What Happened to Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill?
Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill, a casual dining barbecue chain, permanently closed all of its remaining locations nationwide on April 28, 2026. This abrupt shutdown followed years of declining performance, strategic downsizing, and the Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing of its parent company, FAT Brands Inc., earlier in 2026.
Quick Answer
Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill, once a prominent casual dining barbecue chain, ceased all operations and permanently closed its remaining restaurants across the United States on April 28, 2026. The closures came suddenly, leaving employees and customers surprised. This final shuttering was a direct consequence of ongoing financial difficulties and the Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing by its parent company, FAT Brands Inc., in January 2026, which had been actively converting underperforming Smokey Bones locations into its more profitable Twin Peaks brand.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline12 events
Smokey Bones Founded by Darden Restaurants
Darden Restaurants, Inc. opened the first Smokey Bones restaurant in Orlando, Florida, aiming to establish a new casual dining barbecue concept.
Darden Announces Closures and Sale Plans
Darden Restaurants announced the closure of 56 Smokey Bones restaurants and plans to sell the remaining 73 locations, indicating early struggles for the chain.
Acquired by Sun Capital Partners
Darden sold Smokey Bones to Barbeque Integrated Inc., a subsidiary of Sun Capital Partners, for approximately $80 million.
FAT Brands Acquires Smokey Bones
FAT Brands Inc. acquired Barbeque Integrated Inc., the parent company of Smokey Bones, from Sun Capital Partners for $30 million, adding the barbecue chain to its diverse portfolio.
Initial Closures Under FAT Brands
Six Smokey Bones locations closed during 2024 as FAT Brands began to assess the chain's performance.
Smokey Bones Spun Off into Twin Hospitality Group
FAT Brands spun off its Twin Peaks and Smokey Bones brands into a new subsidiary, Twin Hospitality Group, which debuted on Nasdaq, aiming for strategic optimization.
Fayetteville Location Closes for Twin Peaks Conversion
The Smokey Bones location in Fayetteville, NC, closed with plans to be converted into a Twin Peaks restaurant, part of a larger strategy to convert 30 out of 45 remaining Smokey Bones locations.
Twin Hospitality Announces Further Closures and Conversions
Twin Hospitality Group announced plans to close 15 underperforming Smokey Bones locations and convert 19 others into Twin Peaks, aiming to leave 26 profitable Smokey Bones restaurants.
Multiple Locations Close Abruptly
Several Smokey Bones locations, including those in Orlando, Rockford, West Boca Raton, Maumee, Cheektowaga, and Robinson Township, permanently closed without prior notice.
FAT Brands and Twin Hospitality File for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
FAT Brands Inc. and its affiliate Twin Hospitality Group Inc. commenced voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy filings in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, citing a need to deleverage debt and optimize value.
Reports Indicate Further Downsizing to 11 Locations
Reports suggested that Smokey Bones was further downsizing, with the possibility of only 11 locations remaining open, though the website still listed 20 at the time.
All Remaining Smokey Bones Locations Permanently Close
All remaining Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill restaurants across the United States abruptly ceased operations, confirmed by FAT Brands. The company's website was updated to reflect the permanent closure of all locations.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill, founded in 1999 by Darden Restaurants, experienced a tumultuous history marked by ownership changes and persistent financial challenges, culminating in its complete closure on April 28, 2026. Initially a rapidly expanding chain, Darden Restaurants began closing underperforming locations and eventually sold the brand in 2007 to Sun Capital Partners.
The chain's struggles intensified in the 2020s. In September 2023, FAT Brands Inc., a conglomerate known for acquiring various restaurant concepts, purchased Smokey Bones for $30 million. However, the acquisition did not reverse the brand's fortunes. By January 2025, FAT Brands spun off Smokey Bones and Twin Peaks into a new subsidiary, Twin Hospitality Group, aiming to optimize its portfolio. A key strategy under this new structure was to convert many Smokey Bones restaurants into the higher-performing Twin Peaks lodges, which boasted significantly greater average unit volumes.
Throughout 2025 and early 2026, Smokey Bones underwent significant downsizing, with numerous locations closing or being earmarked for conversion. In September 2025, Twin Hospitality announced plans to close 15 underperforming locations and convert 19 others, aiming to leave a core of 26 profitable Smokey Bones restaurants. Despite these efforts, the financial pressures mounted. On January 26, 2026, FAT Brands Inc. and Twin Hospitality Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, citing a challenging restaurant operating environment and a need to restructure billions in debt.
While the bankruptcy filing initially stated that restaurants would remain open and operating as usual, the situation quickly deteriorated. Throughout January 2026, several individual Smokey Bones locations quietly closed their doors across various states. The final blow came on April 28, 2026, when all remaining Smokey Bones restaurants abruptly ceased operations nationwide, with a spokesperson for FAT Brands confirming the closures. The company's website was updated to reflect the permanent closure of all locations, ending a nearly 30-year run for the barbecue chain.
The consequences of the closure include significant job losses and a sudden disruption for loyal customers. Industry analysts pointed to factors such as increased costs for menu staples like steak and brisket, coupled with a lack of differentiation in a competitive barbecue market, as contributing to the chain's demise. The strategic decision by FAT Brands to prioritize its Twin Peaks brand, which generated higher revenues, ultimately sealed Smokey Bones' fate. As of April 30, 2026, all Smokey Bones locations remain permanently closed.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill made different choices?