Popular BBQ chain exits Rhode Island after closing final restaurant location amid bankruptcy

Rhode Island has officially lost the last remaining location of a longtime national barbecue chain after the company abruptly shut down its final restaurant in the state, marking a complete exit from the market.

The closure was part of a broader nationwide shutdown on April 28, when parent company FAT Brands confirmed that all remaining restaurants had ceased operations. The move follows the company’s January 2026 Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing and ends the brand’s years-long presence in Rhode Island.

Smokey Bones leaves Rhode Island market

The chain was Smokey Bones, a casual dining barbecue brand that once operated more than 100 restaurants across the country.

Rhode Island’s final Smokey Bones location was in Warwick, which had remained one of the company’s last operating restaurants before the nationwide shutdown. Employees were left scrambling after the final reported abrupt closures nationwide, including in Warwick.

End of a once-growing chain

Founded in 1999, Smokey Bones became known for smoked meats, ribs, burgers and a sports-bar dining atmosphere. The company expanded rapidly during the 2000s before entering a long period of contraction.

Like many casual dining chains, the brand faced increasing pressure from inflation, rising labor costs and changing consumer habits. Many diners shifted toward takeout, fast-casual competitors and local independent restaurants.

The company had already reduced its footprint significantly before the final nationwide shutdown.

What it means for Rhode Island diners

For Rhode Island customers, the closure removes another recognizable chain from the state’s restaurant landscape.

The shutdown also impacts workers at the Warwick location and leaves another vacant restaurant space in a busy retail corridor.

Whether the Smokey Bones name returns through franchising or a restructured concept remains uncertain. For now, the April 28 closure marks the end of the chain’s Rhode Island run and a full exit from the Ocean State.

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