A once-expanding restaurant company that operated more than 100 Italian dining locations nationwide is now a fraction of its former size. After filing for bankruptcy twice in five years, the parent company behind Bravo! Italian Kitchen and Brio Italian Grille continues to close restaurants as it fights to remain relevant in a challenging casual-dining market.
Second bankruptcy in five years
Bravo Brio Restaurants filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in August 2025, marking its second bankruptcy filing since 2020. Company leaders said the move was necessary to restructure debt, attract new investors, and address mounting financial pressures that have weighed on the restaurant industry in recent years.
Factors cited in court filings included inflation, rising food and labor costs, higher interest rates, and weaker consumer spending. The company also pointed to underperforming locations in shopping centers with declining foot traffic.
Restaurant count falls sharply
The company’s footprint has shrunk dramatically over the past decade. Bravo Brio operated approximately 118 locations in 2017 and as many as 130 locations at its peak. Today, the restaurant group is down to roughly 38 remaining restaurants nationwide, according to recent reports.
Several locations closed before and after the 2025 bankruptcy filing, including restaurants in Ohio, Missouri, Virginia, and Alabama. Industry observers say many of the closures involved restaurants located in struggling malls and shopping centers where customer traffic has steadily declined.
A broader casual-dining challenge
Bravo Brio’s struggles reflect broader challenges facing casual-dining chains across the country. Consumers continue to spend cautiously, while restaurant operators face higher wages, food costs, and occupancy expenses. At the same time, fast-casual competitors and local independent restaurants have intensified competition for diners.
Although Bravo Brio emerged from bankruptcy with new investment and a turnaround plan, the company remains significantly smaller than it once was. Whether the remaining Bravo! Italian Kitchen and Brio Italian Grille locations can stabilize and grow will be closely watched by both customers and industry analysts.
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