Lowenstein handed over Pumper Nic in 1990 to his sons Diego and Paula, who had little interest in running the business. The family sold the chain in 1995 and started from scratch by associating themselves with Wendy's, which had just opened its first restaurant in the country. Furthermore, the franchise system collapsed in its entirety the following year. Pumper Nic's new owners, real estate agents Goldstein and Rosenbaum, were unable to relaunch the company. Unable to compete with larger American fast-food chains, Pumper Nic finally declared bankruptcy in early 1999.