Smokey Bones, the popular barbecue restaurant chain, is scaling back operations after a new leadership review revealed that several of its locations were underperforming.
The brand’s parent company, Twin Hospitality Group Inc., announced the decision while also welcoming Ken Brendemihl as the new president of Smokey Bones.
The shake-up comes just months after Twin Hospitality acquired Smokey Bones from FAT Brands Inc. in January 2025. At the time of the acquisition, the chain had around 60 locations across the United States. However, a full spending review led by CEO Kim Boerema revealed that not every restaurant was financially sustainable.
Boerema explained in a statement that the company is focused on closing weaker locations while supporting stronger ones and even converting some into Twin Peaks, another brand under Twin Hospitality. “I have also focused on reviewing the Smokey Bones portfolio, closing underperforming units, identifying strong candidates for conversion, and supporting profitable locations that will remain Smokey Bones,” she said.
Fifteen Locations Are Closing
According to the review, 15 Smokey Bones restaurants have been identified as “underperforming.” Of these, 10 have already been shut down, while the remaining five are expected to close before the end of the third fiscal quarter.
While the company has not yet shared the exact list of affected locations, a spokesperson confirmed that the closures are permanent and part of a wider restructuring effort.
Nineteen Will Become Twin Peaks Restaurants
The brand shake-up isn’t limited to closures. Twin Hospitality also revealed that 19 Smokey Bones locations will be converted into Twin Peaks restaurants, which the company says perform significantly better.
In fact, Twin Hospitality shared that the first two conversions are already complete, and they’ve seen remarkable growth. The newly rebranded lodges are averaging $7.8 million in annual sales compared to $3.5 million when they operated as Smokey Bones. A third conversion is currently underway and is expected to open later this year.
Twenty-Six Locations Will Remain
For longtime fans of Smokey Bones, there is still good news. Once the closures and conversions are complete, 26 Smokey Bones restaurants will remain open across the U.S. These locations are said to be generating positive cash flow and are considered sustainable for the future.
Looking ahead, the company plans to franchise some of the remaining restaurants under FAT Brands’ franchise model. The move is expected to create a more balanced corporate-to-franchise ratio and could help the brand grow again after this period of restructuring.
While it’s the end of the road for some Smokey Bones locations, Twin Hospitality appears committed to keeping the brand alive and evolving. Customers can expect changes in the months ahead, but for now, the chain still has more than two dozen restaurants operating across the country.
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