Full Breakdown
Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill Shuts All U.S. Locations After Chapter 11 Filing
4/30/2026, 3:34:46 AM
Nationwide Shutdown (April 28 2026)
On Tuesday, April 28 2026, every Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill restaurant across the United States ceased operations. Employees at sites in Pennsylvania (Hempfield Township, Cranberry Township, Frazer Township), Ohio (Mentor), New York (Colonie), Rhode Island (Warwick), Michigan, Illinois, and Massachusetts (Tyngsboro, Taunton) reported receiving notice that morning and finding doors locked or “permanently closed” signs on the premises. The chain’s website now lists all locations as closed every day of the week.
Background & Context
Smokey Bones, founded in 1999 by Darden Restaurants in Orlando, FL, grew to roughly 130 locations at its peak. FAT Brands Inc., a Beverly Hills-based restaurant conglomerate, purchased the brand for $30 million in September 2023 and placed it under Twin Hospitality Group Inc., a subsidiary created to manage Smokey Bones and Twin Peaks sports bars. In September 2025 the company announced the closure of 15 “underperforming” units, reducing the footprint to about 26 sites.
Timeline of Key Events
- 1999 – Smokey Bones launched in Orlando.
- Sep 2023 – FAT Brands acquires Smokey Bones for $30 million.
- Sep 2025 – Announcement: 15 underperforming locations closed.
- Jan 26 2026 – FAT Brands and Twin Hospitality Group file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, citing a “challenging restaurant operating environment.”
- Jan 2026 – 14 locations, including Robinson Township, PA, close without notice, leaving roughly 11 sites.
- Apr 28 2026 – All remaining Smokey Bones locations close abruptly nationwide.
Data & Statistics
- Peak footprint: ~130 restaurants (nationwide).
- Pre-shutdown footprint: 26 locations (Sept 2025); 11–14 locations reported in January 2026.
- Bankruptcy filing assets: $1 billion–$10 billion; liabilities in the same range (per SEC filing).
- States affected on April 28: Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, Rhode Island, Michigan, Illinois, Massachusetts (Tyngsboro, Taunton).
- Prior closures: 15 underperforming units (Sept 2025) + 14 locations (Jan 2026).
Official Statements & Responses
FAT Brands’ spokesperson told WBZ-TV that the chain “has been a privilege to serve our customers” and confirmed the April 28 shutdown. Twin Hospitality Group issued a statement that the Chapter 11 filings were intended “to deleverage the balance sheet, maximize value for its stakeholders, and support the continued growth of its brands,” and that “the brands will remain open and operating as usual” during restructuring. Local officials, such as Taunton’s Executive Director of Economic Development Jay Pateakos, expressed surprise and pledged assistance to displaced workers while seeking a new tenant for the vacant space.
Criticism & Opposition
Employees across multiple states reported receiving little or no advance notice, contradicting earlier assurances that “remaining locations were generating positive cash flow.” Community leaders in Taunton and Pittsburgh highlighted the abruptness of the closures and the impact on local employment, urging the parent company to provide clearer communication and transition support.
On-the-Ground Reports
Staff at the Warwick, RI location found a taped notice reading, “We regret to announce that this location has permanently closed its doors as of Tuesday, April 28th.” Similar signs appeared in Pennsylvania and Ohio. Workers in Pennsylvania’s Hempfield, Cranberry, and Frazer townships said they learned of the shutdown only that morning, leaving them without scheduled shifts or severance details.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the exact number of operating restaurants before the final shutdown—some cite 26 locations (FAT Brands press release), others reference 11–14 remaining sites (local news). FAT Brands claimed the remaining units were cash-flow positive, yet all were closed simultaneously. No public comment has been received from FAT Brands or Twin Hospitality Group regarding the discrepancy.
Verbatim Quotes
- “As of yesterday [April 28, 2026], all Smokey Bones locations have ceased operations. On behalf of Management, it has been a privilege to serve our customers,” — FAT Brands spokesperson
- “For the better part of the last two years, OECD has heard rumors regarding a possible closure and has made multiple efforts to verify those reports with the owner of the plaza," Jay Pateakos, Taunton's executive director of the Office of Economic and Eommunity Development, said in a statement.” — Jay Pateakos, Executive Director, Office of Economic & Community Development, Taunton, MA
- “Twin Hospitality plans to use the filings to deleverage the balance sheet, maximize value for its stakeholders, and support the continued growth of its brands,” — Twin Hospitality Group statement
- “Throughout the Chapter 11 process, Twin Hospitality expects the brands will remain open and operating as usual and will continue delivering their signature guest experiences.” — Twin Hospitality Group statement
- “We regret to announce that this location has permanently closed its doors as of Tuesday, April 28th,” — Sign posted at Warwick, RI location
What’s Next
Twin Hospitality Group indicates its other brands will continue operating, but the future of Smokey Bones remains uncertain. Municipalities such as Taunton are actively seeking new tenants for the vacated spaces, while former employees await potential severance or re-employment assistance. No timeline has been provided for any possible revival of the Smokey Bones brand.
