Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill Shutting Down Locations
Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill is facing a steep decline as another wave of closures further diminishes its national presence. The company announced it will be shutting down nine additional restaurants, trimming its operating footprint to approximately 45 locations—down from over 130 at its peak.
Initially launched by Darden Restaurants in 1999, Smokey Bones entered the casual dining market with significant backing from the same company that owns Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse. Despite early momentum, the brand changed hands in 2007 when it was sold to Barbeque Integrated, Inc., an affiliate of Sun Capital Partners, for $80 million. At the time, the chain operated 68 units and underwent a multi-million dollar redesign effort.
Repeated Ownership Shifts Weaken Brand Stability
The early promise of the Smokey Bones concept never fully materialized. Over the years, a pattern of unstable ownership plagued the brand. Sun Capital, which owned a series of financially distressed restaurants—including Friendly’s and Bar Louie—struggled to keep Smokey Bones on solid ground.
The eventual sale to Fat Brands in 2023 came at a significantly reduced valuation of $30 million, reflecting years of underperformance and declining brand equity.
Strategic Shift to Twin Peaks Shutting Down BBQ Footprint
Fat Brands, which also owns Twin Peaks, has moved quickly to reshape its restaurant portfolio. Roughly half of the remaining Smokey Bones locations are now slated for conversion into Twin Peaks-style sports bars.
An additional nine restaurants will close permanently due to expiring leases or weak local markets. According to company statements, the plan is to preserve about 20 Smokey Bones locations while focusing on conversions as the top priority. Although executives insist they remain committed to the BBQ brand, actions suggest a gradual retreat.
Industry-Wide Contraction Continues
Smokey Bones is not alone in its decline. The casual dining sector has seen widespread contraction over the past few years. TGI Fridays filed for bankruptcy in 2024 and has scaled back to just 200 U.S. restaurants. Hooters abruptly closed 30 locations in 2025 after seeking bankruptcy protection. Other chains—such as Bahama Breeze, Planta, Hwy 55, and On The Border—have either downsized significantly or filed for bankruptcy themselves.
With consumer habits shifting, the odds are stacked against legacy brands like Smokey Bones. Whether Fat Brands can preserve the identity of its lone BBQ concept while pursuing aggressive rebranding strategies remains an open question, however the outlook is increasingly uncertain.
