Smokey Bones abruptly closes locations as NY closure sparks wave of surprise shutdowns
Smokey Bones has closed multiple locations across the United States following its parent company FAT Brands Inc.'s bankruptcy filing. Employees were reportedly blindsided by the sudden shutdowns, receiving little notice before operations ceased. The chain, which once boasted around 130 locations, is now facing a rapid contraction in its footprint as it struggles to stabilize during the bankruptcy process.
- ▪Smokey Bones abruptly shut down its Colonie, NY location on April 28, 2026.
- ▪The closures affected multiple states including Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, and Rhode Island.
- ▪Employees received little warning about the closures, often being informed on the same day operations ended.
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| Original publisher | New York Post |
| Canonical URL | https://nypost.com/2026/04/29/business/smokey-bones-bbq-abruptly-shuts-us-restaurants-after-filing-for-bankruptcy/ |
| Publication time | Wed, 29 Apr 2026 04:37:21 -0400 |
| Retrieval time | 2026-04-29T08:42:24.470Z |
| Last seen | 2026-04-29T08:42:24.470Z |
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Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Business Popular BBQ chain abruptly shutters eateries across US after filing for bankruptcy By Adam Silverstein Published April 29, 2026, 4:37 a.m. ET Smokey Bones is quietly going up in smoke. The BBQ chain abruptly shut down its Colonie, NY location on April 28, part of a fast-moving wave of closures sweeping across the country after its parent company FAT Brands Inc. filed for bankruptcy earlier this year. The Colonie shutdown came with little warning as an employee told News 10 that staff learned of the closure the same day — a pattern repeated at multiple locations nationwide as workers were blindsided by last-minute notices. 4 Smokey Bones has quietly closed multiple locations across the US after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in January.
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