Nine-month revenue was down 2.9% to $119.1 million compared to $122.6 million. Diluted earnings per share showed a loss of $1.32 compared to a loss of $1.42 in 2001.

For the third quarter, however, Roadhouse was showing improvement with a net loss of only $1.6 million versus a net loss of $10.8 million in third quarter 2001. But revenue for the quarter was down 12.7% to $36.5 million, compared to $41.8 million a year ago.

Third-quarter diluted earnings per share showed a loss of 17 cents compared to a loss of $1.11 in same 2001 quarter. In January of this year, Roadhouse "generated positive cash flow and returned to profitability" for the first time, Ayman Sabi, the company's president/CEO, says in a prepared statement.