Firehouse Grill Inc. has officially filed for bankruptcy. The bar & grill place from Evanston, Illinois, which has been serving diners for decades, takes this step amid mounting financial pressures.
Firehouse Grill Inc. Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
Firehouse Grill Inc. made its voluntary bankruptcy filing in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois. According to PACER records, the bar & grill submitted the petition on January 20.
Through the Chapter 11 filing, the Evanston-based restaurant aims to restructure its business while continuing to operate under court supervision.
No other bankruptcy case was filed by or against Firehouse Grill Inc. in the last eight years, the filing shows.
An Attempt to Rebalance Bluestone Acquisition Costs
One notable aspect of the filing is that it comes just a few years after the owner’s acquisition of Bluestone. The New American seafood staple was acquired by Patrick Fowler, the owner of Firehouse Grill Inc., in 2022.
At the time, Fowler said the acquisition would bring only minor menu and décor updates in an effort to preserve Bluestone’s character.
However, rising internal financial challenges, combined with the cost of acquiring Bluestone, appear to have contributed to the Chapter 11 filing.
About Firehouse Grill Inc.
Firehouse Grill Inc. has been serving the Evanston community for over two decades. Housed in a former early-1900s firehouse, the restaurant is known for its American comfort food. Patrons from across Illinois also visit for its lineup of craft beers and cocktails.
One of Evanston’s notable employers, the Patrick and Molly Fowler–owned restaurant hosts catered events, casual dinners, and private gatherings.
Bankruptcy Proceedings So Far
Attorney Scott R. Clar of Crane, Simon, Clar & Goodman is legally representing Firehouse Grill Inc. in court. Clar, on behalf of the bar & grill, submitted the 12-page petition on January 20 for a fee amount of $1,738.
Here are additional details specified in the Chapter 11 petition of Firehouse Grill Inc.:
- Filing Date: January 20, 2026
- Court and Jurisdiction: U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois
- Type of Filing: Active, Voluntary Petition
- Chapter: 11
- Case Number: 1:26-bk-00903
- Estimated Assets: $100,001 – $500,000
- Estimated Liabilities: $1,000,001 – $10 million
- Reason for Filing: Restructure business under court supervision
Firehouse Grill Inc. currently owes between 1 to 49 creditors in total. Funds will be available for distribution to these unsecured creditors, the filing says.
Court records also show that Firehouse Grill Inc. filed a Certificate of Relatedness as five of its affiliates have pending bankruptcy cases in the court. These include 7542 N. Western Ave. Inc., Josephines Restaurant Inc., Station Two LLC, Vivians Restaurant, Inc., and 1932 Central St., LLC. All these affiliates of Firehouse Grill Inc. made the filing on January 19.
The first-day filings of the Evanston restaurant further included a list of creditors who have the 20 largest claims and are not insiders, the verification of creditor matrix, and corporate ownership statement.
Firehouse Grill Inc.’s Chapter 11 filing marks a crucial attempt to restructure debt related to expansion costs and increasing expenses, without stopping service to diners. The filing also underscores the financial pressures facing independent restaurants across the Chicago-area dining scene.
