A once-popular casual dining staple is rapidly disappearing across the U.S. as Smokey Bones shutters multiple locations with little warning, leaving employees and customers stunned.
The latest wave of closures includes a restaurant in Colonie, New York, which shut its doors on April 28. According to reports, staff members were notified the same day—a trend that appears to be repeating nationwide as the chain scales back operations amid financial turmoil.
The Colonie shutdown is just one example of a broader pattern. Restaurants in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, and Rhode Island also closed abruptly, with employees in several states saying they were informed only hours before operations ceased.
At one location in Warwick, Rhode Island, a sign posted on the door read: “We regret to announce that this location has permanently closed its doors as of Tuesday, April 28th.”
The abrupt nature of these closures has sparked frustration among workers, many of whom say they were given no advance notice or time to prepare.
The closures come months after parent company FAT Brands Inc. and its subsidiary Twin Hospitality Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on January 26.
