Popular BBQ Chain Abruptly Shuts Down Locations Nationwide Amid Bankruptcy Turmoil

A wave of sudden restaurant shutdowns is sweeping across the country, leaving employees scrambling and raising fresh uncertainty about the future of a once-popular 🍖BBQ chain.

According to the New York Post, 🍖Smokey Bones has begun closing multiple locations with little notice, including a restaurant in Colonie that shut its doors on April 28.

Workers at that location were reportedly told the same day that operations were ending, reflecting a broader pattern seen across several states.

Restaurants in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, and Rhode Island were also closed on the same day, with employees in multiple locations saying they received word only hours before their shifts.

At a location in Warwick, Rhode Island, a notice posted on the door read, “We regret to announce that this location has permanently closed its doors as of Tuesday, April 28th,” according to local reports.

The 🚧Closures come amid financial turmoil for the chain’s parent company, FAT Brands Inc., and its operating arm, Twin Hospitality Group Inc., both of which filed for Chapter 11