Doneckers Inc. continues to decline comment on the status of the company, despite a partial shutdown of its restaurant and aggressive sales at its store.

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Doneckers has remained tightlipped about its Ephrata business, despite dropping dinner at its restaurant, canceling holiday banquet reservations and running a retail "clearance" sale that appears to be a liquidation.

Amanda Dietrich, Doneckers' longtime spokeswoman, has quit, a company representative said, and the restaurant, which now serves only lunch, will stop serving altogether at the end of the month.

Bill Donecker, CEO of the 47-year-old Doneckers Inc., which operates an upscale clothing store, a restaurant, an inn and an art gallery, has directed calls to the company's offices on State Street in Ephrata.

Dietrich's replacement did not return phone calls last week and Monday concerning Doneckers' financial situation and the persistent rumors that it is closing.

Barry L. Simpson, president of Garden Spot Frame and Alignment Service Inc. in Leola, said he booked his company's Christmas party at Doneckers and gave the company a deposit several weeks ago.

When Simpson inquired last week about rumors of Doneckers closing, he said Dietrich told him that Lily's on Main in Ephrata was taking over the restaurant.

But when Simpson called Lily's owner, Steve Brown, he said he got a different story.

"We called (Lily's)," Simpson said, "and they claim Doneckers is using their name without permission. They are not taking the restaurant over, and they said they can't help us."

Calls to Lily's on Monday and last week have not been returned.

Simpson said he scrambled and finally was able to book the company's Christmas party at General Sutter Inn in Lititz.

Also, local restaurant owners say they have received several job applications from former Doneckers employees.

Earlier this month, Doneckers started sales at its clothing store and fine furniture gallery but did not label them as "going out of business" events.

The high-end retailer, which caters to affluent customers who travel here from several states, has hired workers to carry placards advertising the sale along Route 322.

E-mail: pburns@lnpnews.com