What Happened to Perkins Restaurant & Bakery?

Perkins Restaurant & Bakery began its journey in 1957 as Smithies Pancake House in Cincinnati, Ohio, founded by brothers Matt and Ivan Perkins. It quickly expanded through franchising, evolving its name to Perkins Pancake House and later Perkins 'Cake & Steak' as its menu diversified beyond breakfast items. In 1979, the founders retired, and Perkins became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Holiday Inn. The company was renamed Perkins Family Restaurants in 1987 and introduced its iconic in-store bakery in 1986, becoming publicly traded.

The 2000s brought significant business changes, including a merger with The Restaurant Company (TRC) in 2000, and subsequent acquisition by private equity firm Castle Harlan in 2005. A pivotal, and later described as 'disastrous,' move came in 2006 when the parent company acquired Marie Callender's, forming Perkins & Marie Callender's Inc. This merger contributed to financial difficulties, leading to the company's first Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in June 2011, which resulted in the closure of 65 restaurants.

Despite emerging from bankruptcy under Wayzata Investment Partners, challenges persisted, culminating in a second Chapter 11 filing by Perkins & Marie Callender's Inc. on August 5, 2019. This bankruptcy involved the closure of 29 underperforming restaurants and the sale of the Perkins business. In September 2019, Huddle House acquired all 342 remaining Perkins restaurants. The ownership shifted again in May 2020 when Ascent Hospitality Management, based in Atlanta, purchased Huddle House, thereby making Perkins a subsidiary of Ascent.

Under Ascent Hospitality Management, Perkins has embarked on a significant revitalization strategy. In June 2024, the company officially rebranded as 'Perkins American Food Co.', introducing a new logo, modernized restaurant designs, and an updated menu aimed at attracting new customers while retaining loyal patrons. The first redesigned restaurant under the new branding opened in Orlando, Florida, in March 2025. This overhaul includes smaller, more efficient restaurant prototypes and an emphasis on value and updated ingredients.

As of May 2026, Perkins American Food Co. continues its efforts to modernize and expand. The brand announced a partnership with ezCater in March 2024 to enhance its catering services across over 180 locations. In January 2026, it brought back a popular value offering, the 'BFP' (Burger, Fries, and Pie) deal. Most recently, on May 7, 2026, Perkins announced plans for expansion into Texas with three new locations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, with construction on the first site in Carrollton slated to begin in Summer 2026. The company operates nearly 300 locations across the U.S. and Canada, focusing on its core offerings of all-day breakfast and famous bakery items.