Jen Thomas
The cost-of-living crisis has struck another business, with a popular barbecue chain suddenly closing all of its sites after bankruptcy hit.
Fast food fans in the US faced a shock when the chain seemingly disappeared overnight.
The brand, called Smokey Bones, shut down without warning across the country, with every location closing on the same day.
Each branch shut down on Tuesday (April 28).
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Now, owners of the chain, FAT Brands, reportedly confirmed to PEOPLE that the chain is finished.
"As of yesterday [April 28, 2026], all Smokey Bones locations have ceased operations. On behalf of Management, it has been a privilege to serve our customers," they told the outlet.
PEOPLE also reported that they spoke to an employee from one of the branches in Ohio who also confirmed it had closed.
Signs have appeared in the windows of some of the shuttered branches, according to Go Local Prov.
One of the signs read: “We regret to announce that this location has permanently closed its doors as of Tuesday, April 28th."
Fans have been sharing their surprise online: "Smokey Bones just shut down all across the US?! What the heck man."
Another added "The Smokey Bones story appears to be over; this is not a matter of relevance or opportunity, Smokey has both of those. Disappointed to see it closing. On the whole I agree we will likely see some of these brands thrive as they move forward."
Another hit back at critics: "Don't knock Smokey Bones if you never ate there. Chain or not, it was pretty good."
News 10 spoke to a former employee of the New York branch, who revealed the cruel news that the staff only found out on the day that it was closing with no warning.
PEOPLE reports that the brand filed for bankruptcy back on January 26.
In the filing seen by the outlet, they claimed they had between $1,000,000,001 and $10 billion in assets, but also had the same amount in liabilities at the time.
According to the U.S Courts website, any company that files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy can stay open and can operate their stores while paying creditors over time.
Twin Hospitality Group Inc. is the parent company that operates Smokey Bones.
They also filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on the same date, and issued a press release which states: "Twin Hospitality plans to use the filings to deleverage the balance sheet, maximize value for its stakeholders, and support the continued growth of its brands."
"Throughout the Chapter 11 process, Twin Hospitality expects the brands will remain open and operating as usual and will continue delivering their signature guest experiences," they reported at the time.
Back in September 2025, the chain revealed they had closed several 'underperforming units' across 15 locations, and said they would be 'supporting profitable locations.'