BBQ Chain Smokey Bones Ceases All Operations
After 27 years in business, the American BBQ chain Smokey Bones has closed all its restaurants. The company's parent had attempted restructuring efforts, which ultimately failed, leading to the complete shutdown.
Smokey Bones, a casual barbecue restaurant chain, has permanently ceased operations after 27 years. The company abruptly closed all its remaining locations on April 27, 2026, without prior public announcement, marking the end of a business that began in 1999.
Parent company Twin Hospitality Group Inc. had previously indicated plans for a turnaround. In September 2025, the company announced a new strategy involving the closure of underperforming locations and continued support for profitable ones, expressing optimism about the brand's future growth.
However, financial difficulties led the company into bankruptcy proceedings. The case shifted from restructuring to liquidation, signaling the brand's likely discontinuation in its previous form. While sister brands like Hot Dog on a Stick and Elevation Burger were sold off, Smokey Bones was not part of these transactions.
By the time of the final shutdown, most of the chain's approximately 60 restaurants had already closed. The failure of Smokey Bones adds it to the list of casualties in the challenging dining market.
The chain's website stated, "This isn’t just the end of a restaurant—it’s the closing of a chapter filled with shared meals, celebrations, traditions, and countless memories."