The restaurant industry has been feeling the pain lately, and the combination of rising costs and reduced consumer spending has been pushing both local spots and national chains to a breaking point. Businesses are scaling down operations, closing underperforming locations, and in the case of Smokey Bones, shutting down entirely.
The casual BBQ chain announced this week that all of its remaining locations across 15 states were closing for good. “After 27 incredible years, Smokey Bones has officially closed its doors as of Monday, April 27th,” the brand posted on its website. “We are deeply grateful for every visit, every smile, and every moment you chose to spend with us. Serving this community has been an honor we'll never forget.”
The chain hasn’t updated its Instagram account since November of last year, and the most recent post has become a de facto memorial—but customers are straight-up celebrating its closure.
“HALLELUJAH SMOKEY BONES IS GONZO! BEST DAY OF MY LIFE,” one user wrote. Another added, “Smokey Bones the place that gave me food poisoning [on] Thanksgiving 2023, I can only speak for myself but I'm really glad you're going out of business.” A third put their thoughts more plainly: “RIP mediocre BBQ.”
First founded in 1999, Smokey Bones Bar and Fire Grill specializes in hickory-smoked BBQ and classic American comfort food. It operated nearly 130 locations at its peak, but anybody who’s kept up with the chain knows that this closure is not surprising.
Smokey Bones was first opened by Darden Restaurants, the same parent company that founded Olive Garden and Red Lobster. But, after eight years of operation, Darden closed 56 locations and sold the remaining 73 to a Sun Capital subsidiary. It shifted hands again 16 years later—this time to FAT Brands, which owns chains like Fatburger and Johnny Rockets.
About 15 underperforming Smokey Bones locations were shuttered in 2025, and a new president was tapped to overhaul the brand strategy. Apparently, the last-ditch efforts to revive the chain weren’t enough. Both FAT Brands and Twin Hospitality Group, the subsidiary that operates Smokey Bones, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this year.
At the time of filing, Twin Hospitality Group claimed that it planned to restructure the business while keeping the chain operational. Many of the brands owned by the parent company haverecently been auctioned off to new operators—Smokey Bones, however, has not survived amidst the bankruptcy.
I’d say that the chain will be missed, but based on the public’s reaction, that doesn’t seem to be the case.
