Longtime Restaurant Chain Closes All MA Locations

MASSACHUSETTS — A national restaurant chain has shuttered all of its Massachusetts area locations and appears to have gone out of business.

While no official announcement has been made, the Smokey Bones barbecue restaurant has closed its Massachusetts locations in Taunton and Tyngsboro.

Both stores are listed as "closed" on Smokey Bones' website, and calls to those locations went straight to voicemail.

The chain's other New England location in Warwick, Rhode Island, reportedly also has closed.

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FAT Brands Inc., which oversees the franchise-based chain, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in January to restructure more than $1 billion in debt.

"The Chapter 11 process will provide us with the opportunity to strengthen our capital structure to support our concepts and ensure they remain at the forefront of their sectors,” Andy Wiederhorn, CEO of FAT Brands, said in a statement at the time.

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"Our focus in this process remains providing quality service to our customers and supporting our franchise partners and the over 45,000 corporate and franchise employees."

In addition to Smokey Bones, FAT Brands owns Twin Peaks, Round Table Pizza, Fatburger, Marble Slab Creamery, Johnny Rockets, Fazoli's, Great American Cookies, Hot Dog on a Stick, Bualo's Cafe & Express, Hurricane Grill & Wings, Pretzelmaker, Elevation Burger, Native Grill & Wings, Yalla Mediterranean and Bonanza.

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