How to Franchise a Restaurant
Learn how to franchise a restaurant by building systems, protecting your brand, choosing franchisees, and supporting consistent long-term growth successfully.
May 29, 2026
Learn how to franchise a restaurant by building systems, protecting your brand, choosing franchisees, and supporting consistent long-term growth successfully.
May 29, 2026
Learn how Father's Day promotions, menus, reservations, marketing, and staff training increase restaurant sales while protecting margins and improving performance.
Jun 1, 2026
McDonald’s unveiled McDonald’s Next, a new strategy focused on menu improvements, technology investments, restaurant upgrades and hospitality.
Jun 2, 2026
Explore the operational secrets and business strategy behind Monty's Good Burgers, a trailblazing vegan restaurant in Los Angeles. Discover how culinary innovation, consistent quality, and strategic customer engagement redefine plant-based dining.
Jun 2, 2026
Dutch Bros delivered one of the strongest quarterly performances in its history during Q1 2026, with a 31% revenue increase, 8.3% same-store sales growth, and unaided brand awareness that has more than doubled in 18 months driven by mobile ordering, food menu expansion, loyalty upgrades, and aggressive market density building.
Jun 1, 2026
Fuel costs are emerging as one of the more unpredictable financial pressures facing quick-service restaurant operators running through supply chains, delivery economics, and consumer spending behavior in ways that are harder to anticipate and manage than traditional cost inputs like food and labor.
Jun 1, 2026
Chipotle is quietly testing a new Crispy Chicken protein option in select California restaurants, marking a potential shift in the chain's menu strategy as it looks to accelerate innovation and tap into one of the fastest-growing food categories in the restaurant industry.
Jun 1, 2026
Red Robin has sold 30 company-owned restaurants in Washington and Western Idaho to multi-unit operator Evergreen Dining for $23.5 million in cash, using the proceeds to pay down debt and fund its First Choice turnaround plan as the chain continues to reshape its ownership structure.
Jun 1, 2026
Operators share how to scale: trust the brand’s playbook, plan people, invest early, and navigate the Hell Zone as multi-unit growth accelerates into 2026.
May 31, 2026
Red Lobster will close its 5 Times Square flagship on June 14, 2026, citing construction and office-to-residential conversion; staff offered transfers and pay.
May 31, 2026
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Explore how bankruptcy is affecting the casual dining industry, with insights into restaurant closures, financial restructuring, and the challenges faced by popular chains.
Photo by Don Starkey
Casual dining chains like Bravo Brio, Bertucci’s, and Bar Louie have been grappling with a myriad of challenges that have led to bankruptcy filings and the need for financial restructuring. High operating costs, declining consumer spending, and unfavorable economic conditions have contributed to the struggles faced by these chains. Additionally, the shifting landscape of the restaurant industry, with an increasing emphasis on delivery and changing consumer preferences, has posed additional hurdles for traditional dine-in establishments.
Bankruptcy processes offer struggling restaurant chains the opportunity to close underperforming locations, renegotiate debt agreements, and streamline operational expenses. By filing for bankruptcy, companies can reevaluate their business models, adjust their strategies, and work towards achieving long-term financial stability. While bankruptcy may come with temporary setbacks and closures, it can ultimately pave the way for a more sustainable and resilient operation in the future.
Casual dining chains often cite rising input costs, such as food and labor expenses, as significant factors contributing to their financial distress. Additionally, challenges related to consumer confidence, economic downturns, and unexpected events like the COVID-19 pandemic have further strained the profitability of these establishments. The inability to adapt quickly to changing market dynamics and evolving consumer preferences has also played a role in the financial struggles faced by many casual dining chains.
The casual dining sector is undergoing a period of transformation, with traditional chains facing increasing competition from fast-casual concepts, delivery services, and home meal kits. To stay relevant and competitive, restaurant chains must innovate, enhance their digital presence, and offer unique dining experiences to attract customers. While bankruptcy may signal a challenging time for these establishments, it also presents an opportunity for reinvention and strategic growth. By addressing underlying issues and embracing change, casual dining chains can emerge stronger and more resilient in the post-bankruptcy landscape.