide it with funds necessary to meet its financial obligations.
Fiscal Year	( d ) Fiscal Year The Company’s fiscal year ends on the Sunday closest to December 31, and each quarter typically consists of 13 weeks. The quarters ended March 29, 2020 and March 31, 2019 each included 13 weeks of operations, respectively. Fiscal years 2020 and 2019 include 53 and 52 weeks of operations, respectively.
Discontinued Operations and Restaurant Closure	( e ) Discontinued Operations and Restaurant Closure The Company remains party to a lease agreement for a location that was closed in 2013 and is accounted for as a discontinued operation. The $52 and $59 losses from discontinued operations included in the quarters ended March 29, 2020 and March 31, 2019, respectively, consist solely of exit and disposal costs for this location.
Transaction Expenses	( f ) Transaction Expenses Transaction expenses totaled $689 and $0 for the quarters ended March 29, 2020 and March 31, 2019, respectively. Expenses incurred in 2020 include legal fees, other professional fees and consulting fees related to the ongoing evaluation of strategic alternatives. During the first quarter of 2020, the Company announced that given the uncertainties in the business community, the restaurant industry and the financial markets as a result of COVID-19, the ongoing review of strategic alternatives by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) will not be completed until these uncertainties are resolved.
(Loss) Earnings per Share	( g ) (Loss) Earnings per Share Basic (loss) earnings per share of common stock is computed by dividing net (loss) income by the weighted average number of shares outstanding for the reporting period. Diluted (loss) earnings per share of common stock is computed similarly to basic (loss) earnings per share except the weighted average shares outstanding are increased to include potential shares outstanding resulting from share-based compensation awards and additional shares from the assumed exercise of any common stock equivalents, if dilutive. In periods of net loss, no potential common shares are included in the diluted shares outstanding as the effect is anti-dilutive. J. Alexander’s Holdings, LLC Class B Units are considered common stock equivalents for this purpose. The number of additional shares of common stock related to these common stock equivalents is calculated using the if-converted method, if dilutive. The number of additional shares of common stock related to stock option awards and unvested restricted share awards subject to only a service condition is calculated using the treasury stock method, if dilutive. Unvested restricted share awards that are subject to a performance condition are regarded as contingently issuable common shares and are included in the denominator of the diluted (loss) earnings per share calculation using the treasury stock method as of the beginning of the period in which the performance condition has been satisfied, if dilutive. Refer to Note 3 – (Loss) Earnings per Share for the basic and diluted (loss) earnings per share calculations and additional discussion.
Non-controlling Interests	( h ) Non-controlling Interests Non-controlling interests presented on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets represent the portion of net assets of the Company attributable to the non-controlling J. Alexander’s Holdings, LLC Class B Unit holders. As of each March 29, 2020 and December 29, 2019, the non-controlling interests presented on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets were $1,558. On February 28, 2019, in conjunction with the termination agreement (“Termination Agreement”) entered into in November 2018 between J. Alexander’s Holdings, LLC and Black Knight Advisory Services, LLC (“Black Knight”), the 1,500,024 Class B Units held by Black Knight were cancelled and forfeited for no consideration. Therefore, the Black Knight non‑controlling interest associated with their Class B Unit share-based compensation expense was reclassified to additional paid-in capital in the first quarter of 2019, and as of March 29, 2020 and December 29, 2019, non-controlling interests consist solely of the non-cash compensation expense relative to the Class B Units held by management. The Hypothetical Liquidation at Book Value method was used as of each of March 29, 2020 and March 31, 2019 to determine allocations of non-controlling interests in respect of vested grants consistent with the terms of the Second Amended and Restated LLC Agreement of J. Alexander’s Holdings, LLC, and pursuant to those calculations, no allocation of net (loss) income was made to non-controlling interests for either of the quarters ended March 29, 2020 or March 31, 2019.
Use of Estimates	( i ) Use of Estimates Management has made certain estimates and assumptions relating to the reporting of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the periods presented to prepare these unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with GAAP. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include those related to the accounting for gift card breakage, determination of uncertain tax positions and the valuation allowance relative to deferred tax assets, if any, estimates of useful lives of property and equipment and leasehold improvements, the carrying amount of goodwill and intangible assets, fair market valuations, determination of lease terms, and accounting for impairment losses, contingencies, and litigation. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
Share Repurchase Program	( j ) Share Repurchase Program On November 1, 2018, the Company’s Board authorized a share repurchase program which replaced the previous share repurchase program that expired on October 29, 2018, and allows for the repurchase of shares up to an aggregate purchase price of $15,000 over the three-year period ending November 1, 2021. Any share repurchases under the current program are expected to be made solely from cash on hand and available operating cash flow. Repurchases will be made in accordance with applicable securities laws and may be made from time to time in the open market. The timing, prices and amount of repurchases will depend upon prevailing market prices, general economic and market conditions and other considerations. The repurchase program does not obligate the Company to acquire any particular amount of stock. There was no common stock repurchase activity under the program during the first quarter of 2020.
