A RESTAURANT chain that filed for bankruptcy in March has suddenly closed the doors on a location that was initially meant to remain open.
Bar Louie, the Texas-based chain, shut its restaurant in West Des Moines, Iowa, over the weekend, after suggesting it was safe from closure in court documents.
The chain filed for bankruptcy earlier this year after it had already closed 17 locations in five years, including 14 this year, that it had deemed to be underperforming.
Following the March 2025 bankruptcy filing, the West Des Moines location was not originally slated to close.
The chain closed the West Des Moines spot after it had assured diners that no more restaurants would be interrupted.
A release announcing the bankrupt instead suggested that the company would continue to run the remaining 31 locations, including the West Des Moines one, “without interruption”.
It is unknown what led Bar Louie to close the West Des Moines location, which opened in May 2014.
The US Sun has reached out to the chain for comment, but did not hear back before publishing.
GONE WITHOUT A TRACE
Bar Louie has already closed a handful of restaurants following its recent March filing.
The chain went to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware to approve the termination of leases for at least 14 restaurants.
Affected Bar Louie restaurants in Colorado, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Texas have already shuttered or are in the process of closing their doors.
A spokesperson for Bar Louie confirmed to The US Sun in a March email that all of the closing or closed 14 locations were corporate ones.
They said at the time: “None of the franchise locations have closed, and all remain operational.
“The filing does not include the franchise locations in any form.”
LITTLE NOTICE
In April, Bar Louie closed another location in Lyndhurst, Ohio without warning, and only left a note to diners.
It read: “We regret to inform you this location is permanently closed.
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.
“Thank you for the many memories!”
Staff at the Bar Louie location in Lyndhurst reported that they had been given little information before the restaurant closed down.
The Detroit Free Press said that staff were laid off without prior notice.
The outlet also claimed that employees were greeted with the closing note, in the same way customers were.
The employee note was slightly different, however, as it thanked them for their dedication to the company.
It further emphasized that the closure was not a reflection of them or their work.
The note read: “The decision to close this location is in no way a reflection of you, this team, the management of this location, or the potential of the Bar Louie brand.
“Making the decision to close a location is never easy but focusing our resources on our higher-performing locations was the responsible approach.”
