Restaurant bankruptcies accelerated in 2025, impacting both national chains and regional operators across the country. At least eight restaurant brands filed for Chapter 11 this year, with several already closing underperforming locations while others seek court protection to restructure debt and renegotiate leases.
8 Restaurant Chains That Filed for Bankruptcy in 2025
National names like Hooters and Bertucci’s to regional operators such as Crust Pizza and Harold’s Chicken, filed for bankruptcy. Here’s a look at eight notable chains that filed for bankruptcy this year.
1. Planta
- When: May 12, 2025
- Filing Type: Chapter 11
- Bankruptcy Court: U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware
CHG US Holdings LLC, the parent company of 18 food establishments across seven U.S. cities and Toronto, filed for bankruptcy in May. This included upscale plant-based restaurant chain Planta with locations across North America. CHG US Holdings LLC’s decision was driven by rising operational costs in vegan dining and shifting consumer behavior.
The bankruptcy details of CHG US Holdings LLC showed that it had $50,000–$100,000 in assets against liabilities ranging between $10,000,001 and $50 million. In a related member filing, Planta listed its assets in the same range, but the liabilities were between $1,000,001 and $10 million. Planta’s largest creditors were property landlords and suppliers of specialty foods.
The turnaround plan of CHG US Holdings involved planned site closures and negotiated vendor arrangements. Planta was contemplating a lease renegotiation in its 12 stores, out of which 4 to 6 were to be redesigned into smaller formats called ‘Planta Express.’ Currently, the plant-based chain has five restaurants.
2. Bravo Brio Restaurants
- When: August 18, 2025
- Filing Type: Chapter 11
- Bankruptcy Court: U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida
Bravo Brio Restaurants, LLC, the parent company owning casual dining restaurants, Bravo! Italian Kitchen and Brio Italian Grille, filed for Chapter 11 this August. The filing aims to reduce debt while keeping the restaurants open to customers.
Attorney R Scott Shuker from Shuker & Dorris, P.A. is legally representing the parent entity in the bankruptcy proceedings. Bravo Brio Restaurants, LLC listed both assets and liabilities between $50,000,001 and $100 million. Additionally, the restaurant business currently owes around 200 to 999 unsecured creditors.
Owned by Earl Enterprises, the restaurant chain is still undergoing the bankruptcy process.
3. JRCP Restaurants, LLC
- When: November 18, 2025
- Filing Type: Chapter 11
- Bankruptcy Court: U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas
The operator of the Texas-based pizza chain Crust Pizza voluntarily filed for bankruptcy this November. JRCP Restaurants, LLC, initiated the process of readjusting its business while Crust Pizza Gosling Pines kept serving Chicago-style thin-crust pizzas.
The popular pizza-based chain’s assets and liabilities are in the range of $100,001 to $500,000. JRCP Restaurants, LLC reported owing about 49 unsecured creditors.
The case is still active in the court, with Lloyd A. Lim of Kean Miller LLP legally representing the pizza chain.
4. Pieology
- When: December 8, 2025
- Filing Type: Chapter 11
- Bankruptcy Court: U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California
Pieology, the popular national pizza chain founded by Carl Chang, entered bankruptcy as its operator The Little Brown Box Pizza, LLC made a voluntary Chapter 11 filing this December. The 14-year-old chain is restructuring while continuing normal operations.
As mentioned in the latest filing, Pieology’s assets are in the range of $100,001 to $500,000. The liabilities of the pizza chain are between $1,000,001 and $10 million. Around 200 to 999 creditors have made unsecured claims in the proceedings.
Under the legal representation of attorney Belinda M. Vega of Venable LLP, Pieology is still a part of the Chapter 11 process.
5. Harold’s Chicken’s Homewood
- When: July 27, 2025
- Filing Type: Chapter 11
- Bankruptcy Court: U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois
De’nsite Inc., the parent entity of Harold’s Chicken locations in Homewood, South Holland, and Olympia Fields, Ill, made a Chapter 11 filing this July. The operator said the filing was needed to address an imbalance between assets and liabilities.
De’nsite Inc., through its Subchapter V Chapter 11 filing, listed its total assets up to $50,000. The liabilities of the fried chicken fast-food restaurant operator were in the range of $500,000 and $1 million. The chain reported 50 unsecured creditors during the filing.
Attorney Saulius Modestas of Modestas Law Offices, P.C. is currently representing the restaurant chain operator in court.
6. Bertucci’s
- When: April 24, 2025
- Filing Type: Chapter 11
- Bankruptcy Court: U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida
The much-loved Italian casual dining restaurant chain chose to file a bankruptcy petition this April. The latest decision marked Bertucci’s third bankruptcy filing in seven years. Prior to the current filing, the chain had launched Bertucci Pronto, its new fast-casual restaurant.
The liabilities of the Italian chain are in the range of $10 million and $50 million, the voluntary petition says. Bertucci’s further mentioned that it then owed a little less than 300 creditors, with Cost Control Associates being the largest unsecured creditor.
While the case continues in the court, Bertucci’s shared plans to reorganize its business for the secure future of its remaining outlets.
7. Bar Louie
- When: March 27, 2025
- Filing Type: Chapter 11
- Bankruptcy Court: U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware
Bar Louie, the highly popular gastrobar chain, voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 this March after a lender restructuring agreement. The agreement was made for its 31 corporate-owned outlets. Bar Louie had closed its underperforming outlets before the filing to ensure financial stability.
Bar Louie secured debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing to keep its locations open during bankruptcy proceedings. Founded in 1990, the chain plans to continue paying suppliers and employees.
The Chapter 11 process still continues in the court for Bar Louie.
8. Hooters
- When: March 31, 2025
- Filing Type: Chapter 11
- Bankruptcy Court: U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas
Hooters entered into a Restructuring Support Agreement (RSA) and initiated bankruptcy proceedings on March 31. The restaurant chain from Atlanta made this move to sell outlets owned by the company.
Hooters’ assets and liabilities are in the range of $50,000,001 to $100 million each. The filing notes that the chain’s total number of creditors is between 1,000 and 5,000.
As of now, the Chapter 11 case of Hooters is active in the bankruptcy court.
While each filing carries its own circumstances, the wave of Chapter 11 cases in 2025 points to a broader reset underway in the restaurant industry. Rising rents, labor expenses, and debt obligations have left little margin for error, even for well-known brands.
