Lately, many popular chain restaurants have been closing locations or shutting down entirely. While the economy is part of the problem, there’s more to the story.
One major issue is how dining habits have changed. More people are opting for delivery services like Uber Eats and DoorDash instead of eating at chain restaurants, which has reduced foot traffic significantly.
Younger diners also seem to prefer locally owned restaurants over big-name chains.
Rising costs have made things worse. Inflation has increased the price of ingredients, making it harder for some restaurants to stay profitable.
This has hit several well-known chains hard, including Red Lobster, Red Robin, and TGI Fridays, which have all announced closures.
Fat Brands, the company behind the popular Smokey Bones & Fire Grill chain, is also making tough decisions. Smokey Bones has several locations in New York, including:
- Cheektowaga – 2007 Walden Avenue, Cheektowaga
- Colonie – 1557 Central Avenue, Colonie
- Liverpool – 4036 State Route 31, Syracuse
- Ronkonkoma – 5012 Expwy Dr S, Ronkonkoma
In Pennsylvania, Smokey Bones can be found in:
- Cranberry Township
- Erie
- Greensburg
- Pittsburgh
- Reading
- Tarentum
- Wilkes Barre
- York
Fat Brands plans to close up to nine Smokey Bones locations nationwide, but it’s unclear which ones will be affected. However, that’s not the whole story.
Even the locations that stay open might not remain Smokey Bones. Fat Brands reportedly plans to convert 30 of the 58 Smokey Bones restaurants into another chain under their umbrella.
Interestingly, Fat Brands seems to be betting on Twin Peaks, a chain similar to Hooters but with a flannel twist. This comes as Hooters locations are closing across the country.
It’s clear that changing customer habits, rising costs, and shifting business strategies are reshaping the restaurant industry.
Disclaimer- Our team has thoroughly fact-checked this article to ensure its accuracy and maintain its credibility. We are committed to providing honest and reliable content for our readers.