Inventory Method Change	(k) Inventory Method Change The Company recently completed the implementation of a new inventory management system. In connection with this implementation, the Company changed its method of accounting for inventory from the lower of cost (first-in, first-out) or net realizable value method utilized by its legacy system to the lower of cost or net realizable value method, with cost being determined using an average cost method, effective December 30, 2019 (the first day of the current fiscal year). The Company believes this change in accounting principle is preferable, as it will result in greater precision in the costing of inventories. In addition, the average cost method better aligns with the functionality of the new inventory management system. The Company determined that the effects of adopting the average cost method were not material to its Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. Prior to the conversion to the new inventory management system, the Company was not able to determine the impact of the change to the average cost method. Therefore, it did not retroactively apply the change to periods prior to fiscal year 2020.
Debt	(l) The Company is party to the Second Amended and Restated Loan Agreement, dated May 20, 2015, by and between J. Alexander’s, LLC and Pinnacle Bank, as amended (the “Loan Agreement”). As of March 29, 2020, the Loan Agreement consists of the following loans: (i) a $5,000 term loan that matures on September 3, 2021 (the “Mortgage Loan”), (ii) a $20,000 development line of credit that matures on September 3, 2021 (the “Development Line of Credit”), (iii) a $10,000 term loan that was originally scheduled to mature on May 3, 2020 (the “Term Loan”) (original maturity date has been modified as discussed in Note 11 – Subsequent Events), and (iv) a $1,000 revolving line of credit that matures on September 3, 2021 (the “Revolving Line of Credit”). As previously disclosed in the Company’s Form 8-K filed on March 24, 2020, during the first quarter of 2020, the Company announced it drew down the remaining $17,000 of available capacity (at the time of the draw) under the Development Line of Credit and the Revolving Line of Credit (the “Credit Draw”). Following the Credit Draw, a total of approximately $25,722 was outstanding under the Loan Agreement, including a total of $21,000 outstanding under the Development Line of Credit and the Revolving Line of Credit. Pursuant to the terms of the Loan Agreement, the borrowings under the Loan Agreement bear interest at 30-day LIBOR plus a sliding interest rate scale determined by a maximum adjusted debt to EBITDAR ratio (following the Credit Draw, prospectively set at 30-day LIBOR plus 2.10% as of March 29, 2020). The Credit Draw was undertaken as a precautionary measure to provide increased liquidity and preserve financial flexibility in light of current disruption and uncertainty resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The proceeds from the Credit Draw will be available to be used for general corporate purposes, including working capital. See Note 11 below for further information regarding additional changes to the Company’s Loan Agreement subsequent to March 29, 2020.
Asset Impairment Charges	(m) In light of the recent decline in the market price of the Company’s common stock, the impact of mandated dining room closures on financial results, the expected reduction in economic activity in the near term, and the general economic and market volatility, the Company determined that these factors constituted an interim triggering event as of March 29, 2020, and performed impairment analyses with regard to its indefinite-lived intangible assets, property and equipment (including its right-of-use assets for operating leases) and goodwill. As a result, the Company recorded asset impairment charges totaling $16,426 in the first quarter of 2020. The Company performed a quantitative goodwill impairment test as of the balance sheet date utilizing a market approach which included observable market prices associated with the Company’s common stock price in determining a fair value for the Company and its reporting units. As a result of this test, the Company determined that the J. Alexander’s / Grill reporting unit’s carrying value exceeded its fair value as of March 29, 2020 to such an extent that the full write-off of goodwill in the first quarter of 2020 in the amount of $15,737 was appropriate. The effect of this conclusion is presented as a component of “Goodwill impairment charge” on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive (Loss) Income. Additionally, the Company recorded a fixed asset impairment charge of $689 to state the assets at its Lyndhurst Grill location in Cleveland, Ohio, at their fair value as of March 29, 2020, which is presented as “Long-lived asset impairment charges and restaurant closing costs” on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive (Loss) Income. During the second quarter of 2020, the Company made the decision to permanently close this location after a review of its projected and historical financial performance. This location was also required to be temporarily closed in mid‑March due to COVID-19-related traffic limitations unique to that specific restaurant which further impacted operating results. The Company also performed a quantitative impairment analysis relative to its indefinite-lived intangible assets as of March 29, 2020 and determined that the fair value of these assets substantially exceeded their carrying values and no impairment existed as of March 29, 2020.

