{"id":2971,"date":"2026-04-30T23:23:34","date_gmt":"2026-04-30T22:23:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cupcake.website\/?p=2971"},"modified":"2026-04-30T23:23:34","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T22:23:34","slug":"bbq-chain-smokey-bones-shuts-down-all-locations-and-customers-are-saying-hallelujah","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cupcake.website\/?p=2971","title":{"rendered":"BBQ Chain Smokey Bones Shuts Down All Locations\u2014And Customers Are Saying \u2018HALLELUJAH\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div data-journey-body=\"standard-article\">\n<div class=\"css-hl6xtf e1wzc3k51\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.delish.com\/_assets\/design-tokens\/fre\/static\/icons\/clock-regular.4ddebeb.svg\" alt=\"Estimated read time\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><span class=\"css-1rzbsk9 e1wzc3k50\">2 min read<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"css-1jx1kps etlajd2\">\n<div data-theme-key=\"collapsible-section\" class=\"css-p1fz9n e1q3dcg6\">\n<h3 data-theme-key=\"collapsible-header\" class=\"css-1fv4nwp e1q3dcg5\"><button aria-label=\"Hide Key Points section\" aria-expanded=\"true\" data-theme-key=\"collapsible-header-button\" class=\"css-ec8vqf e1q3dcg4\"><\/p>\n<p>Key Points<\/p>\n<div data-theme-key=\"collapsible-icon-wrapper\" data-collapsible-open=\"true\" class=\"css-lhm19 e1q3dcg0\"><span data-testid=\"iconRight\" data-theme-key=\"collapsible-icon-right\" class=\"css-1ep4808 e1q3dcg1\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.delish.com\/_assets\/design-tokens\/fre\/static\/icons\/caret-right-regular.a6ec664.svg\" alt=\"Caret Right\" width=\"100%\" height=\"auto\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/span><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/h3>\n<div aria-hidden=\"false\" data-theme-key=\"collapsible-section-text\" class=\"css-nzvxqj e1q3dcg3\">\n<div class=\"css-ex91la etlajd1\">\n<div>\n<ul>\n<li>BBQ chain Smokey Bones Bar &amp; Fire Grill has officially closed all locations.<\/li>\n<li>Smokey Bones has changed hands multiple times in its 27-year history, and its most recent parent company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this year.<\/li>\n<li>Customers don\u2019t seem too upset about the news, with some on social media even celebrating its closure.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"0\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">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.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"1\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">The casual BBQ chain announced this week that all of its remaining locations across 15 states were closing for good. \u201cAfter 27 incredible years, Smokey Bones has officially closed its doors as of Monday, April 27th,\u201d the brand posted on <a rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/smokeybones.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/smokeybones.com\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"its website\" data-node-id=\"1.1\" class=\"body-link css-8bav6j emevuu60\">its website<\/a>. \u201cWe 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&#8217;ll never forget.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"2\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">The chain hasn\u2019t updated its Instagram account since November of last year, and the <a rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DRdG25TCU7V\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DRdG25TCU7V\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"most recent post\" data-node-id=\"2.1\" class=\"body-link css-8bav6j emevuu60\">most recent post<\/a> has become a de facto memorial\u2014but customers are straight-up <em data-node-id=\"2.3\">celebrating<\/em> its closure.<\/p>\n<section data-embed=\"watch-next\" data-lazy-id=\"P0-23\" data-node-id=\"3\" class=\"embed\"\/>\n<section data-embed=\"instagram\" data-lazy-id=\"P0-24\" data-node-id=\"4\" class=\"embed\"\/>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"5\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">\u201cHALLELUJAH SMOKEY BONES IS GONZO! BEST DAY OF MY LIFE,\u201d one user wrote. Another added, \u201cSmokey Bones the place that gave me food poisoning [on] Thanksgiving 2023, I can only speak for myself but I&#8217;m really glad you&#8217;re going out of business.\u201d A third put their thoughts more plainly: \u201cRIP mediocre BBQ.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"6\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">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\u2019s kept up with the chain knows that this closure is not surprising.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"7\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">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 <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/go.redirectingat.com?id=74968X1525073&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Finvestor.darden.com%2Fnews%2Fnews-details%2F2007%2FDarden-Restaurants-Agrees-to-Sell-Smokey-Bones-2007-12-4%2Fdefault.