Barbecue Fans Mourn as National Restaurant Chain Closes Up More Locations Kelly BryantSeptember 8, 2025 at 10:05 PM 0 F Armstrong Photography/Shutterstock When a restaurant chain closes locations, it isn't just a business shutting its doors, it's the end of a little routine, a reliable comfort.
- - Barbecue Fans Mourn as National Restaurant Chain Closes Up More Locations
Kelly BryantSeptember 8, 2025 at 10:05 PM
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F Armstrong Photography/Shutterstock
When a restaurant chain closes locations, it isn't just a business shutting its doors, it's the end of a little routine, a reliable comfort. For regulars, it feels like losing a friend who always had a plate of ribs or a pulled pork sandwich ready when you needed it. There's something oddly sentimental about knowing your go-to order won't be there anymore, and let's be honest, no one else makes the mac and cheesequite like that.
But beyond the nostalgia and cravings, there's a real weight to it. The employees who poured their time, energy and warmth into serving customers are suddenly without jobs. It's a tough reminder that restaurants aren't just about food—they're about people, community and connection. So while fans mourn their favorite dishes, the bigger heartbreak is for the folks who now have to find new work. A restaurant closing is never just about the menu, it's about the memories, and the people behind them.
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And that leads us to the latest restaurant closure news: Smokey Bones has started closing locations around the country.
First, for a little background. Smokey Bones, a barbecue chain, was bought by FAT Brands in 2023 and then handed over to a new company called Twin Hospitality in early 2025. Twin Hospitality decided some Smokey Bones locations would do better as Twin Peaks sports bars, so they're converting 19 of them. Two restaurants have already made the switch, and according to the company, they're now bringing in more than double the sales—around $7.8 million a year compared to $3.5 million as Smokey Bones. A third conversion, run by a franchise owner, is already underway and should open later this year.
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How Many Smokey Bones Locations Will Completely Close This Year?
Per a press release from Twin Hospitality, the company took a hard look at Smokey Bones and realized some locations just weren't pulling their weight. Out of 15 underperforming restaurants, 10 have already shut down and the last five will close before the end of the fiscal third quarter. Once these closures are done, there will be just 26 Smokey Bones locations left.
What's a Fiscal Third Quarter, Anyway?
For many U.S. companies, the fiscal year matches the calendar year, so the third quarter would be July 1 through September 30. But not all companies run on that schedule. Some start their fiscal year in a different month, like April, October or February—which shifts the quarters. For example, if a company's fiscal year starts in April, its third quarter would actually run October through December.
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This story was originally reported by Parade on Sep 9, 2025, where it first appeared in the Food & Drink section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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