Restaurant Chain Yardbird Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy With $25 Million in Debt

Yardbird, a restaurant chain that garnered acclaim and underwent significant national expansion, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The filing reveals liabilities approaching $25 million.

The company cited "significant expansion-related expenditures" and "the lasting effects of the Covid-19 pandemic" as primary reasons for its financial distress. The current economic climate, marked by inflation and shifting consumer behavior, appears to have impacted the business, particularly its higher price points.

Surveys indicate a trend of consumers dining out less frequently due to rising costs. Yardbird's menu prices, which included a $42 chicken and waffles entree and a $35 brisket sandwich, may have become prohibitive for customers in the current macroeconomic environment.

The chain's acquisition by private equity firm TriSpan in 2025, following an initial investment in 2017, is also noted as a contributing factor. TriSpan led Yardbird's expansion into six new locations across major cities, including Los Angeles and Singapore, a strategy that may have strained the company's finances.