Earnings (Loss) per Share (Tabl

Earnings (Loss) per Share (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2020
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Computation of Basic and Diluted (Loss) Earnings per Share	The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted (loss) earnings per share: Quarter Ended (Dollars and shares in thousands, except per share amounts) March 29, March 31, 2020 2019 Numerator: (Loss) income from continuing operations, net of tax $ (17,592 ) $ 3,907 Loss from discontinued operations, net (52 ) (59 ) Net (loss) income $ (17,644 ) $ 3,848 Denominator: Weighted average shares (denominator for basic (loss) earnings per share) 14,695 14,695 Effect of dilutive securities - - Adjusted weighted average shares and assumed conversions (denominator for diluted (loss) earnings per share) 14,695 14,695 Basic (loss) earnings per share: (Loss) income from continuing operations, net of tax $ (1.20 ) $ 0.27 Loss from discontinued operations, net (0.00 ) (0.00 ) Basic (loss) earnings per share $ (1.20 ) $ 0.26 Diluted (loss) earnings per share: (Loss) income from continuing operations, net of tax $ (1.20 ) $ 0.27 Loss from discontinued operations, net (0.00 ) (0.00 ) Diluted (loss) earnings per share $ (1.20 ) $ 0.26 Note: Per share amounts may not sum due to rounding.

Fair Value Measurements (Tables

Fair Value Measurements (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2020
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Schedule of Financial Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis	The following tables present the Company’s financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of the dates indicated: March 29, 2020 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Cash and cash equivalents * $ 3 $ - $ - U.S. government obligations * 203 - - Corporate bonds * 2,298 - - Mutual and money market funds 855 - - Cash surrender value - life insurance * - 2,257 - Total $ 3,359 $ 2,257 $ - December 29, 2019 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Cash and cash equivalents * $ 71 $ - $ - U.S. government obligations * 300 - - Corporate bonds * 2,195 - - Mutual and money market funds 833 - - Cash surrender value - life insurance * - 2,253 - Total $ 3,399 $ 2,253 $ - * - As held in the Trust (as defined below).

Revenue (Tables)

Revenue (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2020
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Abstract]
Disaggregation of Revenue	The following table presents the Company’s revenues disaggregated by revenue source for the periods presented: Quarter Ended March 29, March 31, 2020 2019 Restaurant $ 56,744 $ 64,497 Gift card breakage 228 237 Net sales $ 56,972 $ 64,734

Leases (Tables)

Leases (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2020
Leases [Abstract]
Schedule of Maturities of Lease Liabilities for Operating Leases	Maturities of lease liabilities by fiscal year for the Company’s operating leases are as follows: March 29, 2020 2020 (1) $ 6,756 2021 9,377 2022 9,537 2023 9,562 2024 9,237 2025 and thereafter 92,521 Total minimum lease payments 136,990 Less: Imputed interest (2) 52,262 Present value of lease liabilities $ 84,728 (1) Excluding the 13 weeks ended March 29, 2020 (2) Amount necessary to reduce net minimum lease payments to present value calculated using our incremental borrowing rates, which are consistent with the lease terms at adoption date (for those leases in existence as of the adoption date of Topic 842) or lease inception (for those leases entered into after the adoption date).

