A POPULAR BBQ joint has announced that it will close down 15 restaurants it has deemed as underperforming by the end of September.
Smokey Bones confirmed in a massive leadership shakeup that 10 of these locations have already closed.
Smokey Bones is closing 15 underperforming restaurants by the end of the year[/caption]
The company recently said that it would be converting about half of its restaurants into Twin Peaks formats.
Smokey Bones is owned by Fat Brands, which is the same parent company as Twin Peaks.
In a press release from Smokey Bones, the company confirmed that the remaining five underperforming locations will be closed by the end of the third quarter, which is September 30.
The release also hinted at the Twin Peaks plan.
Along with this, Smokey Bones has welcomed a new President, Ken Brendemihl, who has over 25 years of restaurant leadership experience, according to the release.
Ken Brendemihl, President of Smokey Bones, expressed his excitement about the future of the company.
He said in a statement: “I look forward to hitting the ground running as we embark on this transitional period that will set the foundation for Smokey Bones’ long-term success.”
TWIN PEAKS CONVERSIONS
The press release went on to state that 2 out of 19 Twin Peaks conversions have already taken place.
It says that these conversions are now bringing in approximately $7.8 million each in average unit volume.
This is compared to the approximately $3.5 million being taken in when they were Smokey Bones restaurants.
A third conversion is expected to open later this year.
At its peak, Smokey Bones had 130 restaurants in the US, and now only has 26.
These closures have come at the cost of loyal customers who received little warning about the closures.
The shakeup has also seen some Twin Peaks locations axed in recent months.
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.
In June, one Twin Peaks in Sacramento, California, closed after nearly a decade of business.
All fans were given was a social media post alerting them to the closure.
It said: “To our fans, we thank you for nearly 10 years of joining us for the “food, fun, cold beer & sports”.
“It’s with a heavy heart that we must share that Twin Peaks Sacramento is now permanently closed.
“Thank you and be well.”
The sudden closure left many fans wondering what had happened.
One person wrote online that they couldn’t believe it had happened without a goodbye.
They said: “Just like that? Not even a final celebration.”
