Smokey Bones Restaurants to Close After Parent Company Files for Bankruptcy

Fat Brands, which owns Smokey Bones and other chains, plans to shutter at least 6 locations this year as part of Chapter 11 filing.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 7:31am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Smokey Bones, a barbecue restaurant chain, will close at least six locations this year after its parent company, Fat Brands, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The closures will impact restaurants in Florida, Illinois, Ohio, New York, and Pennsylvania, with a total of 30 Smokey Bones locations set to close as Fat Brands restructures.

Why it matters

The Smokey Bones closures are the latest in a series of high-profile restaurant bankruptcies and shutdowns, as the industry continues to grapple with the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and changing consumer preferences. The news highlights the ongoing challenges facing casual dining chains as they compete with fast-casual and delivery-focused concepts.

The details

Fat Brands, which owns 18 restaurant chains including Smokey Bones, Twin Peaks, Fatburger, and Johnny Rockets, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Monday. As part of the restructuring, the company plans to close at least 6 Smokey Bones locations this year, with a total of 30 closures planned. The affected restaurants are in Orlando, Florida; Rockford, Illinois; West Boca Raton, Florida; Maumee, Ohio; Cheektowaga, New York; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

  • Fat Brands filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Monday, January 29, 2026.
  • At least 6 Smokey Bones locations will close this year as part of the bankruptcy restructuring.

The players

Fat Brands

The parent company that owns Smokey Bones and several other restaurant chains. Fat Brands filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on January 29, 2026.

Smokey Bones

A barbecue restaurant chain that is a subsidiary of Fat Brands. At least 6 Smokey Bones locations will close this year as part of Fat Brands' bankruptcy restructuring, with a total of 30 closures planned.

Andy Wiederhorn

The CEO of Fat Brands, who told customers that the company's restaurant chains will remain operational throughout the bankruptcy process.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Twin Peaks has redefined the sports bar experience and built an iconic and highly profitable business. The Chapter 11 process will enable us to strengthen our balance sheet and create financial flexibility to advance this growth.”

— Andy Wiederhorn, CEO, Fat Brands

“Our focus in this process remains providing quality service to our customers and supporting our franchise partners and the thousands of corporate and franchise employees. We are well positioned for long-term profitability and growth.”

— Andy Wiederhorn, CEO, Fat Brands

What’s next

Fat Brands plans to convert about half of its Smokey Bones locations into Twin Peaks locations as part of the bankruptcy restructuring.

The takeaway

The Smokey Bones closures are the latest example of the ongoing challenges facing the restaurant industry, as chains struggle to adapt to changing consumer preferences and the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The news highlights the need for restaurant companies to continuously evolve their business models to remain competitive in a rapidly changing market.