Organization and Business - Add

Organization and Business - Additional Information (Details)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2020RestaurantOperatingplace	Dec. 29, 2019RestaurantOperatingplace
Organization And Business [Abstract]
Date of incorporation	Aug. 15, 2014
Number of restaurants | Restaurant	47	47
Number of states in entity operates | Operatingplace	16	16

Basis of Presentation - Additio

Basis of Presentation - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Feb. 28, 2019	Nov. 01, 2018	Oct. 29, 2015	Mar. 29, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019	May 31, 2020	Dec. 29, 2019
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Asset impairment charges				$ 16,426
Line of credit, amount drew down during period				17,000
Loss from discontinued operations, net				52	$ 59
Transaction expenses				$ 689	0
Potential common shares included in diluted shares outstanding as effect is antidilutive				0
Non-controlling interests				$ 1,558			$ 1,558
Aggregate purchase price for repurchase of company stock outstanding		$ 15,000
Period to repurchase common stock		3 years
Stock repurchase program expiration date		Nov. 1, 2021	Oct. 29, 2018
Common stock repurchase activity				0
Long term loan				$ 25,722
Goodwill impairment charge				15,737
Fixed asset impairment charge				689
Impairment of indefinite-lived intangible assets				0
Allocation of Net Income
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Non-controlling interests				0	0
Black Knight Advisory Services, LLC | Common Class B Units
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of share forfeited and cancelled	1,500,024
Discontinued Operations
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Loss from discontinued operations, net				52	$ 59
Development Line of Credit | Financial Institution
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Line of credit facility				$ 20,000
Line of credit facility, expiration date				Sep. 3, 2021
Mortgage Loan | Financial Institution
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Long term loan				$ 5,000
Debt instrument, expiration date				Sep. 3, 2021
Revolving Line of Credit | Financial Institution
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Line of credit facility				$ 1,000
Line of credit facility, expiration date				Sep. 3, 2021
Revolving Line of Credit | Development Line of Credit
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Line of credit, amount drew down during period				$ 17,000
Line of credit, outstanding				$ 21,000
Revolving Line of Credit | Development Line of Credit | LIBOR
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Debt instrument, description of variable rate basis				30-day LIBOR plus 2.10%
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate				2.10%
Term Loan | Financial Institution
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Long term loan				$ 10,000
Debt instrument, original expiration date				May 3, 2020
Modification Agreement | Revolving Line of Credit | Subsequent Event
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Line of credit, remaining borrowing capacity						$ 15,000
COVID-19
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Cost incurred during period				$ 2,175

Earnings (Loss) per Share - Com

Earnings (Loss) per Share - Computation of Basic and Diluted (Loss) Earnings per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Numerator:
(Loss) income from continuing operations, net of tax	$ (17,592)	$ 3,907
Loss from discontinued operations, net	(52)	(59)
Net (loss) income	$ (17,644)	$ 3,848
Denominator:
Weighted average shares (denominator for basic (loss) earnings per share)	14,695	14,695
Adjusted weighted average shares and assumed conversions (denominator for diluted (loss) earnings per share)	14,695	14,695
Basic (loss) earnings per share:
(Loss) income from continuing operations, net of tax	$ (1.20)	$ 0.27
Loss from discontinued operations, net	0	0
Basic (loss) earnings per share	(1.20)	0.26
Diluted (loss) earnings per share:
(Loss) income from continuing operations, net of tax	(1.20)	0.27
Loss from discontinued operations, net	0	0
Diluted (loss) earnings per share	$ (1.20)	$ 0.26

Earnings (Loss) per Share - Add

Earnings (Loss) per Share - Additional Information (Details) - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Antidilutive Securities Excluded From And Dilutive Securities Included In Computation Of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Number of share-based compensation awards included in computation of earnings per share	0
Restricted Share Awards
Antidilutive Securities Excluded From And Dilutive Securities Included In Computation Of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Granted share awards	264,000	0
Performance Share Awards
Antidilutive Securities Excluded From And Dilutive Securities Included In Computation Of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Granted share awards	52,500	0
Stock Option Awards
Antidilutive Securities Excluded From And Dilutive Securities Included In Computation Of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Number of stock option awards outstanding	1,495,750	1,495,750
Management | Common Class B Units
Antidilutive Securities Excluded From And Dilutive Securities Included In Computation Of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Anti-dilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings (loss) per share		833,346