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/investor.darden.com\/news\/news-details\/2007\/Darden-Restaurants-Agrees-to-Sell-Smokey-Bones-2007-12-4\/default.aspx\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"sold the remaining 73\" data-vars-ga-product-id=\"a8f54c48-3ad2-4922-90a0-8a9cb1aba2d9\" data-node-id=\"7.5\" data-href=\"https:\/\/investor.darden.com\/news\/news-details\/2007\/Darden-Restaurants-Agrees-to-Sell-Smokey-Bones-2007-12-4\/default.aspx\" data-product-url=\"https:\/\/investor.darden.com\/news\/news-details\/2007\/Darden-Restaurants-Agrees-to-Sell-Smokey-Bones-2007-12-4\/default.aspx\" data-affiliate=\"true\" data-affiliate-url=\"https:\/\/go.redirectingat.com?id=74968X1525073&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Finvestor.darden.com%2Fnews%2Fnews-details%2F2007%2FDarden-Restaurants-Agrees-to-Sell-Smokey-Bones-2007-12-4%2Fdefault.aspx\" data-affiliate-network=\"{&quot;site_id&quot;:&quot;0ab1c860-336a-4b0b-bb94-dd080aea7a20&quot;,&quot;metadata&quot;:null,&quot;network&quot;:{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Skimlinks&quot;},&quot;product_metadata&quot;:null,&quot;afflink_redirect&quot;:&quot;\/_p\/afflink\/13WEr\/darden-investor-s-investor-news-news-details-7-darden-restaurants-agrees-to-sell-smokey-bones-7-12-4-default&quot;}\" data-vars-ga-product-price=\"$0.00\" data-vars-ga-product-retailer-id=\"14e0b34f-200c-4565-9253-be56b0b0ee47\" data-vars-ga-link-treatment=\"(not set) | (not set)\" class=\"body-link product-links css-8bav6j e1aq0z090\">sold the remaining 73<\/a> to a Sun Capital subsidiary. It shifted hands again 16 years later\u2014this time to <a rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/ir.fatbrands.com\/news\/news-details\/2023\/FAT-Brands-Announces-Acquisition-of-Smokey-Bones-Barbecue-Chain\/default.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/ir.fatbrands.com\/news\/news-details\/2023\/FAT-Brands-Announces-Acquisition-of-Smokey-Bones-Barbecue-Chain\/default.aspx\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"FAT Brands\" data-node-id=\"7.7\" class=\"body-link css-8bav6j emevuu60\">FAT Brands<\/a>, which owns chains like Fatburger and Johnny Rockets.<\/p>\n<section data-embed=\"instagram\" data-lazy-id=\"P0-25\" data-node-id=\"8\" class=\"embed\"\/>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"9\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">About 15 underperforming Smokey Bones locations were shuttered in 2025, and a new president was tapped to <a rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.chron.com\/food\/article\/texas-smokey-bones-restaurant-closures-22234432.php\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.chron.com\/food\/article\/texas-smokey-bones-restaurant-closures-22234432.php\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"overhaul the brand strategy\" data-node-id=\"9.1\" class=\"body-link css-8bav6j emevuu60\">overhaul the brand strategy<\/a>. Apparently, the last-ditch efforts to revive the chain weren\u2019t enough. Both FAT Brands and Twin Hospitality Group, the subsidiary that operates Smokey Bones, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this year.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"10\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">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 have<a rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.restaurantbusinessonline.com\/financing\/multiple-buyers-emerge-fat-brands-smokey-bones-shuts-down\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.restaurantbusinessonline.com\/financing\/multiple-buyers-emerge-fat-brands-smokey-bones-shuts-down\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"recently been auctioned off\" data-node-id=\"10.1\" class=\"body-link css-8bav6j emevuu60\">recently been auctioned off<\/a> to new operators\u2014Smokey Bones, however, has not survived amidst the bankruptcy.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"11\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">I\u2019d say that the chain will be missed, but based on the public\u2019s reaction, that doesn\u2019t seem to be the case.<\/p>\n<section data-embed=\"editorial-link\" data-lazy-id=\"P0-26\" data-node-id=\"12\" class=\"embed\">\n<aside data-nitrous-content-id=\"recirculation_unit_more_food_news\" class=\"css-1i29kyj e94w1mj3\"\/><\/section>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><br \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>2 min read Key Points BBQ chain Smokey Bones Bar &amp; Fire Grill has officially closed all locations. Smokey Bones has changed hands multiple times in its 27-year history, and its most recent parent company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this year. Customers don\u2019t seem too upset about the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2972,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2971","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-food-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cupcake.website\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2971","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cupcake.website\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cupcake.website\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cupcake.website\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cupcake.website\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2971"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/cupcake.website\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2971\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cupcake.website\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2972"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cupcake.website\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2971"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cupcake.website\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2971"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cupcake.website\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2971"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}