Beloved Midwest sandwich chain abruptly closes majority of locations as layoffs hit and website goes dark 

A longtime Midwest restaurant chain is facing one of the biggest crises in its history after multiple locations abruptly closed and employees reported company-wide layoffs.

Beef-a-Roo, the Illinois-based fast-casual chain known for its roast beef sandwiches, burgers and cheese fries, appears to have shuttered numerous corporate-owned restaurants while workers say they are still waiting to be paid.

Employees report sudden layoffs

According to local television station WIFR, employees received an email late on July 7 stating that company-wide layoffs would take effect the following day because of “severe financial constraints.” Multiple Beef-a-Roo restaurants in Rockford, Loves Park, Roscoe and Machesney Park were reportedly closed with signs posted on the doors reading “closed until further notice.” The company’s website has also gone offline.

The exact number of employees affected has not been disclosed.

Payroll problems escalated

The closures come after weeks of reported payroll issues. In late June, Beef-a-Roo acknowledged a temporary payroll funding disruption, saying it expected all employees to be paid while implementing measures such as daily pay options and emergency financial assistance. At the time, the company described the issue as temporary and said restaurant operations would continue at most locations. 

However, employees in several states later said they had still not received their wages, sparking protests and growing uncertainty about the company’s future. Reports indicate restaurants across Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri and Arkansas have either closed or stopped answering phones, although at least one independently operated franchise in Freeport, Illinois, remains open. 

A historic chain faces uncertainty

Founded in Rockford in 1967, Beef-a-Roo expanded over the decades into several Midwestern and Southern states before being acquired by private equity firm Elysian Capital in 2019. The company had already experienced operational challenges earlier this year, including temporary restaurant closures and financial disputes. 

As of July 8, the company had not publicly announced when—or if—the affected locations would reopen. 

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