Income Taxes - Additional Infor

Income Taxes - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Net operating loss carry back expiration period	5 years
Income tax benefit (expense)	$ 1,387	$ (239)
Net operating loss current benefit related to carryback	$ 106
Net effective tax rate	7.30%	5.80%
Federal statutory rate	21.00%
Deferred tax assets valuation allowance	$ 256

Commitments and Contingencies -

Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2020USD ($)Lease
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Payments made to date relative to contingent leases	$ 0
Wendy's Operations
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of secondarily liable leases | Lease	5
Estimated amount of secondarily liable lease payments due	$ 955
Wendy's Operations | Minimum
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Remaining lease term	1 year
Wendy's Operations | Maximum
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Remaining lease term	5 years
Mrs. Winner's Chicken and Biscuit Restaurant Operations
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of secondarily liable leases | Lease	1
Estimated amount of secondarily liable lease payments due	$ 326

Fair Value Measurements - Addit

Fair Value Measurements - Additional Information (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2020USD ($)Restaurant	Dec. 29, 2019USD ($)
Schedule Of Assets Used To Fund The Trust [Line Items]
Impairment charge related to long-lived assets	$ 689
Number of restaurants closed | Restaurant	1
Impairment charge related to goodwill	$ 15,737
Impairment of indefinite-lived intangible assets	0
Fair Value Non-Recurring Basis
Schedule Of Assets Used To Fund The Trust [Line Items]
Non-financial assets measured at fair value		$ 0
Level 2 | Lyndhurst Grill Location, Cleveland, Ohio
Schedule Of Assets Used To Fund The Trust [Line Items]
Remaining fair value of long-lived assets after impairment	1,245
Level 3
Schedule Of Assets Used To Fund The Trust [Line Items]
Remaining carrying value of goodwill after impairment	$ 0

Fair Value Measurements - Sched

Fair Value Measurements - Schedule of Financial Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis (Details) - Fair Value Measurements Recurring - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 29, 2020	Dec. 29, 2019
Level 1
Schedule of Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
Assets held in trust	$ 3,359	$ 3,399
Level 1 | Cash and Cash Equivalents (as Held in the Trust)
Schedule of Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
Assets held in trust	3	71
Level 1 | Corporate Bonds (as Held in the Trust)
Schedule of Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
Assets held in trust	2,298	2,195
Level 1 | Mutual and Money Market Funds
Schedule of Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
Nonqualified deferred compensation plan assets	855	833
Level 1 | U.S. Government Obligations (as Held in the Trust)
Schedule of Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
Assets held in trust	203	300
Level 2
Schedule of Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
Assets held in trust	2,257	2,253
Level 2 | Cash Surrender Value - Life Insurance (as Held in the Trust)
Schedule of Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
Assets held in trust	$ 2,257	$ 2,253

Related Party Transactions - Ad

Related Party Transactions - Additional Information (Details) - Black Knight Advisory Services, LLC - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jan. 31, 2019	Nov. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 30, 2018	Sep. 28, 2015
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Management consulting agreement, termination date		Nov. 30, 2018
Annual fee as percentage of EBITDA				3.00%
Management fee paid			$ 705
Management consulting agreement termination payment	$ 4,560
Common Class B Units
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Common unit, granted					1,500,024
Common Class B Units | Maximum
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Exchange period upon termination of management consulting agreement		90 days

Revenue - Disaggregation of Rev

Revenue - Disaggregation of Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 56,972	$ 64,734
Restaurant [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	56,744	64,497
Gift Card Breakage [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 228	$ 237

Revenue - Additional Informatio

Revenue - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Revenue From Contract With Customer [Abstract]
Gift card redemptions during the period	$ 1,434	$ 1,515
Current period gift card redemptions from the unearned revenue balance at the beginning of the period	1,263	1,313
Gift cards sold during the period	$ 541	$ 612

Leases - Additional Information

Leases - Additional Information (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2020USD ($)
Leases [Abstract]
Right of use assets in exchange for new lease liability	$ 5,206
Lease term, including option periods	30 years
Lease incentive receivable	$ 527
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities	$ 2,219

Leases - Schedule of Maturities

Leases - Schedule of Maturities of Lease Liabilities for Operating Leases (Details) $ in Thousands	Mar. 29, 2020USD ($)
Leases [Abstract]
2020	$ 6,756
2021	9,377
2022	9,537
2023	9,562
2024	9,237
2025 and thereafter	92,521
Total minimum lease payments	136,990
Less: Imputed interest	52,262
Present value of lease liabilities	$ 84,728

