Smokey Bones Closes All Locations: BBQ Chain Shuts Down Amid Bankruptcy Filings

Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill, a longstanding barbecue casual-dining chain, has abruptly closed all of its remaining locations. The closures mark a significant shift for the nearly 30-year-old brand and come just months after its parent company and direct owner filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

What Happened?

Local media outlets across multiple states reported that Smokey Bones locations were permanently closed on April 28, 2024. Reports from outlets such as WANE 15 (Indiana), TribLive (Pennsylvania), and 10 WJAR (Rhode Island) described scenes of customers and employees arriving to find locked doors and closure notices posted.

A closure notice shared by WANE 15 in Indiana read:

“We regret to announce that this location has permanently closed its doors as of Tuesday, April 28th. We thank our loyal Guests for many wonderful years.”

Additionally, a review of Smokey Bones’ store locator tool by Fast Company confirmed that all listed locations now show “closed” for every day of the week. The tool lists restaurants in 15 states, though it remains unclear if all closures are permanent.

Fast Company has reached out to FAT Brands for comment, but no public statement has been issued by Smokey Bones, its owner (Twin Hospitality Group), or its parent company (FAT Brands).

Bankruptcy Filings Preceded Closures

The abrupt closures follow financial struggles for Smokey Bones’ corporate entities. The chain is directly owned by Twin Hospitality Group, a subsidiary of FAT Brands, which also owns brands like Fatburger, Great American Cookies, and Round Table Pizza.

In January 2024, FAT Brands filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, citing efforts to “strengthen our capital structure to support our concepts and ensure they remain at the forefront of their sectors.” At the same time, Twin Hospitality Group also filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

FAT Brands had initially announced plans to close underperforming locations but expected others to continue operating normally. However, the recent closures of all Smokey Bones locations suggest a change in those plans.

In March 2024, Nation’s Restaurant News reported that FAT Brands was preparing to sell all or part of its assets. A court filing this week confirmed that FAT Brands has secured a successful bidder, though further details remain undisclosed.