Exhibit (a)(15)



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

               SHONEY'S, INC. MAKES ANNOUNCEMENT IN CONNECTION WITH
               TENDER OFFER FOR LIQUID YIELD OPTION NOTES DUE 2004

     NASHVILLE, Tenn., April 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Shoney's, Inc. (NYSE: SHN)
("Shoney's") today announced that it is not actively pursuing the regulatory
clearance that would permit the Company to mail definitive consent materials
to holders of its outstanding $177 million principal amount at maturity of
Liquid Yield Option Notes due 2004.  Accordingly, the Company does not intend
to mail definitive consent materials to holders of the LYONS and does not
intend to extend the tender offer made to holders of the LYONS.  The tender
offer will expire at 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on April 24, 2000.

     Shoney's owns, operates, and franchises approximately 1,100 restaurants
in 28 states including Shoney's Restaurants, Captain D's Seafood Restaurants
and Fifth Quarter Restaurants. This release contains forward-looking
statements. There are certain important factors that could cause results to
materially differ from those anticipated from the statements above.
Additional information that could potentially affect the Company's financial
results may be found in the Company's filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.

     Contact: /CONTACT: Andrew Karp, Managing Director, Banc of America
Securities LLC (704) 388-4813 or (888) 292-0070.