More than two dozen Smokey Bones restaurants, including locations in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, closed as of April 28, 2026, following parent company Fat Brands' Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing.
The closures surprised local officials and employees, with Taunton's economic development office now seeking a new tenant for the affected site and supporting impacted workers.
This move reflects broader struggles among casual dining chains across the US, with multiple restaurant closures reported this year and redevelopment plans, such as new housing, emerging for former restaurant sites.
With Smokey Bones gone, what kind of restaurant can realistically survive in its place?
Was Smokey Bones a failing brand, or was it a casualty of its parent company's debt?
Taunton was promised its restaurant was safe. How can towns avoid such sudden corporate closures?
As casual dining chains collapse, what restaurant model is actually succeeding in today's economy?
Are new weight-loss drugs a hidden factor in the widespread collapse of casual dining chains?
How did one CEO's legal issues and alleged mismanagement sink a billion-dollar restaurant empire?