Subsequent Events - Additional

Subsequent Events - Additional Information (Details) $ in Thousands

Sep. 03, 2021USD ($)

Aug. 01, 2020USD ($)

May 06, 2020

Apr. 15, 2020USD ($)

Jul. 04, 2021USD ($)

Apr. 04, 2021USD ($)

Jun. 28, 2020USD ($)

Mar. 29, 2020USD ($)

Mar. 31, 2019USD ($)

Jan. 03, 2021USD ($)

Sep. 27, 2020

Jun. 05, 2020USD ($)

May 01, 2020USD ($)

Apr. 29, 2020USD ($)

Apr. 10, 2020USD ($)

Subsequent Event [Line Items]

Revenue

$ 56,972

$ 64,734

Impairment charge

689

Revolving Line of Credit | Financial Institution

Subsequent Event [Line Items]

Line of Credit full amount

$ 1,000

Scenario Forecast

Subsequent Event [Line Items]

Costs associated with closure of restaurant

$ 140

Scenario Forecast | Financial Institution | Maximum

Subsequent Event [Line Items]

Adjusted debt to tangible net worth ratio

0.80

Scenario Forecast | Financial Debt Covenants | Financial Institution | Minimum

Subsequent Event [Line Items]

Revenue

$ 166,800

$ 118,400

$ 99,800

Scenario Forecast | Revolving Line of Credit | Third Amended and Restated Loan Agreement

Subsequent Event [Line Items]

Monthly incremental line of credit facility

$ 5,000

Scenario Forecast | Revolving Line of Credit | Third Amended and Restated Loan Agreement | LIBOR

Subsequent Event [Line Items]

Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate

2.50%

Scenario Forecast | Revolving Line of Credit | Third Amended and Restated Loan Agreement | LIBOR | Floor

Subsequent Event [Line Items]

Interest on borrowings

1.50%

Scenario Forecast | Mortgage Loan

Subsequent Event [Line Items]

Principal payments deferral amount

$ 417

Principal payments deferred date

Sep. 3, 2021

Subsequent Event

Subsequent Event [Line Items]

Fair value of assets

$ 1,245

Subsequent Event | Financial Institution

Subsequent Event [Line Items]

Debt instrument, covenant compliance

The Company disclosed in a Form 8-K filed on May 8, 2020 that, effective May 6, 2020, the Company entered into a waiver with Pinnacle Bank, which waived financial covenant compliance for existing financial covenants under the Loan Agreement beginning May 7, 2020 through the period ending July 4, 2021 (the “Waiver Period”)

Debt instrument, covenant description

The New Financial Covenants require (i) minimum revenue of (a) at least $99,800 for the Company’s fiscal year ending January 3, 2021, (b) at least $118,400 on a four quarter trailing basis by April 4, 2021, and (c) at least $166,800 on a four quarter trailing basis by July 4, 2021, and (ii) a maximum adjusted debt to tangible net worth ratio of 0.80 or less, measured quarterly beginning September 27, 2020.

Subsequent Event | Third Amended and Restated Loan Agreement | Financial Institution | Minimum

Subsequent Event [Line Items]

Fixed charge coverage ratio

125.00%

Subsequent Event | Third Amended and Restated Loan Agreement | Financial Institution | Maximum

Subsequent Event [Line Items]

Maximum adjusted debt to EBITDAR

400.00%

Subsequent Event | Term Loan

Subsequent Event [Line Items]

Principal payments deferral amount

$ 555

Subsequent Event | Revolving Line of Credit | Third Amended and Restated Loan Agreement

Subsequent Event [Line Items]

Original line of credit facility amount

$ 1,000

Line of Credit full amount

16,000

Line of credit facility expansion amount

$ 15,000

Subsequent Event | Paycheck Protection Program Loans | J Alexander's LLC

Subsequent Event [Line Items]

Loans from pinnacle bank amount

$ 10,000

Repayment of proceeds from PPP loan

$ 10,000

Subsequent Event | Paycheck Protection Program Loans | Stoney River Management Company, LLC

Subsequent Event [Line Items]

Loans from pinnacle bank amount

$ 5,100

Repayment of proceeds from PPP loan

$ 5,100