A BELOVED Italian dining establishment has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy once again, leaving your favorite locations at risk of closure.
Bravo Brio Restaurants, the parent company behind two popular Italian casual-dining chains, has officially declared bankruptcy for the second time in five years.
Bravo Brio Restaurants filed for bankruptcy for the second time in five years[/caption]
Brio Italian Grille, formerly called Brio Tuscan Grille, is one of two popular chains owned by Bravo Brio Restaurants[/caption]
Bravo Brio Restaurants also owns Bravo! Italian Kitchen, formerly called Bravo! Cucina Italiana[/caption]
The Orlando, Florida-based company and owner of fan-favorite restaurants Bravo Italian Kitchen and Brio Italian Grille filed for bankruptcy on Monday, per court records.
The company, operating approximately 50 units across both brands, cited a number of factors that pushed the filing, according to a press release seen by Restaurant Dive.
For example, locations in shopping centers with high vacancies and low foot traffic have struggled to rake in profit, an issue that has only worsened as consumers pull back on their discretionary spending.
Bravo Italian Kitchen’s sales were down 7.1% in 2024 from the prior year, and 47% since 2019, per data from Technomic.
Meanwhile, Brio Italian Grille experienced a sales drop of 5.5% in 2024 and 47% decline over the past few years.
Inflation and climbing food and labor costs have also worsened the financial condition of Bravo Brio Restaurants, as have restaurant shifts stemming from the pandemic, including increasing competition from fast-casual joints.
BRANDS HARD HIT BY BANKRUPTCIES
Many chains have struggled to adapt to a post-Covid retail landscape, with several companies filing for bankruptcy
JoAnn Fabrics and Crafts announced it would close all 800 stores after filing for bankruptcy twice in a year.
Hooters announced plans to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in February.
Liberated Brands announced that it would be closing all 122 retail locations for its boardsport fashion brands Quiksilver, Billabong, and Volcom.
Forever 21 shut down its headquarters after filing for bankruptcy and laying off 358 employees.
Macy’s announced major restructuring plans amid mass store closures.
“These pressures have proved insurmountable to numerous other legacy, casual dining restaurant brands, many of whom have also turned to bankruptcy as a tool for restructuring,” said the company.
The bankruptcy process will permit Bravo Brio Restaurants to restructure its debt, minimize its operational expenses, and shutter underperforming restaurants, per the press release.
All of its locations across 20 states are potentially at risk of closure, including the 31 Brio Italian Grille spots that are still standing as well as the 25 Bravo Italian Kitchen locations.
Should any restaurants get the axe, they will join the lineup of the multiple locations that already shut down in 2025, including spots in Virginia, Ohio, and Missouri, per local reports.
Bravo Brio Restaurants has between 200 and 999 creditors and estimated both its assets and liabilities at between $50 million and $100 million, according to court documents.
Its largest unsecured creditor is the distributor Sysco, at $1.9 million.
SAVORY STRUGGLES
It’s not the first time that the two restaurant chains have filed for bankruptcy.
The restaurant group, owned by FoodFirst Global Holdings Inc. at the time, first filed for bankruptcy in 2020 shortly following the outbreak of the pandemic, with roughly $27 million in debt.
Restaurant closures in 2025
Denny’s – Denny’s has confirmed that up to 150 locations are set to close in the US by the end of the year as many of them are no longer profitable.
Red Lobster – The chain has said that it plans to close over 100 stores across the country this year as new CEO Damola Adamolekun takes over.
TGI Friday’s – TGI Friday’s is still being forced to shutter locations thanks to a bankruptcy filing, including 30 in April alone.
Applebee’s – This chain is projecting a loss of 20 to 35 Applebee’s spots in 2025 but is teaming up with IHOP to introduce dual-branded locations with a curated menu of the two’s best items.
Noodles & Company – This emporium is set to close between 17 and 21 locations in 2025 following a difficult 2024.
At the time, more than 50 of the restaurant group’s spots were shut down.
The Chapter 11 process ultimately ended with the Italian restaurants being purchased out of bankruptcy by Earl Enterprises, the parent company of Planet Hollywood, Earl of Sandwich, Buca di Beppo, Bertucci’s, and Chicken Guy.
Bravo Brio Restaurants’ recent bankruptcy is the fourth filing associated with Earl Restaurants, following Buca di Beppo, Planet Hollywood, and Bertucci’s.
The latter brand, an American chain serving up pizza and Italian food, filed Chapter 11 earlier this year in April, its third time since 2018.
Bravo Italian Kitchen and Brio Italian Grille are just the latest casual-dining chains to file for bankruptcy, with many others declaring Chapter 11 across the past two years, including Red Lobster, Hooters, and TGI Fridays.
Industry struggles have likewise pushed many closures.
For example, another Italian restaurant chain has confirmed that over 30 locations will close down this year after a CEO shakeup.
Plus, a pizzeria chain closed its last restaurant in a US state after its bankruptcy filing – just 13 locations are left.
Bravo Brio Restaurants, the parent company of Bravo Italian Kitchen and Brio Italian Grille, filed for bankruptcy this week[/caption]
Story idea?
If you have an exclusive idea or story tip for The U.S. Sun, feel free to reach out to me at maya.lanzone@the-sun.com!
