Another barbecue chain closing most locations, no bankruptcy
The popular chain has already shut down many locations, while others will be rebranded from rib joints to something else entirely.
Fat Brands has become a shockingly large restaurant operator, despite owning several brands with names that sound like eateries in a "Simpsons" episode or a Kevin Smith movie.
The company started with Fatburger in 2003 before buying the also pretty literally named Buffalo's Cafe in 2011. From the burger and wing chain, it added the iconic (and perhaps outdated) Ponderosa and Bonanza Steakhouse chains in 2017, then added another wings concept, Hurricane Wings and Grill, in 2018.
Related: Struggling restaurant chain likely to shut down or be sold
Over the next few years the company bought Elevation Burger, Johnny Rockets, and Global Franchise Group, which includes many names that don't sound real. These include Round Table Pizza, Great American Cookies, Marble Slab Creamery, Pretzelmaker, and Hot Dog on a Stick.
That last deal gave Fat Brands a massive presence in malls.
In 2021, however, the company entered that fast-casual space with the purchase of Twin Peaks, a bar and restaurant chain that's sort of a classier take on the model pioneered by Hooters. The company also picked up the Smokey Bones barbecue chain in 2023 from Darden Brands and, at the time, it was excited about the deal.
