A wave of restaurant closures is sweeping Florida as a well-known barbecue chain faces uncertainty following its parent company’s bankruptcy filing, highlighting the ongoing struggles of the casual dining industry. The chain has shrunk from over 120 locations to fewer than 20 nationwide, indicating massive struggles within the brand’s infrastructure.
Bankruptcy triggers restructuring across brands
Smokey Bones has been caught in the fallout after its parent company, FAT Brands, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in January 2026. The filing, which includes affiliate Twin Hospitality Group, was driven by more than $1.3 billion in debt and mounting financial pressure.
The restructuring allows the company to continue operating while it attempts to stabilize its finances, but it has already led to widespread closures and operational changes across multiple restaurant concepts.
Florida locations among hardest hit
Several Smokey Bones locations in Florida have already shut down or been identified for closure, including restaurants in Orlando and West Boca Raton. Additional closures have impacted cities like Fort Lauderdale, Plantation, and Casselberry, with some locations disappearing suddenly and with little notice to customers.
Nationwide, dozens of Smokey Bones restaurants are being closed or converted as part of the company’s restructuring strategy, with as many as 30 locations expected to be affected.
A chain in rapid decline
Founded in 1999 in Orlando, Smokey Bones once operated more than 120 locations across the U.S. Today, that number has dropped to fewer than 20 remaining restaurants.
Recent filings show the company has already closed multiple underperforming locations and is evaluating additional shutdowns as part of its turnaround plan.
Reflecting broader industry challenges
The closures underscore wider issues facing the restaurant industry, including rising food and labor costs, declining dine-in traffic, and heavy debt burdens from expansion.
For Florida communities, the closures represent more than just fewer dining options—they signal a shift in the casual dining landscape, where even established chains are being forced to shrink in order to survive.
Links on this page may be affiliate links, for which the site earns a small commission, but the price for you is the same
Leave a Comment