Smokey Bones is quietly going up in smoke.
The BBQ chain abruptly shut down its Colonie, NY location on April 28, part of a fast-moving wave of closures sweeping across the country after its parent company FAT Brands Inc. filed for bankruptcy earlier this year.
The Colonie shutdown came with little warning as an employee told News 10 that staff learned of the closure the same day — a pattern repeated at multiple locations nationwide as workers were blindsided by last-minute notices.
Restaurants in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois and Rhode Island were also shuttered on the same day. Employees in several states said they were informed the morning of the closures that operations were ending immediately.
“We regret to announce that this location has permanently closed its doors as of Tuesday, April 28th,” read a notice taped on the door of the branch’s Warwick, RI location, according to Go Local Prov.
The sudden sweep included the chain’s last remaining restaurant in Michigan and multiple outposts in Pennsylvania, signaling a deepening pullback for the once-expansive brand.
Despite earlier assurances that business would continue as usual during restructuring, Smokey Bones’ website now lists all locations as closed every day of the week, raising fresh questions about the chain’s future.
Both FAT Brands Inc. and its operating arm, Twin Hospitality Group Inc., filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Jan. 26, a move intended to restructure debt while keeping restaurants open, People reports.
“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,” the company said in a statement at the time.
“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.”
But the latest closures suggest a more turbulent reality on the ground, with operations rapidly contracting rather than stabilizing.
The company had already begun trimming its footprint months earlier.
In September 2025, it said it shut down 15 “underperforming units” while attempting to focus on stronger-performing locations and streamline operations
Founded in 1999 by Darden Restaurants, Smokey Bones started as a BBQ sports bar in Orlando, FL before expanding into a casual dining chain known for hickory-smoked meats and fire-grilled dishes.
The restaurant grew rapidly in its early years, reaching roughly 130 locations at its peak before years of cutbacks shrank its footprint.
By 2025, the brand had already been reduced to 26 locations, down from about 60 previously — and is now shrinking even faster as the chain fights to stay afloat in bankruptcy.
